Night vision goggles have been made famous, for the wrong reasons, by such films as Silence of the Lambs (Buffalo Bill wears them) and the computer game Metal Gear Solid. But most people do not realise that there are all types of different ones. The performance of NV Goggles depends on the actual light available and the strength of the infrared illuminators and detectors. It is classified by what we call the ‘Generation’ number of the model. Generally the guidelines for the generations classification are as follows.
Generation 1 or Gen 1 Night Vision
Gen 1 is the lowest performance rating that you will find. It can be found in the lower value end of the market and also in goggles for kids, such as the Eyeclops Night Vision Goggles. The products are generally cheaper coming in nearer $100 and below. You would use these goggles for fun as they have a low light amplification of around x 1000. This, for example would be useful on a cloudy night with the full moon in the night sky.
Generation 2 or Gen 2 Night Vision
As we start to up the performance, then the price will start to climb as well. Generation 2 or Gen 2 night vision id designed to assist where there is not a full moon, but one of its phases, such as crescent. There is a big leap in quality from Gen 1 night vision and the price you need to pay will go up as well. Think more in line with $400 to $1000 realistically. You will find that this is the first entry of the specialist, such as ATN, Bushnell and Night Owl.
Gen 2 goggles are intended for more serious use, such as surveillance, hunting and camping in the wilderness.
Generation 3 or Gen 3 Night Vision
This is where we get into the real serious used, to whom Gen 3 is essential. We are talking about the serious hunter who spends a lot of time in the woods. Also they are suitable, where a profession depends on them, such as law enforcement or private detectives. With Generation 2 goggles, you should be able to see clearly on a moonless night, when there is very little or low ambient light.
If you are going down this road, then expect to pay at least $2000 for a decent pair, such as the ATN PSV7-3 Night Goggles. If you don’t, you will not get the sharp and crisp images you need.
Generation 4 or Gen 4 Night Vision
Personally, for most private uses, Gen 3 is really as far as you need to go. When we get to Generation 4 optics, then we are talking about military standard. If you are a real enthusiast or do need the top range infrared goggles then Gen 4 is designed to function with almost complete absence of light.