To most people, the difference between a goggle and a binocular is not always clear. Many times the two kinds of systems use the same or similar housings and both have two eyepieces (one for each eye or biocular) and typically require the system to be handheld in order to view through it. That, however, is where the similarities end.
The difference comes in the objective lens or the end viewing lens (lenses). A goggle has one objective lens, while the binocular has two. This creates a difference in the depth perception of the systems. With two objective lenses, the binocular has two separate views of the same target image and combines them into a single image giving the user better and more accurate depth perception. When adding the additional element of “night vision” to a binocular, this is called “stereoscopic”. Utilizing two image tubes (one for each objective lens) the binocular creates a stereoscopic view with better depth perception. Field of view may or may not be reduced, depending on magnification. Because night vision binoculars utilize two separate night vision image tubes and two separate objective lenses (basically two of everything), they are more expensive than goggles and also weigh more. Typically, a binocular is only handheld because with the extra weight. Head and/or helmet mounting would cause too much strain on the neck of the user caused by the additional weight.
Goggles, on the other hand, only use one night vision image tube and one objective lens. They weigh less and can be easily head or helmet mounted. Goggles are one of the top choices of military and law enforcement agencies across the United States. They provide the quality night vision capabilities needed along with the mobility and versatility required for special operations and surveillance.
So which one should you choose? The answer to that question depends on what you’re primarily going to use the night vision device for. Security surveillance? Criminal activity? Wildlife observations? Goggles and Binoculars make the most sense for surveillance and observation operations because the two eyepieces reduce the amount of strain on the eyes. Monoculars are slightly more versatile in their applications, but viewing through one eyepiece for any length of time causes a higher amount of strain on the eyes. Another consideration for eye strain is the quality of the night vision image tube and the optics. There are many night vision companies these days that will sell a cheap pair of goggles or a monocular in hopes that consumers will be apathetic about returning the item upon discovered that it doesn’t work all that well. The night vision tubes and optics in these systems are far inferior to those that are put into the systems sold to the military and law enforcement agencies. Using cheap night vision equipment with inferior tubes and optics can cause eye strain by possible fuzziness, larger blooming areas, additional black spots, the list goes on… There are any number of possible defects that could be cause for eyestrain when working with a lower quality night vision system.
There is a reason cheap night vision devices are “cheap”.
Night vision systems sold to the military and law enforcement agencies are based on generation 3 night vision image tubes manufactured in the U.S. by either ITT or Northrup Grumman. These two companies are the primary suppliers of image tubes to the U.S. military and it’s allies. These tubes cannot be exported outside of the United States. They are the real McCoy and tend to be on the expensive side. However, what you see in comparison to an inferior tube based system is substantial and if you’re looking for performance, the price increase will not be a consideration in your purchase.