Series Riflescopes

A Guide to Digital Night Vision – Using the Latest Pulsar and Yukon Digital Night Vision Devices

This grainy green blurred image is synonymous with Generation One night vision which often were ex military products from the Eastern Bloc and were unreliable and not the best in terms of performance.

These devices were very fragile and had a short life span as they were easily burnt out with light ingress from sources such as daylight, car headlights, torches etc

With a limited viewing range, the original Gen 1 night vision devices required a powerful ambient life source such as starlight, or an infrared light source to be able to see to any distance.

These image intensifier type devices have evolved using better quality image intensifier tubes and electronics into Generation 2 and now Gen 3 devices which give incredible viewing performance to long distances, but at an eye watering price and still with the restraints found in the original devices.

They were still dependent on the fragile image intensifier tubes, and could not be used in daylight, which poses a problem when you have to zero your rifle before a night hunting as zeroing at night is not the safest form of shooting!

With the advent of Digital Night Vision along came a range of devices with Gen 2 performance, at a fraction of the cost.

Digital Night Vision

Digital Night Vision does not rely on a fragile image intensifier tubes and instead used a CCD sensor much like you would find in a Digital SLR camera, and an electronic circuit board which processes the images onto a LCD screen which is viewed through the eye piece as a crisp black and white image.

This is not only easy on the eye at night, but offers a much sharper resolution and finer detail viewing than the old image intensifier green image.

Combine this technology with a high power Infrared or laser illuminator and you will have a viewing device capable in many circumstances of viewing between 250 and 400meters and beyond.

As there is no intensifier tube to “burn out” you can use these devices during the day as a handheld monocular or in the form of the Pulsar Digisight, a weapon sight that you can zero during the day, and even hunt with in daylight

At night however they come into their own.

Take the Yukon Ranger Pro handheld monocular for example, this device will allow viewing out to 400meters perfectly clearly, and is ideal for monitoring wildlife, or for security applications.

We recently had a customer buy a Ranger Pro to take to Kenya on safari, and he contacted us to say that at night he watched a pride of lions only a hundred meters from their lodge.

Whether you are viewing wildlife through a handheld monocular, or hunting at night, the ability to watch wildlife without using a light source is such an advantage.

These devices use a high power infrared illuminator to enhance the image when there is not enough starlight or ambient light.

As infrared is invisible to the eye, you can view wildlife without them knowing you are there, which is a big advantage when hunting compared to hunting with a riflescope and a high power white light lamp.

Recording what you see

Devices such as the Yukon Ranger and Pulsar Digisight for example, have an onboard video out, which allows you to connect the device to a television or a recording device such as the Yukon Mobile Personal Recorder.

You can then record the footage you view, which is brilliant for watching nocturnal animals such as badgers, foxes and otters.

You can then replay the footage on your PC or television back at home, and keep the memories of a safari trip night time expedition for ever.

The Truth is Out There…

Digital Night Vision such as the Yukon Ranger with its onboard recording facility, has become the favourite tool in the UFO watchers arsenal.

You Tube is full of suspected UFO’s captured on these devices, and as they use infra red, a whole new perspective of viewing is released with digital night vision.

Whether or not little green men exist, or the objects are shooting stars or research aircraft, the footage captured by the UFO enthusiasts on the Yukon Ranger has to be seen to be believed.

Types of Digital Night Vision

Pulsar Recon X550 Handheld Monocular

The Pulsar Recon X550 Night vision devices features a greater range of view (up to 500m) due to a more sensitive CCD array and advanced program technology employed.

Recon X550 is a compact and lightweight digital NV scope which is designed for hunting, security purposes and wildlife viewing at long ranges.

Recon X series nightvision features a greater range of view (up to 500meters) than the Recon models due to a more sensitive CCD array and advanced program technology employed in this model – Sum Light

Traditional NV devices emit the image to your eye using green light, which many believe to be the most comfortable viewing colour at night. Digital Night vision emits the image in black and white, however the Recon X 550 has a LCD Emission control system allowing you to choose the preferred LCD display colour.

Yukon Ranger and Yukon Ranger Pro

Yukon Advanced Optics has staked its claim for leadership within this field by offering a new line of Digital NV Ranger models that cover several performance and price categories.

The Ranger’s high magnification, increased observation range and stealth IR illuminator are just a few characteristics that separate Yukon’s Ranger from the rest of the market.

Ranger Pro is designed to be the most powerful and versatile unit available, complete with a rugged body packed with a sizeable amount of innovations. By integrating Yukon’s well known Dual IR technology, which extends the traditional IR range into a capable multi zone unit, the Ranger satisifies even the most demanding applications. Yukon Ranger features up to 250meters detection and the Yukon Ranger Pro up to 650meters detection

Pulsar Recon R Handheld Monocular

The Pulsar Recon R series of Digital Night Vision scopes are equipped with a built in appliance which allows video recording and photography immediately during observation.

This footage can then be played back on the device or on an external monitor. Ideal for wildlife safaris where you want to capture memories, or for security purposes for court or police viewing at a later date.

The recordable Recon’s are available as the Recon X550R with a viewing range of up to 500meters, or the Recon 550R with a viewing range of up to 250meters.

Both units feature a Video Output/Input facility as well as the LCD Emission control system to select viewing colour.

The Recon R devices use an SD memory card to record footage, and can be used during the day as a 5x monocular or at night as a night vision device.

Pulsar Digisight N550 Digital Night Vision Weapon Sight

The long anticipated Pulsar N550 is a revolution in night vision and is designed to fit firearms and airrifles for hunting at night.

Features market leading image resolution combined with switchable reticles and one shot zero, has made the N550 THE most wanted product in our marketplace.

Traditional NV tubes meant that shooting during the day was not an option, and you had to switch to a day scope should you wish to use your rifle during the day, with the N550 you can shoot during the day as well as at night, as the high performance CCD sensor and digital image processing is compatible with sunlight and Infrared at night.

A Video out facility allows you to record your evenings hunting, by streaming footage to a personal media recorder.

With a detection range of 400meters, the N550 is ideal for centrefire rifles for vermin control at night over long ranges, as well as for rimfire and air rifles for small vermin control in barns and around the farm etc

Built in IR illumination allows you to use the N550 in complete darkness, although a high power IR flashlight can be added to boost the detection of the unit further.

The future of Night Vision is here

With Digital Night Vision, the performance of high end NV Gen 2 and Gen 3 products is available to the consumer at a price of between £300 and £1000 depending on spec, which will allow you to view wildlife at night, without them ever knowing you were there.

For further information on Digital Night Vision visit Scott Country’s guide to Digital Night Vision which can be found at [http://www.scottcountry.co.uk/buyers-guide-to-night-vison-1018.htm]

Paul Stewart

Scott Country International

 

About the Author

Leupold VX-3 Riflescopes.mov

Le Creuset Stoneware 10 3/4 by 8 1/2 x 2 1/4-Inch Deep Dish Baker with Lid, Red $359.00 …

Yukon NVMT 2×24 Monocular-YK24021 YK24021 Yukon NVMT 2×24 Monocular The NVMT 2×24 night vision monocular is an incredible multi-functional unit; both compact and lightweight, this versatile monocular weighs only 13oz. Featuring a durable, Rubber Armor body the 2×24 is weather resistant and completely capable of being taken off the beaten path. The built-in Pulse IR system uses a powerful infrared illuminator to provide added light…

BUSHNELL OUTDOOR BUSHNELL 7 X 50 WATERPROOF / FOGPROOF BINOCULARS 137501 $237.98 Marine Binoculars.Bushnell suggests you keep them on board, but made their Marine series binoculars buoyant, waterproof and corrosion resistant, so a little dunking won’t deep-six your day. You’ll appreciate the ultra-bright, crisp views granted by their multi-coated optics and premium BaK-4 prism glass. Rugged rubber armoring provides a sure grip, absorbs shock and keeps them from sliding in roug…

Yukon NVMT 4×50 Monocular-YK24027 YK24027 Yukon NVMT 4×50 NV Monocular The Yukon NVMT series embraces modern, cutting edge technology without forgetting practicality. The NVMT 4×50 is the most powerful handheld in the Yukon arsenal; the incredible 50mm lens ensures powerful light gathering and light transmission for a pristine image. Capable of being transformed into any of the NVMT lines variations, the 4×50 can be used with NVMT…

Nikon Buckmaster 6-18×40 Riflescope (SF Matte, BDC) $359.95 Nikon’s renowned Brightvue multi-coating provides 92% light transmission for outstanding optical clarity. One of the world’s best-known optics companies, Nikon Sport Optics, has teamed with one of the nation’s most respected sporting organizations, Buckmasters, to produce a riflescope line featuring high-quality optics. Built to withstand the toughest hunting conditions, these scopes integrate …

BSA OPTICS S412X40WRCP 412MM X 40MM SPECIAL SERIES CENTERFIRE RIFLESCOPE $71.53 …

Hi-Lux ART2510X44 ART Series Camputer M-1000 Auto Ranging Trajectory Riflescope Hi-Lux ART2510X44 Developed by Jim Leatherwood, his now famous ART (Automatic Ranging and Trajectory) scopes made it easier for the military to train qualified long-range snipers by practically eliminating the need to estimate range. Thanks to a simple to read “through the lens” ranging system and fully adjustable external Camputer Cam System, soldiers were able to precisely place shots at ranges …

Hi-Lux BC156X42 BC Series 1.5-6×42 ATR Buck Country Riflescope Hi-Lux BC156X42 The scopes in the ATR Buck Country Series are destined to become classics among serious deer hunters. Here’s a scope that can take the rough handling of climbing in and out of a deer stand, or bouncing around rough county in a 4×4 pickup or on an ATV. Compare the quality of the optics with scopes costing twice as much, and you’ll quickly realize the value built into a Buck Country …

Guide to riflescope repair (Gunsmith’s guidance series) …

BARSKA 3-9×32 Plinker-22 Riflescope $49.97 Barska 3 – 9×32 mm Plinker – 22 Reticle Scope with Rings. Striking performance for your .22 and rimfire! Plinking or hunting, take aim with bright clear optics boasting the durability of scopes costing much more. Built to withstand the rough outdoors, the Plinker-22 Riflescope is waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. With fully coated optics, a 30/30 reticle, included 3/8″ dovetail rings and scope …