Night vision binoculars (1 Viewer)

[mr_birdman]

Hi guys

I hope someone can kindly enlighten me.

When I check night binoculars I often see them as 3.5 x 42 or 4 x 50 etc.

Is the magnification indicated by the 3.5 or 4 and the diameter of the front lens by the 42 or 50? I just find them a little difficult to decipher.

My current day time binoculars are a really really old Zeiss 8x30 so something similar that has full night vision capability would be sufficient. How do I tell what is what?

Sorry if it sounds like a simpleton question. I do, however, intend to observe a lot of owl courtship etc over the coming Sydney autumn/winter starting in March next year.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[jan van daalen]

Hi guys

I hope someone can kindly enlighten me.

When I check night binoculars I often see them as 3.5 x 42 or 4 x 50 etc.

Is the magnification indicated by the 3.5 or 4 and the diameter of the front lens by the 42 or 50? I just find them a little difficult to decipher.

My current day time binoculars are a really really old Zeiss 8x30 so something similar that has full night vision capability would be sufficient. How do I tell what is what?

Sorry if it sounds like a simpleton question. I do, however, intend to observe a lot of owl courtship etc over the coming Sydney autumn/winter starting in March next year.

Thanks for any tips.

You're correct.
As a general rule you can count that how lower the magnification how brighter the image and how bigger the objective, more light can be collected and a brighter image can be realised.

Having said this:
Nightvision equipment comes in Generations. 0, 1, 2, 2+.Supergeneration, 3 and 4. 3 and 4 are military and everything below that in for civil use.
2+ and Supergeneration are much better than 0, 1 and 2 but the price is also much higher.
So you may compare 0 with 2 and 2+ with Supergeneration.
Zeiss has a 2+ and Swarovski a Supergeneration. Pricedifference 1.500,00 euro's.

Jan

 

[SteveTS]

There is a useful info link for new users here :

http://www.myboatsgear.com/night-vision-binoculars