Thread: My attempt at DIY night vision

Following on from @Beavis thread http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...34/index4.html

Mine has been made with no soldering iron/tools of any description, just a leatherman, bluetack and tape....

Things I needed:
80mm downpipe (free)
storm water end caps (free)
Night vision tube ($110ish)
Lens ($45ish)
Tape ($5)
Battery pack and switch ($15)
Eye piece ($8)

I cut my downpipe to around about the correct size with my leatherman, wrapped the tub up in tape at both ends so i could barely move it in downpipe. Cut a hole in end cap for lens C mount to screw into (works well and means its just a case of screwing lens in and out to change).

Got the lens in focus.

Jammed my positive wire in the correct place and wedged it in with tinfoil as i dont have a soldier and my terminal hole wasnt threaded, bluetacked on negative.

Once it was in focus i went and cut a hole in the other end cap for my eye piece, this is only 3x but it keeps the image nice and crisp.

Spray painted the lot.

Just need to attach battery pack and im done.

I cant get good photos through mine with my camera but the image is surprisingly clear and lacking that fish eye effect for whatever reason (might be my 3x eye piece) i also have a reticle that i have a picture off below. Cool project and it is very impressive.

Varo Image Intensifier Tube IR Laser Viewer PMT Night Vision 7854A UV | eBay

Black 50mm f1.4 CCTV Lens + C Mount + 2 Marco Rings for Fujifilm X E1 X Pro1-in Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com

These are the products i imported (pretty sure i didnt pay that much for the tube tho)
@257weatherby

looks good mate, do you want to sell it?

Originally Posted by Bill999

looks good mate, do you want to sell it?

Not really mate haha

Nice stuff, pretty amazing how well they work, you can go the inexpensive route or something a little more fancy, and have a great bit of kit either way. Seeing in the dark is addictive though beware

That's awesome, how far can you see with it

Originally Posted by Tuidog

That's awesome, how far can you see with it

I would be interested too in how far you can see. Any chance of a pic in a paddock (incl livestock) in the total dark?

Can see pretty far. I havent had it out in total darkness yet so cant comment. Look at beavis thread, he has some description and distances he has observed with his.

I cant get photos from mine yet, might be my camera

Was just playing around on Trademe and I see some bloke selling a Fero 51 set on NV binoculars. They are Gen1 3 stage cascade and were still being used by the German military in the first Gulf war. He wants $350 for them.. Thats a bloody good price. I remember seeing a set in Shooters Supplys in Christchurch years ago for $7000, that did make me smile at the time.
If you are in the market for some decent Gen1 NV at a good price I`d grab them. No they are not mine nor do I know who is selling them and Im not interested in them as my kit is Gen3.