Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ukma!husc6!yale!hunter-larry From: hunter-larry@CS.Yale.EDU (Larry Hunter) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Night vision devices Keywords: night vision devices, infrared, light amplifiers Message-ID: <38669@yale-celray.yale.UUCP> Date: 23 Sep 88 20:09:55 GMT Sender: root@yale.UUCP Reply-To: hunter-larry@CS.Yale.EDU (Larry Hunter) Organization: Yale University Computer Science Dept, New Haven CT 06520-2158 Lines: 41 Ok, let's talk about night vision for a bit. What is the "$$$GEN III" image intensifier? Where is the technology these days? I remember seeing some really small handheld gear for people with nightvision problems, etc. I think he means third generation light amplifier. The basic alternatives in night vision gear are light amplifiers (aka image intensifiers, starscopes) and infrared viewers (and light sources). Light amplifiers are nice in that they are passive (no one can find you by your light source) and can provide better images, but IR is much cheaper and pretty effective for most applications. They're not as expensive as you might think if you're smart about shopping around. First, if you're looking for second hand stuff, avoid first generation (multi-tube or multi-stage) light amplifiers -- they just don't work that well. Second generation stuff is pretty impressive. I don't know what third generation means exactly; they haven't made it into the markets I'm familiar with. Here are some real products that might be of interest: Light amplifiers: SEC (Standard Equipment Company) / 9240 N. 107th St. PO Box 2360 / Milwaukee WI 53224 : NVS-80 75-1200mm monocular night scope (for mounting on a camera) $2795 Edmund Scientific (Great source, low prices!) 101 E. Gloucester Pike /Barrington NJ 08007 : Night Vision System K31073 75mm including eyepiece $2495 InfraRed stuff: ETCO Electronics / North County shopping center/ Rt 9 north/ Plattsburgh, NY 12901 : Excellent infrared viewer and source powered by 4 D batteries. Light weight, possible to take excellent photos, field of view about 150 ft. Price is $279, + $10 for a battery pack and $15 for a 10X objective. There may be an even cheaper kit version available now. Great deal! Edmund also has a variety of IR sources, conversion lenses and viewers. You could add a high power IR source to the ETCO viewer and have a gadget that the "surveillance retailers" sell for $4000+ for less than $500. Happy viewing.... Larry