The Best Night Vision Scopes
Whether you're birdwatching, tracking other elusive animals, or hunting, daylight always seems to be the limiting factor. Luckily, we're here to tell you that there's no need to painstakingly plan your time outdoors only to be stopped short of your target because the sun starts to set. Night scopes' updated light amplification and infrared imaging provide dramatically increased visibility, while the powerful optical magnification lengthens your range without sacrificing clarity. We've rounded up a list of some of the best night vision scopes on the market, ranging from thermal imaging monoculars to video- and image-capturing, long-range binoculars. Read on to find your next night-time 'nocs.
Firefield Nightfall Night Vision Monocular
For Your Nightfall Needs
Affordability meets functionality in the Nightfall monocular from Firefield, which can help you spot targets at a 100-yard range without breaking the bank. It’s built to function in all low-light environments by amplifying existing light, and it offers button-activated, infrared illumination for visibility in total darkness. Focusing the image is as easy as twisting the objective lens and eyepiece, and the 1/4″ socket allows for mounting the monocular on a tripod for maximized stability. You won’t be able to record video or capture images with this model, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find another reliable night scope at this price.
Pros:
- 100-yard range
- Built for all low-light environments
- Infrared illumination gives visibility in total darkness
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Doesn’t have video or picture-taking capabilities
- Narrow depth of field, requiring constant refocusing
Flir Scout TK Handheld Thermal Imaging Monocular
Pick Your Palette
From Flir’s Scout line comes their most affordable and lightweight model: the TK Handheld. The body is small and easily operated with one hand, thanks to a four-button design and an intuitive interface. A short press on the shutter button initiates image capture, while a long press signals video capture. The thermal imaging toggle button allows you to switch between color palettes to ensure your subject is appearing as clear as possible on the small LCD display. The whole model is rugged and weather-proofed, making it the perfect companion for your outdoor activities. Just be sure to juice up the 5-hour rechargeable battery before heading out into the field.
Pros:
- Various color palettes for ideal thermal viewing at up to 100 yards
- 5-hour rechargeable battery
- Weather-proofed body is rugged yet lightweight
- Designed to be operated with one hand
Cons:
- Pricey for its class of technology
Acpotel Night Vision Monocular
Easy on the Eyes
It’s one thing if you’re trying to scope out a nocturnal creature just for fun, but it’s another thing entirely to capture close-up images and videos of your subject in low light. Acpotel’s night vision monocular boasts a fixed 5x optical magnification that can be boosted by the 8x digital magnification. In the daylight, this equates to a whopping range of 1000 meters, while nighttime viewing using the infrared illuminator is understandably limited at a no-less-impressive 200 meters. The night scope includes a power adapter for the rechargeable battery, as well as an 8 GB memory card to store all your wildlife content.
Pros:
- Daylight range of 1000 meters; nighttime range of 200 meters
- Light body at just over half a pound
- Storage case, power adapter, microfiber cloth, and memory card included with purchase
- 8x digital magnification boosts the fixed 5x optical magnification
Cons:
- High magnification, but grainy imaging due to lower lens quality
JStoon Digital Night Vision Binoculars
Keep It Camouflaged
The hunt for a camouflage night vision scope ends here with these binoculars from JStoon. Their 3″ convex viewing screen provides a clear and crisp color image during the daytime and an equally good black-and-white picture at night. A 3x optical zoom combines with a 4x digital zoom to keep targets in sight from nearly 1000 feet out, while 960p videos and high-definition images can be stored on the included 32 GB memory card. The infrared technology on these binoculars has 7 different settings to adjust to varying levels of ambient light, meaning the hunt never ends. You’ll want to be sure to keep 6 AA batteries on you since this unit isn’t rechargeable, but it’s a small price to pay for such a solid reconnaissance companion.
Pros:
- 3″ viewing screen to assist in image and video capture
- Range of up to 984′, even in darkness
- 7 different infrared settings
Cons:
- Bulky and incompatible with helmet mounting
Creative XP Digital Night Vision Binoculars
Four Football Fields
When someone says 400 yards, it’s difficult to visualize just how far away that is — but saying “four football fields” instead provides pretty striking imagery. That’s how far these night vision binoculars from Creative XP can reach thanks to a 31mm objective lens and a built-in 7x optical zoom, amplified by a 2x digital zoom. But these binoculars offer more than just an impressive range; they’re also waterproof with a fully multi-coated (FMC) lens, which helps protect from inclement weather and the outdoor elements. Your purchase includes a 32 GB memory card along with a handy multi-device card reader so that you can transfer video and images in a flash.
Pros:
- Max range of 1300′ thanks to 7x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom
- Waterproof body with FMC lens for durability
- USB cable included for recharging capability (batteries not included)
- Multi-device card reader for uploading images and videos
Cons:
- Infrared illumination is limited to 3 levels with 8 AA batteries; external battery pack required for all 7 levels
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between infrared illumination and thermal imaging?
Yes — while the former creates images based on reflected infrared light provided by the scope itself, the latter reads differences in heat signatures rather than relying on ambient or artificial light. This means that thermal imaging is better at detecting life forms in total darkness. That being said, powerful infrared illumination should be sufficient for most uses.
What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?
Optical zoom is a direct result of a physical magnifying lens, whereas digital zoom is the result of cropping the original image before blowing it up again. You’re replicating digital zooming when you try to enlarge an image on your phone; the pixelation increases and the scope of the image decreases. Therefore, a higher optical zoom is generally considered to be more beneficial for image quality.
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