What are night vision binoculars?

Night vision binoculars are a type of binoculars that amplify the residual light from the moon and stars, so that it is possible to observe animals and people at night. The principle behind night vision binoculars is quite simple. Residual light is amplified and converted into electrons, which transmit the image to the screen. Since the human eye has difficulty in observing images clearly at night, our pupils become enlarged. By adjusting the size of the pupil to the diameter at the end of the binoculars, an optimal image is formed. With infrared night vision binoculars, this function is enhanced by shining a spotlight on the object, which is especially useful when there is little residual light.

Different generations

Night vision binoculars can be classified into three types, on the basis of light amplification.  

• 1st generation: The most popular models belong to the first generation of night vision devices. In addition to being user-friendly, these binoculars are relatively cheap to purchase. With the capacity to amplify the light up to 1000x, these night vision binoculars are especially suitable for observing buildings, transport and plants. Models of this generation can form a distorted image at the edges, but always give the correct representation at the core.
• 2nd: The second generation was originally developed to be used for professional purposes, such as for military personnel in the field and in scientific applications. Due to the high quality of the images, this generation falls into a higher price bracket. On the other hand, the light amplification increases up to 20,000x and therefore animals and people can be viewed in detail. The difference with the first generation is due to the use of a micro-channel plate, which provides extra light amplification.
• 3 rd generation: The most advanced night vision devices are in the third generation. The composition of the image plate consists of high-quality materials and can therefore generate very sharp images. There is a sharp increase in price for this category, while 1st or 2nd generation night vision binoculars are more suitable for standard consumers. Light amplification in these models increases to 50,000x.

Range of the night vision binoculars

Night vision binoculars come in all shapes and sizes and the viewing range of these binoculars is also dependent on what you want to do with them. For observing animals during their nocturnal activities, you'd probably prefer to take a lighter model with you. In doing so, you will have to compromise on the maximum distance at which you'll be able to see the animals sharply. If you prefer to look out over a vast landscape from a further distance, it is more convenient to purchase night vision binoculars with a longer range. Of course, the range also depends on the generation of the night vision binoculars. This is because it is possible to see further with greater light amplification. Always make sure you have sufficient residual light in the area, otherwise light amplification will be a lot more difficult. For example, when standing in complete darkness you can only see animals up to 100 metres, while during full moon you can usually see these animals sharply at a few hundred metres.

Extra functions and supplies

In addition to observing animals, people and objects with night vision binoculars, there are also models that make it possible to record these observations through image or film. The recordings are stored on an internal memory card (MicroSD or SD). For stable images, it is necessary to use a tripod so that you can see the objects clearly and sharply.