Digital NV, Gen 1 and IR Illuminators

Thanks for the reply. After going through dozens of other sites, I found one that said gen1 responds to 800nm, gen2 to 900nm and gen3 to 1000nm. Guess that explains why the [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/surefire-brand.html]Surefire[/link] doesn't work with the gen1 devices.

What is your most powerful IR illuminator around the $100 price tag?


I came across the Pulsar 550R and looks like it fits my needs to a T! Saving enough money for it so I can pick it up soon from opticsplanet. Hope you guys will still have one in stock. After seeing the video of the wolves on your website I am 90% convinced of the capabilities of it. One question that still bugs me is whether it will respond to 900nm IR, but I know it works with 800nm. Being digital, I am hoping it will respond to the higher IR ranges.

Thanks for enjoying our site!

If you have an LED bulb, the filter won't work. The wavelenghts are not compatible. If you have a standard bulb, the filters don't have the same performance a dedicated IR light like the [url=http://www.opticsplanet.com/yukn-ac-ir-flashlight.html]Yukon IR light[/url] will offer. It will increase the range of your gen one unit somewhat. Not a ton. The real determining factor is the resolution of your unit.

The [url=http://www.opticsplanet.com/yukon-digital-night-vision-ranger-28041.html]Yukon Digital Ranger[/url] is superb, and overall it is the best buy in a NV device. The [url=http://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell-night-vision-5x42-stealth-view-260542.html]Bushnell Stealthview[/url] is a close second. Both made by the same folks. The Ranger Pro is a waste of money. The performance of one of these digitals after using any gen one unit will blow your mind. They are excellent. You also have the advantage of video out capabilities on the digitals, so you may record to your movie camera or TV recording device. You may have to visit Radio Shack for compatible cords.

I'm not sure about exact wavelengths, but I know about performance and what works and what doesn't. Any upper level gen two unit will be great and work very well with additional IR light, and any gen three or four will really put you into the fast lane. The [url=http://www.opticsplanet.com/opmod-pvs-14-night-vision-monocular-with-night-vision-head-gear.html]OPMOD gen three PVS 14[/url] is the best buy in a high end [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/monoculars.html]monocular[/link], but not a lot of us have that kind of money.

[url=http://www.opticsplanet.com/atn-c-adapter.html]Camera adapters[/url] such as sold by [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/atn-brand.html]ATN[/link] are available for specific units, and to complete the assembly to your camera it will require you to bring camera, adapter, and NV unit into a camera store to get fitted with step up or down rings for the final puzzle piece.

If you are considering the Sony, it will be your best bet overall and will probably do what you ask, but not with the performance of a gen three unit. For what you are looking for, though, it may be your best bet. Good luck!

New to [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/nightvision.html]night vision[/link] and I am getting to hooked on it no thanks to sites like opticsplanet! :)

Here is my situation:

I had a spate of burglaries in my neighbourhood recently and I invested in a [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell.html]Bushnell[/link] 2.5/42 [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/spottingscopes.html]Monocular[/link] Gen 1 device. Does the job well but I wanted to extend the range so I slipped a filter over my [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/surefire-brand.html]Surefire[/link] 100 lumen light and the illumination was pathetic. I want to confirm if the cause is the incompatible IR wavelength?

So I started looking into digital NV and so far, the [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/yukon-brand.html]Yukon[/link] Ranger seems to be the forerunner. Will digital NV devices be able to detect higher IR wavelengths like the [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/surefire-brand.html]Surefire[/link] IR filter? What can I get in terms of IR illuminators that can extend the range of the Ranger and the [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/bushnell.html]Bushnell[/link] Gen1?

Also, does opticsplanet sell any recording device like the [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/yukon-brand.html]Yukon[/link] Ranger Video Kit? I think the ability to record might just come in handy.

From what I have been able to read so far, the Gen1 responds to shorter wavelength IR around 800nm while [link=http://www.opticsplanet.com/surefire-brand.html]Surefire[/link] IR filters 900nm and above. Is this accurate?


Also this: I am considering investing in a Sony camcorder with NightShot and using an IR illuminator to reach 100m or so. Would this be a good alternative to using a dedicated NV device because the Sony does have a very good resolution, responds to the IR from the Surefire filter and has 10x optical zoom.