Generally Speaking
We think Digital Crosshairs 1000 night vision clip-on is a great choice but here is some general information to think about when deciding on a night vision product.
It don’t have to cost thousands of dollars to kill a few hogs in the dark!
About Night Hunting-
- All dedicated night vision and thermal scopes will cause temporary night blindness after looking through them in the dark. Your eye pupils will shrink from the light in the scope and will take a few seconds to re-open and adjust to the darkness. Only exception are Digital Crosshairs and NiteSite products that use LCD displays.
- It is very hard to judge distance when you are in the dark and your only field of view is through your night vision device.
- No night vision scope is as clear as a high quality day vision scope. It is the best of both world using a clip-on.
- Check with your night vision manufacturer about maximum caliber weapons they support.
Digital Night Vision
| Pros | Cons |
| Gen 2 or better equivalent at lower Cost. More natural image, easier to identify target than thermal | IR reflects off leave & brush affecting visibility |
| Use Day or Night | Smoke and fog decrease visibility |
| Tougher, more rugged | Requires IR illuminator for optimal use |
| Cost less than thermal and Intensifier tube technology | IR illuminator has faint glow that may give your position away |
| Clear target identification at 50 to 150+ yards | Optics do not compare with high quality day scopes |
| Many have video output and/or record capabilities | Some have programmable features may not be practical in fast pace hunting situation |
| Fast startup time, sometime instant on | Camouflage is often still effective. |
| Can see through windows | |
| Better visibility in rain than thermal | |
| High contrast black and white night vision image | |
| CMOS night vision sensors do not have limited life span like intensifier tubes and thermal |
Intensifier Tube (I2) Night Vision
| Pros | Cons |
| More natural image, easier to identify target than thermal | Fog, smoke and dust obscures the image |
| Gen 3 on has longer range than most digital night vision | Larger/Heavier |
| Cheaper than thermal optics | Worthless during the day or in lighted rooms |
| Benefits from IR illuminator but Gen 2-4 intensify light without IR | Camouflage is often still effective. |
| Sensitive can be damaged if exposed to bright light | |
| Bright lights and fire stacks will cause them to shut off for protections | |
| Limited lifespan | |
| More expensive than digital night vision | |
| Cannot handle large caliber weapons | |
| Optics do not compare with high quality day scopes |
Thermal Night Vision
The major difference with thermal-IR is that thermal-IR is emitted by an object instead of reflected off it. No light source is required with thermal.
| Pros | Cons |
| See in any lighting conditions – Day and Night | Nearly impossible to positively ID person except with most expensive equipment |
| See through smoke/fog/dust/sand | Image requires some training to interpret |
| See through leaves, brush and thin materials | Hot objects like rocks and hot building in urban areas will wash out human and animal heat signatures |
| Track residual heat (handprints, footprints) | Long startup/warm up time |
| Works in absolute darkness | Thermal optics cannot see through windows |
| Give off no light, will not give your position away | Extreme cold can affect the quality of a thermal image |
| Long range target acquisition | Generally more expensive |
| Many have video out capabilities | Larger and heavier |
| Fast target acquisition | Does not work in rain, misty, very humid conditions |
| Durable solid state technology | Optics do not compare with high quality day scopes |
Closing thoughts
To some extent, buying night vision is like buying a car. There are some really good choices out there and a few lemons. One thing to remember, you can’t see in the dark so if you plan to move around stalking none of these will help you get around.
Digital Crosshairs night vision clip-on has an LCD display that give off just enough light that you can see where you are stepping, but not so much as to alert the animals you are hunting.
Check out our video at: https://youtu.be/Ayu8AYZApJQ
