Robbo100 Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Being on a budget I purchased a pair of Russian Gen 1 MPN 30K binos. which, now I am used to them, are OK. Of course I first tried them outside in pitch black which was very disappointing. However once your own night vision kicks in things improve. The gain seems low but they are razor sharp even though the spec says 20 line pairs per mm. A clear sky and full moon and I can see fields miles away. Even 50 yards with no IR the totally black view of a neighbours house transforms so I can clearly see details of his window frames. (No, not his wife, his windows). Binos improve your vision by 40% and adjusting the width between eyepeices helps with a steroscopic vision. However the big disadvantage is you are fully involved with one view. You don't see the car approaching from behind. Well I didn't. I thought I would try to construct an illuminator. There is a guy in the states on ebay.com who sells a Maglite converter which is the accesory holder that fits C and D cell Maglites plus a 850nm IR filter which is a balance between totally covert (940nm) and overt IR (720nm) so I got one for less than a tenner, including postage. Works great on my 5 D cell Maglite. (Use the cheapo bulb, as supplied, no LEDS as results are worse). Obviously heavy and unweildy though. Best results are with the beam spot focused. I was lighting up benches at 150 yards and getting reflections off trees with limited brightness at 200 yards. 50 yards is like using a powerfull spotlight. A real Gen 3 effect. Probably better. If you already have a Maglite accessory kit with adaptor you need a 52mm filter. This is the standard size for a Nikon camera so easily available, about £17 on ebay, but no idea if the adaptor holds photo filters. I have 720nm photo filter which I will try so as to get extra light output. They are more visible though. Go to ebay.com, (the US ebay), and key in "52mm 90% Infrared Filter with HOLDER for Maglite PVS" other filters and stuff too. Maybe try emailing the guy. He does lots of business. I was fooling around with IR off , no moon, heavy cloud, when in the shadows 300 feet away, (actually measured later on GPS at 294 feet), I saw the glow of a ciggy in some thick cover. I lit the guy up with the Maglite. I think maybe it was a guy waiting for his dealer as he was close to the road. He lit up like he was on stage at the Palladium. He was crouching there thinking he was invisible, miles from anywhere. I was laughing so much I missed the car which I think may have been his supplier stop to look me over, then sped off. Lots of people say I look like a Cop, thank God. (Good job I had my lucky helmet on). Will try and get a pic for you all of results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Any other hobbies? I had a cheap Yukon that was fine for spotting but pretty poor on the end of a scope. I once watched four hares feeding for several minutes and then they flew away Made the decision then to wait for a 2nd gen unit when I have saved enough beer tokens. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted March 28, 2008 Report Share Posted March 28, 2008 Don't get hung up on wavelengths, most gen1 stuff is sensitive to 800ish - but seems to make no difference in practice. Do a search on here for IR filtered by username of pin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveK Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Any other hobbies? I once watched four hares feeding for several minutes and then they flew away LB Flying hares? I smell the poop of a swooping pig. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo100 Posted March 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 The thing about near IR wavelengths is not so much the sensitivity of the unit that is used for viewing, it's the amount that can be output by the projector. The higher the wavelength the greater the percentage filtered out at source. I have two photographic filters, one 720nm and the other 820nm. I can take a picture at 1/60th using 720nm. Using the same camera, settings and scene this takes 1 sec with 850nm. The 820nm requires almost five times the light. My CCTV uses a 3 watt 820nm LED system at the back of the house. To prevent a brick coming through the window I have a totally "dark" 940nm 90 watt at the front. The 940 nm is brighter but not by that much. You might say that this would depend on the camera as well. I have the required gear for 940nm. I also have a 300watt 820nm illuminator. (£5 off ebay). Thinking about getting a 12v to mains power transformer to see if it can be run off a vehicle! Foxes watch out. There are systems used on patrol boats that go 2000 meters. I would imagine that thermal imaging has replaced these by now. Heres a 720nm image. (Hope I get this right). Note how the grass goes white and foliage changes colour. Some predators see way past this into 820 plus. You can see how their prey would be highlighted on this background. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 man, you must smoke some strong gear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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