Are you someone who hates getting up early in the morning? Does the idea of getting up at 4:00 A.M. make your stomach turn? Are you regularly teased by your fellow hunters, who brag about driving out to your hunting spot at incredibly unreasonable times of morning? Are you naturally a night owl?
If any of this sounds like you, don’t worry. It sounds like me, too. But guess what, my fellow night owls...there is technology specifically made to cater to our needs. Have you ever heard of night vision?
If not, then boy do we got an article for you!
What is Night Vision and How Does It Work?
Night vision is the ability to see objects or living beings in conditions where there is either no light or very little light. When asking what such people are naturally gifted with this ability...you’ll sadly find that nobody can naturally see in the dark. The only living creatures that can are animals, such as foxes, raccoons, or cats. The way they’re able to see in the dark is through the extra cones present in their eyes, which allows them to detect levels of radiation, like ultraviolet or near-infrared.
As for us puny humans, we are required to rely on night vision technology to see things in the dark (and for those comedians reading, I’m not referring to flashlights or lanterns). Special night vision technology is programmed with an enhanced range, which makes room for certain settings that can be adjusted to either magnify an image or even light it up more if the collected light particles aren’t enough to produce a clear picture. Eric from Scopesman published a perfect guide for whom interested in using night vision scope in hunting.
What Do You Mean By “Generations”?
Night vision devices are categorized by four different generations. From a basic dismantling job, one can usually tell the difference between each model by what kind of image intensifier tube is used. What’s an image intensifier tube, you ask? It’s essentially the heart of soul of your device. Without it, there would be no image to look at!
But how different can these generations be if they all serve the same purpose?
Let’s find out!
1st: As to expect with the first versions of everything, the first generation night vision devices are the fan favorites amongst avid hunters and techies. These were the technologies that paved the way for the other generations, as they were the first to illuminate dark areas by grabbing onto wandering light particles. These models were typically simplistic in design, only really relying on a few settings to enhance your image. Best of all, the first generation models are the least expensive in the market!
2nd: Slightly more expensive than the first generation models, the second generation models are typically used by various branches of law enforcement for surveillance purposes. The reason for this is because these models were specifically programmed to be more accurate and reliable than the first generation models. How did they achieve this? By installing a micro-channel plate.
The micro-channel plate, also known as the MCP, serves as an electron channeler. What this means is that it makes use of its photographic technology to capture live images, send its data to the MCP, and then ultimately sends a crystal clear image to its screen. With this being said, it’s no wonder the police prefer this generation of night vision technology!
3rd: If you didn’t think you could much better than the second generation night vision devices, then allow me to talk briefly about the third generation models. While the second generation models rely on the MCP to produce clearer imagery, these devices use a chemical known as gallium arsenide to produce clearer images. Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen. We’re getting into the territory of chemically engineered technology!
And remember how I said that the police favor the second generation devices over all other options?
Well, how about you ask the US military how they feel about these models?
4th: The introduction of the fourth generation night vision devices saw an even bigger improvement from the previous models. By utilizing a brand new auto-gated power supply system as well as filmless technology, these models have proven to be able to not only produce crystal clear pictures but also exceeds any range ever seen in an older model device!
So there you have it.
Which model are you going to get?