Night Sight

Dave_Knowles · 19 Aug 2003

Hi,

Having now twice gone up the Beaulieu River in the dark I wandered if a night sight would be a good purchase to vback up the torch. Does anyone use one and do they help?

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

Guest · 19 Aug 2003

Used a cheapo Russian one (£140 or so) for a while until it died. Much easier than a big searchlight, as no blinding glare from decks/rails. Will probably get another one....

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hlb · 19 Aug 2003

Get a digi vidio camera with night sight. Then you can see where your going and film it as well.

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn

Dave_Knowles · 19 Aug 2003

Haydn,

You obviously eat a lot of carrots or maybe you don't go out at night.

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

milltech · 19 Aug 2003

I think this is probably the only subject where I can boast to be the resident expert! However the prices on my web site are the least competitive in the country, and this is because it is one of two areas of my work where there is a dealer network that won't buy if I sell because I am the importer.

The answer I think, specifically related to Beaulieu is that I think it would work very well. Night Vision multiplies the small amounts of lights from the stars or urban lighting that remain after dark, and because it is a photo multiplier it suffers when there are bright lights ahead. So, for example, it would be less good coming into a harbour-side town where street lighting etc can blind it. In these cases the user needs to point the scope down at the water and bring it up slowly, hoping to see the entrance etc. without gathering too much of the town behind.

Go for a unit with a wide field of view and no magnification. Magnification narrows the FOV and also allows less light in making it less efficient. If you want to look at wildlife then magnification becomes essential, but for navigation/security uses the maximum field of view is more relevent, allowing you more chance to pick up a target in one view rather than scanning the horizon.

Although night vision cannot tell red from green it can at least find lights for you, and allow you to see and count the beats of a cardinal mark not visible to the naked eye, and likewise to see the loom of a lighthouse long before the light is visible.

Any more questions and I'll try to answer them. My night vision products are distributed by CFM in Norfolk 01328 710125 who can tell you where and who the dealers are, probably Mailspeed, Nauticalia and Pumpkin, not sure who else.

Col on this forum has one, you might ask what he thinks of his.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
Edited by milltech on 19/08/2003 11:00 (server time).

Guest · 19 Aug 2003

John, if you handle the little 1:1 units that Nauticalia sell, then I can also attest that they are good. Like you say, they get dazzled by bright lights, but for unlit harbours they are superb. I used mine a few times coming in to Studland in the dark, where you get loads of boats anchored without lights, and you need to find the unlit bouys. Wish I'd had the other week coming into Christchurch in the dark, too.

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Alistairr · 19 Aug 2003

I went too Night School, so i could see in the dark!!

Why not try the same??

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>

Petrol Rules..

jon_bailey · 19 Aug 2003

Don't want to get too pedantic and argue with an expert, but AFAIK Night Sights work as image intensifiers not photomultipliers.

Image intensifiers use a photocade and Micro Channel Plate (MCP) with a large DC voltage applied to multiply the number of electrons produced by the photocathode using an avalanche technique. These additional photons then fall on a luminescent screen that produces the intensified image. The reason that the colours cannot be distinguished is because the phosphor used on the luminescent screen is only available as a single colour usually green.

The bleaching caused by strong lights is due to the afterglow of the phosphor combined with the intensified image.

Photomultipliers are single element devices that are no good for producing an image.

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milltech · 19 Aug 2003

I limit my scientific knowledge to having sold them for 10 years. However, just as a minor point, it's very unlikely that anyone will be buying a unit that uses an MCP, although we certainly have them for sale.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

Guest · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, I\'m nerdier than you

A Generation One unit (like John's little handhelds as discussed) has a photo cathode plate to convert photons into electrons. The electrons are accelerated through a megaphone shaped device called an anode cone onto a phosphor screen running at a higher voltage. It is the use of this cone, which causes the focus to be perfect only in the centre of the image. The expected light amplification is between 150 & 400.

Generation Two and 2+ products use a micro channel plate between the photo cathode and phosphor screen. This plate is a bundle of fibre optic cables. As the electrons pass down the fibre optics they bounce off the sides, multiplying with each strike so that the gain is increased to 20000 to 30000. Distortion is reduced and the focus is 100% better across the whole image. Gen 2 devices are typically 5-10 times the cost of Gen 1.

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Dave_Knowles · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, I\'m nerdier than you

Now we are all going to night school!

All I wanted to know did anyone use them and if so would they be of use at night to help me up the Beaulieu River.

<hr width=100% size=1>Take care.

Dave

Dave Knowles
Southampton - UK

http://www.MyCleopatra.co.uk

TwoStroke · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, I\'m nerdier than you

I'm surprised that Happy1 hasn't come in on this, as from his experience he should have the required expertise! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif /forums/images/icons/wink.gif Does he know of any 'cheap' ones going on the market??

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

Edited by TwoStroke on 19/08/2003 14:38 (server time).

wakeup · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, I\'m nerdier than you

Don't encourage the Ooanquerrrre!

<hr width=100% size=1>...but then I would say that wouldn't I.....

jon_bailey · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, I\'m nerdier than you

Oh so I refuse to be drawn into a who's nerdiest competition and will continue to wear my anorak with pride!

As Dave says all he wants to know is are they any good - not hear a lot of saddos discussing the gobbledegook that surrounds imaging systems.

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Guest · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, They\'re very good.

I liked mine, till it died. I want another one.

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TwoStroke · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, I\'m nerdier than you

There's no harm in asking for his expertise in this field as I'm sure he has used the equipment in the most hazardous conditions (Solent)! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

Gludy · 19 Aug 2003

Re: OK, I\'m nerdier than you

I would also like to know aht others use on boats and if any really prove useful - make and model please.

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

Col · 19 Aug 2003

As John says, I have one and very good it is too. It is ideal for what you want, and this is the very reason I got mine.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>

TwoStroke · 19 Aug 2003

From what I can remember, one of those digi night time video cams, when set up correctly it's like having x-ray vision and you can see through people's clothes. Quite spooky, but very entertaining when not wearing underwear!! /forums/images/icons/blush.gif

Where's PaulineB? Night time vision?

<hr width=100% size=1>How much to fill'er up!

Gludy · 19 Aug 2003

So please name the make, model and where obtainable from?

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul

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