OpticsPlanet.com purchases several models of NVD's from LOMO PLC, St. Petersburg, Russia -- one of the world's largest, most technically advanced optics companies. LOMO is also probably the world's largest manufacturer of night vision devices.
The largest U.S. manufacturer of NVD's likes to claim U.S. devices are a generation ahead of Russian NVD's. The major components, materials, and performance traits which distinguish first, second and third generation devices are virtually identical for the two manufacturers. The input-output gain, resolution and sensitivities compare well. Price is very different.
LOMO Night Vision manual in PDF format is available for download hereSPECIAL FEATURES IN EVERY LOMO NIGHT VISION MODEL
| Night Vision Feature Table | ELF-1 | KENTAVR | CHAMELEON | ONV-1 | RECON-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model Number | A2220 | A2800 | A2410 | A2100 | A2500 |
| Generation | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd+ |
| MSRP | $239.95 | $319.95 | $264.95 | $649.00 | $2,170.00 |
| OpticsPlanet.com Price | $199.95 | $229.00 | $239.00 | $499.00 | $1,990.00 |
| Mag. Night Channel---Field of View° | 1X--22° | 8X--22° | 1X--22° | 1X--26° | 1X--40° |
| Std. Objective Focal Length & f/ratio | 26mm f/1.3 | 26mm f/1.3 | 26mm f1.3 | 26mm f1.3 | 26mm f1.2 |
| Mag. w/optional 50mm Obj. - FOV° | 2X-11° | n/a | 2.5X--11° | n/a | n/a |
| Mag. w/optional 90mm Obj.- FOV° | 4X-6° | n/a | 4X--6° | n/a | n/a |
| Magnification, Day Channel | n/a | 1X | 1X, 2X,4X | n/a | n/a |
| Field of View ° Night Channel | 22°,12°,6° | 22° | 22°, 12°, 6° | 26° | 40° |
| Field of View ° Day Channel | n/a | 5° | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Range of Focus | 12" to ~ | 12" to ~ | 12" to ~ | 12" to ~ | 12" to ~ |
| Maximum Image Tube Gain | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 40,000 |
| Built-in IR LED Illuminator | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accepts Optional IR Illuminator | Y | N | N | N | N |
| Maximum Resolution lines/mm | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 30 |
| Battery Quantity and Type | 2 AA | 2 AAA | 2 AA | 2 AAA | 2 AA |
| Size (L"xW"xH") | 4.3x2.8x2.4 | 4.6x3.9x3.3 | 4.3x2.8x2.4 | 6.6x4.6x6 | 5.5x6.2x3.5 |
| Size (LWH mm) | 110x70x60 | 116x98x85 | 110x70x60 | 168x116x150 | 140x157x90 |
| Weight (lbs.) | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| Weight (Kgs.) | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.73 | 0.75 |
| Black Nylon Case & Headsets included with ONV-1 and Recon-2 | Y | Y | Y | Case & Helmet | Case & Helmet |