Thread: IR Torch options

What's out there in the 800-850nm range that has a really good output?

I'm finding my nightvision's onboard IR light is struggling to illuminate out far enough, however if I use a red filtered spotlight (EG visible red light) then I can see as far as I want, which tells me it's an illuminator issue rather than the limits of the optics.

I've tried 950nm illuminators but the scope is already struggling to get enough light, so I don't think that's a good solution.

I'd prefer to go with a true IR illuminator rather than keep putting red filters on regular lights.

I've been doing some digging and on the UK forums quite a few people recommend vcsel chip driven IR illuminators (basically a laser diode rather than plain LED), but they don't seem to be common in NZ, or I'm looking in the wrong places.

Any suggestions?

@ANOTHERHUNTER

I have been using the Convoy C8+ Infrared 850nm from peircing the darkness . it is compact and fits nicely on the picatinny peice on the side of my sytong. It gives a much better image at 300 m but seems to disappear after that , maybe 350m. I think that is plenty far enough for night shooting. I like that it spreads the battery load between the 2 devices too as you can turn off the ir torch on the sytong while using it. An issue can be that any grass or even a fence wire etc that is in front of your scope really reflects a massive amount of light back at you mucking up your sight picture. Need to be shooting off sticks mostly. Have shot deer out to 230m with it no problem .Hope that helps.

Go to this website https://www.nightvisionstore.co.uk/
I have both the Black sun dark engine blade in 850nm and the Black sun V20 in 940nm. they are both VCSEL torches. The 850nm will go out to around 450m with my Pard Night stalker.
the 940nm about 350m. They are both very compact.
What night vision scope are you using?

Black Sun Dark Engine Max from NV store uk linked by zero pak is a good unit for the price. Pretty large though because of the lense which allows a tight beam for very long range illumination.

Step up from that to laserluchs maybe.

What NV are you using?

Also buy a variable output / dial tail cap switch for dark engine stuff if you can. You don't want to blow out your sensor with max output on a close target.

Originally Posted by Roamr

Black Sun Dark Engine Max from NV store uk linked by zero pak is a good unit for the price. Pretty large though because of the lense which allows a tight beam for very long range illumination.

Step up from that to laserluchs maybe.

What NV are you using?

Yes the Max is a large unit. The blade is much more compact and around ½ the weight. It comes with a beam intensity dial on the end cap. Sp does the V20. The blade is the latest version of the Black sun models, and the most expensive. Value for money the V20 is a great deal and gives up very little in performance to the new Dark engine blade. I have also had the V20 in 850nm, I sold it to buy the dark engine blade, so I have seen the differences.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Yes the Max is a large unit. The blade is much more compact and around ½ the weight. It comes with a beam intensity dial on the end cap. Sp does the V20. The blade is the latest version of the Black sun models, and the most expensive. Value for money the V20 is a great deal and gives up very little in performance to the new Dark engine blade. I have also had the V20 in 850nm, I sold it to buy the dark engine blade, so I have seen the differences.

Ive ordered the V20. Big price difference between that and the Blade. Converting pounds to NZD is a shocking experience. Freight was 33 pounds. I need to go and lay down.

Originally Posted by ANOTHERHUNTER

I have been using the Convoy C8+ Infrared 850nm from peircing the darkness . it is compact and fits nicely on the picatinny peice on the side of my sytong. It gives a much better image at 300 m but seems to disappear after that , maybe 350m. I think that is plenty far enough for night shooting. I like that it spreads the battery load between the 2 devices too as you can turn off the ir torch on the sytong while using it. An issue can be that any grass or even a fence wire etc that is in front of your scope really reflects a massive amount of light back at you mucking up your sight picture. Need to be shooting off sticks mostly. Have shot deer out to 230m with it no problem .Hope that helps.

Very true on reflection! The Convoy C8+ is certainly closer in price range to what I was hoping for. Any wobble in the beam if you press on the side of the lens or change focus?

Originally Posted by zeropak

Go to this website https://www.nightvisionstore.co.uk/
I have both the Black sun dark engine blade in 850nm and the Black sun V20 in 940nm. they are both VCSEL torches. The 850nm will go out to around 450m with my Pard Night stalker.
the 940nm about 350m. They are both very compact.
What night vision scope are you using?

Using an early Pard NV008. I misspoke a bit in the first post - I'm hoping that a brighter illuminator will give better clarity rather than significantly increase my distance.
I've noticed that when using a strong red light or decent ambient light the image quality is great out to 200m, but with the onboard illuminator it's only ok around 100 and grainy by 200. To me this suggests it's more an issue of the sensor being starved of light rather than it being a limitation in the image it can produce.

Originally Posted by Roamr

Also buy a variable output / dial tail cap switch for dark engine stuff if you can. You don't want to blow out your sensor with max output on a close target.

Good point - one of the illuminators I have now has it and it's excellent.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Yes the Max is a large unit. The blade is much more compact and around ½ the weight. It comes with a beam intensity dial on the end cap. Sp does the V20. The blade is the latest version of the Black sun models, and the most expensive. Value for money the V20 is a great deal and gives up very little in performance to the new Dark engine blade. I have also had the V20 in 850nm, I sold it to buy the dark engine blade, so I have seen the differences.

Given that this is largely recreational and my end goal is better light for better image quality rather than further distance, which would you say is worth it given the big price differences?
Blade delivered: $406
Max delivered: $431
V20 delivered: $160

Convoy C8+ delivered: $72

Originally Posted by Tahr

Ive ordered the V20. Big price difference between that and the Blade. Converting pounds to NZD is a shocking experience. Freight was 33 pounds. I need to go and lay down.

Ooof... no kidding.

The on board iR's on my sytong ht-70 and Zulus both give a useable sight picture out to 300. I think it's the grunt of the units sensors as you say @canross 'cos they are only little IR units.
The main reason I want an add on is to prolong the units battery life - the IR gobbles through it.

That's definitely another big reason I like a separate illuminator.

Very true on reflection! The Convoy C8+ is certainly closer in price range to what I was hoping for. Any wobble in the beam if you press on the side of the lens or change focus?
I have a solid removable mount which just locks on to the picatinny peice , it is fixed in one position , not adjustable , and the torch dosnt have an adjustment , but seems to aim true with the sytong . i guess it has a bit of a spread at the longer distances so has a wee margin of error . no movement or wobble. will try and put up a video if i can make it small enough.

Originally Posted by canross

Using an early Pard NV008.
Given that this is largely recreational and my end goal is better light for better image quality rather than further distance, which would you say is worth it given the big price differences?
Blade delivered: $406
Max delivered: $431
V20 delivered: $160

Convoy C8+ delivered: $72

NV008 should be pretty damn clear at 200m. Resolution should be the bad factor before the built in illuminator that close.

Are you sure you're using max ir output on the device? Have you pulled the ir lens out a touch to tighten the beam? It's not loose or broken? (I had to screw my IR back together with a takeaway fork one night - the circuit board was loose and misaligned iirc).


Don't buy the max if you're using it at like 200m anyway, it's too bulky for that close. Much better suited when you need to squeeze more light out at 900m.