"Hey", folks. The following question is stemming from a complete ignorance of the topic, so pardon me in advance if I sound like I have no idea what I'm talking about.... because I don't. All this talk of binoculars has raised a thought for me. Like many of you, I love watching nature, which is one of the highlights of camping trips. And, since there are so many types of animals that are nocturnal, I never see them. So, how practical/possible would it be to do some nature watching with a pair of night vision binoculars? I think the clarity would be fuzzy, and the images would all be basically a green color. But, is it worth the effort (very subjective, I know)? Do any of you do that regularly? Tried it? Have some specialist knowledge on night vision technology that you can share? Other thoughts on the topic? Rick - Poquoson, VA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/21/2003 3:40:14 PM Central Standard Time, Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com writes: > Do any of you do that regularly? Tried it? Have some specialist knowledge > on > night vision technology that you can share? Other thoughts on the topic? > I've sold night vision products to law enforcement accounts for a period of 2 years, including goggles, monoculars and binoculars. Basically, it is very spendy when dealing with higher quality imaging. You will hear the terms 1st, 2nd, 2nd+, and 3rd generation light gathering tubes. Ist is worse, 3rd is best, etc. Essentially, light is magnified in the light tube by a certain power factor, at the time I had experience with it, 3rd gen light tubes were magnifying light to 35k of its naked eye standard. To look up on a starry night with a set of quality goggles on is unbelievable, green or not. However, a brightly illuminated moon, a pair of headlights, etc, will completely shut them down until the offending light source no longer threatens the sensitive tube. Infrared spotting sources can direct an indetectable beam of light on the viewed subject, illuminating it further, but not typically detectable by the human eye. The infrared can brighten alot of retina's, and damage them, so be very respectful. I know of people who have purchased inexpensive NV equipment and enjoyed it. However, the 2nd, 2+ and 3rd gen stuff is spendy and one look through it compared to 1st gen or offshore made equipment may make you regret it. If I really wanted them and had the money to spend on them I could find a really high quality pair of goggles for under 2K USD. I have used them for nightwalks on the coast, etc., but never for wilderness situations. Anyway, that was 10 years ago and things have changed, I'm sure. Have fun, but mind your manners! Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>Infrared spotting sources can direct an undetectable beam of >light on the >viewed subject, illuminating it further, but not typically >detectable by the >human eye. The infrared can brighten alot of retina's, and >damage them, so be >very respectful. I certainly agree with all the rest but infrared, especially in the form used in built-in or supplemental IR illuminators for Night Vision use should not damage retina's. The most damaging portions of the light spectrum are on the blue-violet (UV) end. Near-Infrared and infrared are on the opposite end. In fact IR light is 100 times less damaging to the eyes than visible blue light. Additionally the risk is constrained by the distance from the source. The user of the device is in fact at more risk than the subject. One manufacturer of Infrared illuminator flood lamps put it thusly in their safety information when referring to safe viewing distance, "If you can feel the heat, don't stare at the lamp". Also it bears remembering that since in Night Vision devices the light is being amplified, when it comes to illumination, a little goes a long way. So we're actually using less illumination than we would be simply using the naked eye and a white illumination source. All of that said, I've been using a fairly cheap ($300Can, 3rd gen) set for a few years. It has pretty grim optics but it serves it's purpose. I've had it along for hikes, boating (great for after dark anchoring), and even just at the cabin. In fact I've even found it useful on late night drives to the cabin. When it's been rainy or foggy, I find that periodic quick scans with the NV over one eye can make Deer/Moose (and other animals) eyes show up from the headlight illumination kilometers ahead, where they can't been seen at all with the naked eye. I'm certain by now I've saved myself from one or more potential run-ins with animals on the road that I'd have otherwise have not been nearly so forewarned about. Another time a hike ended up taking much more time than the pre-trip data would have indicated. We had to make a crossing through a pass into the valley to camp. The sides of the path at this point were just too steep to camp even if we'd wanted to quit for the day, and my wife was physically and emotionally exhausted. I was initially quite concerned about the diminishing light, and yet knew my expressing concern of this fact would not have had the desired effect on my wife. Our white-light illumination reserves were with light camp use in mind, not the last couple hours of hiking and camp setup in darkness in mind. But then I recalled that the NV was in my pack, and that on my own I'd done plenty of through the woods navigation in darkness, and that I had the equivalent of weeks of illumination with that. My unit seemingly runs forever on 2 AA's (I use one or two sets a year). My apprehension eased and we set down for a long rest. With that rejuvenation we were able to make better time than we were, and fortunately the trail also became much more forgiving, and in the end we made it on time without having to pull out any plan "b" gear. In fact I've found that we enjoyed our trips far more than we used to now with the addition of safety gear that we're proficient with but fortunately haven't had to press into service. Much of the safety gear we talk about here gives a reserve safety factor that not only makes us more appropriately equipped for the rigors on the environment, but can also help us just enjoy more of the trip due to the reduced stress level (GPS and Gore-Tex are other personal favorites). The only thing I temper that with is that I don't mean to infer that one can simply buy a piece of equipment, throw it in the pack, and enjoy the "ignorance is bliss" false sense of security effect. One certainly must be proficient with their gear for it to be of ready and immediate use when the situation calls for it. But also I don't advocate using up that safety reserve by going beyond your wisdom and abilities in a trip because of the equipment you have with you. It's not supposed to be your main support rope, but rather that last net to catch you and preserve your life after you've screwed up, or Nature has thrown a curve. Apart from all that Night Vision can just be plain fun. On another hiking trip in the mountains we knew there were a lot of fish in the small lakes around us, because the surface looked like it was raining, there were so many fish nipping at bugs on the surface. I assumed that they were small fish though based on the few that broke the surface enough to give evidence of their size. However after night fall I went down to one lake near where we were camped to see what could be seen. Often times you can watch bats or birds doing circuits in the clearings over water like this as they hunt insects. Well I flipped on the illuminator and panned over the water and just about fell over because immediately I could see hundreds of fish, large trout sized fish in the water. I'm guessing that most of the lake was shallow and accounted for why I didn't see any fish jump out of the water, but it also kept them near enough to the surface that their scales all reflected the IR light. It was like putting on the mythical X-ray goggles. Some time later as I was still sitting by the waters edge I was startled by the sudden awareness that I wasn't alone. Something quite large was approaching me from behind. I stood, and whirled around, scanning and zooming the focus. There was a deer coming along the path slowly to the water and was at this point a mere 20 feet or so away. I was surprised that though I was standing in full view on the path, it didn't yet seem to have seen me, as it was continuing on, right at me. I waved my arm broadly for some movement, but still on it came. Closer to 12 feet I was really worried how surprised it might be to find itself so close to me with a last minute detection that I softly called out, and stepped to the side of the path, not knowing which direction it may bolt. To my relief, it simply stopped and calmly we watched each other motionless for what seemed like many many minutes. Then it simply turned to it's right and continued on at a pace that seemed entirely uninterested in my attendance. A proper bucket of cold water on my ego, that I should think the encounter to have been a bigger deal to the animal. I've still never been able to get past the feeling of being out of place or environment while watching goings on at night, even though with NV I'm much more aware and a part of it. While I'd prefer that nature feel un-threatened by my intentions and designs, so as to be ambivalent to my presence, I accept and enjoy at least their unawareness (for the most part) of me at night, which is so much rarer by daylight. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
A few thoughts on night vision: Quite a lot of documentaties are filmed, as far as I know, with normal, white light. Although a lot of animals only come out when the sun is down, they don't seem to have the brains to avoid, or even register, actual light. Knowing that, you can see an amazing lot of wildlife with a flashlight. In my parents home, we used to have a handful of birds (mostly parakietes) zooming freely through the house. The way to catch them (if we ever had the need) was to turn of the lights and catch them by candlelight. I don't know if the birds can't see that specific wavelength, or the light was just too dim for them, but fact is they are completely blind in that light. Hunters and fisherman sometimes (illegally) use a bright source of light to attract wildlife. Bringing light might be a way to see more wildlife then you ever imagined possible. However, you will be upsetting their normal routine with your light. I wouldn't want that. Anyway, I think there is a lot to explore before buying incredible expensive electronics. Niels. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/21/2003 5:01:52 PM Central Standard Time, niels.blaauw_at_wanadoo.nl writes: > Anyway, I think there is a lot to explore before buying incredible > expensive electronics. > When one tallies the losses incurred by wildlife and destruction and disturbance to habitat I am content to use binoculars at a distance until darkness falls then go to bed and let the critters have the world to themselves. Unless they come near camp and start testing my counter critter food protection measures. Then they get the flashlight treatment! Cheers, Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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