Night Vision Goggles
From LoveToKnow Sunglasses
Night vision goggles are used by professionals in many different lines of work as well as in several different sports. Whether you work for law enforcement or you enjoy night hunting, you will want to have a reliable and durable pair of night vision goggles.
Where to Find Night Vision Goggles
There are many places to find night vision goggles and other night vision gear on the Internet. For those who prefer to purchase in person to handle the merchandise and get a feel for it before committing, there are also many retailers in just about any major city in the United States. Some of the most popular merchants that carry night vision equipment are:
- Army/Navy Surplus stores of America
- The Night Vision Store
- Optics Planet
- Rigel Optics
- West Marine
- B&H Photo
Night Vision Goggle Brands
As with any other eyewear or infrared lenses, you must generally pay a high price for high quality. For a quality pair of night vision binoculars or goggles, you can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $10,000. Some of the finest names in night vision equipment and sport sunglasses are:
- ITT
- ATN
- Barska
- Serengeti
- Nikon
- Bausch and Lomb
- Zeiss
- Bolle
- Celestron
- Bushnell
- Wiley X
- EOTech
- Simmons
- Tasco
- Meade
- Trijicon
- Steiner
- Streamlight
- Yukon
What are the Generations of Night Vision?
When you hear a retailer talk about a first, second or third generation night vision device, they are referring to which grouping that particular device belongs to. First generation night vision devices are the basis for all other generations, while second, third and fourth are progressively more and more powerful and also pricier. For example, a third generation night vision device has a resolution that is more than 35% better than that of a first generation and a second generation night vision device has 45 times the light amplification of a first generation.
Other Night Vision Products
If you are looking into night vision goggles, you may be interested to know that there are many other items that enable vision in the darkness for various applications. Some of these night vision items include:
- Monocular
- Rifle scopes
- Binoculars
- Spotting scopes
- Range finders
Thermal Night Vision
There are several products that offer thermal night vision, including some night vision goggles that are available today. Thermal vision allows you to see where a living body is in your range regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. With thermal vision, you can see a rhino in the distance or you can see a burglar or arsonist outside of a dimly lit building structure. Thermal vision serves many purposes, from wildlife conservation to law enforcement and even surveillance. Most thermal vision goggles or binoculars are fairly compact for ease of use and also offer adjustable focus and selectable polarity.
Cleaning and Care Tips
Night vision goggles are a very serious purchase. One and ten thousand dollars is no small investment for any type of eyewear. In order to keep your night vision device out of harms way and in good working condition, consider some of the following tips:
- Always store your goggles or binoculars in a safe, dry place free of extreme temperatures.
- Purchase and use a strap for your goggles or binoculars to keep from dropping them. If you drop your device, chances are you will damage it and have to pay for costly repairs or replacement.
- Clean your goggles or other night vision devices with approved cleaning solutions and cloths. Any other cleaners and rags will undoubtedly scratch the sensitive lenses.
- Purchase your night vision devices from retailers who offer at least a two year warranty. These are fragile devices that will likely require service or repairs.
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This page has been accessed 1,218 times. This page was last modified 18:48, 30 January 2008.
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