Night Vision monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

[thejim2]

hey everyone, I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, but I did consideralbe searching and couldn't find much on it...

I'm looking into buying night vision, but I'm not sure which to buy, a monocular, or goggle/1X binocular device. I will be using it primarily for Law Enforcement. A large chunk of my time using them will be just perimeter security...making sure I have eyes on a certain entrance/section of a building or area and calling out visuals of a subject. The other chunk would be searching for/encountering subjecs in both CQB situations and open fields/woods/etc. My rifle is set up with a NV compatable Eotech. Ive heard that a monocular device is better all around, especially CQB, but does that play games witht he other eye. Does the non equiped eye have to stay closed all the time when looking through the nv device, or does it stay open and just naturally adjust to your equiped eye looking through the nv device. for rapid room clearing and CQB, does the non equiped eye stay closed or open. It seems to me that having one eye equiped and the other not, it would play with your vision, as opposed to having goggles/binoculars, where both eyes see through the divice, it seems like less strain. I would really appreciate any input, adivice, and instruction you guys may have.

thanks, Jim

 

[aziator]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Flew helo's for 6 years with the goggles, they are very nice. When it was time to buy I went with the best I could afford with was a Night Enforcer from TNVC. You get used to running around with a single tube. I would love to have some goggles but for now I need to get one more tube so my wife can join in on the night hunt fun.

 

[Oakland Tactical]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Ok here is my experience. I have 3rd gen ITT goggles, dont buy goggles or a monocular if you are going to use the EoTech or any NV capable optics it way less than optimal and it would be dangerous and a liability for LE. You have to hold the rifle in such an unorthodox position and it is near impossible to shoot and move. A monocular will work well if it is attached to the weapon but you will have to use the weapon for observation.

NOW here is what I do suggest, I have an combination holographic/visible laser/IR laser optic (im a dealer for LE products) with that combo you can be deadly accurate to farther than I will disclose here. The only thing I would suggest is that when you are working in overcast moonlite nights you have a 200+ lumen white light on the rifle if you have to take the goggles off you will have some night blindness from the goggles and even with white light it will make every seem like your looking through rose colored glasses. Also good head gear make long perimeter duty much more tolerable.

With the suggested system you can shoot, move and observe very efficiently in total darkness, only thermal systems are better.

 

[TNVC - Kyle]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Some good info has been shared. I will add my two cents to the mix:

I have spent the predominant amount of my SpecOps and my LEO time under a PVS-14. I have used a varied array of "duals" but, I always defer back to the monocular. Here are some reasons why:

1. Adaptation - By keeping one of your eyes out of the goggle. You allow that eye to dark adapt to your surroundings. Once that has happened, I can usually see enough of the near things to navigate through a structure or find my way through the woods. That leaves my monocular focused out to my expected engagement range. Additionally, I also have the same perspective on what my adversary sees. This is important as a pair of duals will sometimes give you a false sense of security about being hidden by the darkness. Having one eye out of your NVD will help to mitigate that.

2. Transition - Keeping one eye out of my system allows me to immediately transition out of my system and engage in low-light conditions. While I have a light on both my weapons and, on my belt, they still could fail or, I may not be able to (have time to) get to them. If I have to come out from under duals...I am almost completely ineffective. With a monocular, I am still in the fight. I suggest wearing it over your non-dominant eye so that low-light or lighted transitions are seamless.

3. Flexibility - The PVS-14 gives me the ability to use my system for a LOTS of different things. I can attach it to my rifle and use it as a dedicated sight. I can add 3X or 5X magnifiers and do static observation from greater distances. I can affix it to my camera/ camcorder/ phone and film with it. I can shove it in a pocket or small pouch and use it in a handheld fashion. While you can do some of those things with binos, you can't do them ALL.

4. Price - Duals are prohibitively expensive for most LEO's and Civilian users. Typically, they cost more than twice what a monocular will. Like Aziator said above, I would rather get another monocular and have someone else come with me. Whether that be to a hunt or, a fight!

So, you can see, I am a fan of the monocular systems. For pure missions like Raids or HRT, I like the ability to run duals but, for overall mission capability, I am still a fan of the mono. Granted, my opinion is a little jaded as I have the most time under that system. However, for me, that has been my choice, as I have access to (then and now), anything I would like to use. (I am more lucky than most)

For systems, I prefer the ITT Night Enforcer PVS-14. It has been the standard that everyone else compare to. It was purposefully designed for LE work and it is a great fit to the type of work we do. It is a factory-built system with a factory-provided, five-year warranty. That is great piece of mind when you are spending this kind of money. It will last you as long as you want to keep using it. Hard to go wrong.

If you want any additional help, give us a shout, as we provide LEO/ MIL pricing (with proper credentials). We can get you setup. www.tnvc.com

Hope that helps.

Be Safe.

 

[aziator]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Kyle, great feedback. Most of the stuff I do with mine is hunting and I can't imagine having to walk through the woods at night without having an eye dark adapted to see the little things at my feet trying to trip me. The few times I used googles to navigate it sucked. I guess if I did it everynight I would get used to it.

 

[km2006dmax]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

I have both. A 14 and a bino rig. I have to say I never touch my 14 anymore. IMO the binos are way more comfortable, and give me less eye fatigue than a 14. 6-8 hours at a time a 14 will give me a head ache. Using binos I've yet to have one. They are also very nice when you are driving a vehicle or atv. I hunted for 4 years with a 14 thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread. Now it's always on a guests helmet instead of mine.

 

[I^2 Technologies - Peter]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: km2006dmax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have both. A 14 and a bino rig. I have to say I never touch my 14 anymore. IMO the binos are way more comfortable, and give me less eye fatigue than a 14. 6-8 hours at a time a 14 will give me a head ache. Using binos I've yet to have one. They are also very nice when you are driving a vehicle or atv. I hunted for 4 years with a 14 thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread. Now it's always on a guests helmet instead of mine. </div></div>

km2006dmax spends more than a little bit of time on goggles so he has some experience in this realm. Now there are systems out there as well as a few coming that put two monos together as binos...

There's something to bake your noodle!

IPSC_GUY
SIERRA II ALPHA

 

[wes1]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: km2006dmax</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have both. A 14 and a bino rig. I have to say I never touch my 14 anymore. IMO the binos are way more comfortable, and give me less eye fatigue than a 14. 6-8 hours at a time a 14 will give me a head ache. Using binos I've yet to have one. They are also very nice when you are driving a vehicle or atv. I hunted for 4 years with a 14 thinking it was the best thing since sliced bread. Now it's always on a guests helmet instead of mine. </div></div>

My experience mirrors Keith's. I don't think I will
ever go back to a PVS 14 after using a dual set up.(ANVIS9)

 

[Asm1]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Goggles I use light weight Anvis9 with select l3 DF3 tubes or my ITT F5050RG ground commanders with 72lpi /32sn/.3 EBI tubes .. But I do keep a pvs14 handy because it is such a durable work horse easy to pack and not fragile like most goggles .. End game lights out Hi alltitude EMP or insert dizaster of choice here( ) I would take aL3 shielded pvs14/6015 hands down. It will be a tool and goggles would take up more pack space and to fragile under such conditions.. I do like goggles better .. Like said above I mirror what is said otherwise .. hence the non redundant reply and touch on other aspects of some other diffrences in when you may want to use one over the other.

 

[shooter6.5]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Lotta really good feedback here. Kyle pretty well summed it up. I have a helmet mounted PVS-14, and a weapons mounted PVS-14. I have laser, both visible and IR on most of my weapons and seperate combo illuminators.

I also have a handheld thermal. Use the thermal for spotting activity, and then go to the helmet mounted 14 to spot the target. Once I am in range I go to the weapons mounted 14, and go from there. That works very well. I have uased the helmet bino combination overseas and it works great looking from a chopper but for me -- not so good on the ground. I really like having one eye out from the lense.

If I were going to spend that kind of money again I would try to use or atleast look through any devise before I buy it. I have made a few mistakes here and there, but then ya gotta spend that money somwhere!!

To answer one other part of your question, I shoot and hunt both eyes open all the time except behind scopped sighted sniper rifles. CQB rifles are both eyes open. One of my set ups is the 14 with a 3x magnifier behind an eotech that is NV compatible. Works great. For builing CQB I take off the 3x.

 

[Phantom223]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

I have four pvs-14's and two micro monos both with ENVIS front optics which also helmet mount very well? I also use the rhino and INVG mounts on ops core and pt helmets.i bought one of the dual pvs-14 mounts to try my hand at goggles since I already had several pvs-14s vs buying a pair of binos and taking the risk I don't even like using duals. First I will says driving our atv with duals is much nicer than a single tube system and I get less eye at the end of a long night of hunting. It just seems duals are much easier on my eyes overall and the image they provide is superior to a single tube system. That said the extra weight sucks and the loss of having one eye tuned to what's happening around you real time is a disadvantage vs a single tube system. Like anything else I tend to use one system for a task and the other for another different task. Each system dual or single seems to have advantages for certain jobs you need to do Overall I do use the single pvs-14 and INVG 75% of the time mainly size,weight and the way it works with my INVG mount just fits my hunting needs.

 

[Altnews]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

I have the best of both worlds: Two PVS-14s on a binocular bridge. Cheaper than PVS-15's or ANVIS, plus you can remove one tube (or both) from the bridge and mount it on the weapon with a QD mount and remove the other to use with a 6x or 10x telephoto lens for observation. They also quickly fold up out of the way close to the helmet if I go to white.

I use a CQBL on the rifle and a Surefire RAID visible/IR illuminator as well as an EoTech NV holosight.

In the binocular configuration I can navigate in rough country effectively because of the stereo vision provided by dual-tube NVG, and I can shoot using the IR or red (or green) lasers or I can go to white light and use the EoTech. I can also shoot through the EoTech with the right PVS-14, but the position is awkward and not terrifically accurate, but good enough for close to medium range if I have time to get my head positioned.

 

[Spuhr]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Why make a choise?
Please have a look on this video.
After next production batch you can buy it through TNVC or Mile High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4h4USJfmc

So here is all of the best worlds, dual, mono, lightweight, fast transsition. everthing.......

This is made around MUM14, but works as well with PVS14 and Vectronix to.

Håkan

 

[I^2 Technologies - Peter]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

How many people would be interested in a quality system to put two monocular's together in a mount that would quick release each mono?

IPSC_GUY
SIERRA II ALPHA

 

[Victor-TNVC]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuhr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why make a choise?
Please have a look on this video.
After next production batch you can buy it through TNVC or Mile High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4h4USJfmc

So here is all of the best worlds, dual, mono, lightweight, fast transsition. everthing.......

This is made around MUM14, but works as well with PVS14 and Vectronix to.

Håkan </div></div>

Thanks Hakan, your units are indeed quick detach and some of the highest quality we've handled period.

 

[SkyPup]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuhr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why make a choise?
Please have a look on this video.
After next production batch you can buy it through TNVC or Mile High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4h4USJfmc

So here is all of the best worlds, dual, mono, lightweight, fast transsition. everthing.......

This is made around MUM14, but works as well with PVS14 and Vectronix to.

Håkan </div></div>

That is really something, the slideshow on your main site with the up close photos are great too.

Apparently this interface takes a different mount than a Univsersal VAS Shroud, so would be dedicated to a helmet?

 

[Spuhr]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

It will work on standard vas pattern to....
Those units who have them bought Ops Core helmets with our interface factory installed.

Håkan

 

[SkyPup]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Thanks, that is good to know, that is a very highly engineered piece of equipment.

 

[Redman797]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

is there a list to get on for those mounts SPHUR? and if so how much?

 

[b4light]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuhr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why make a choise?
Please have a look on this video.
After next production batch you can buy it through TNVC or Mile High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4h4USJfmc

So here is all of the best worlds, dual, mono, lightweight, fast transsition. everthing.......

This is made around MUM14, but works as well with PVS14 and Vectronix to.

Håkan </div></div>

nice
look forward to availability to civilians.

 

[11B-B4]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuhr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why make a choise?
Please have a look on this video.
After next production batch you can buy it through TNVC or Mile High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4h4USJfmc

So here is all of the best worlds, dual, mono, lightweight, fast transsition. everthing.......

This is made around MUM14, but works as well with PVS14 and Vectronix to.

Håkan </div></div>

Very nice..... wish those were available military wide when I was in.

 

[Spuhr]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

We will make a new batch of those now, and within some months have them availible for civilians to.
Price is yet uncertain , but as they are totally playfree and the most wellmade system that will be seen in the price as the productioncosts are very high.

Håkan

 

[Victor-TNVC]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuhr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We will make a new batch of those now, and within some months have them availible for civilians to.
Price is yet uncertain , but as they are totally playfree and the most wellmade system that will be seen in the price as the productioncosts are very high.

Håkan </div></div>

We hope to show these off at our upcoming Shot Show booth! Hakan always shows off some VERY innovative kit every year we display.

Vic

 

[Armed Ferret]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Jim, FWIW, I was messing around with a pair of PVS-15B's last night while testing some PEQ-2's we found in the back of a connex. Granted, I spent about 10 minutes going over the NVD's before attaching them to my ACH and finding a dark corner of our camp, but for the life of me i couldn't get the image to even out (kind of a double-vision scenario) and the left diopter wouldn't focus completely for me.

Obviously this is just one personal experience, and doesn't mean you'll have the same issue, but frankly I'll be sticking with a monocular until I have a *LOT* more time to sit down with the manual and figure out what, if anything, I was doing incorrectly.

Not to mention the advantage of having at least one eye dark-adjusted already in case the unit fails or something.

 

[Phantom223]

Re: monocular vs goggle/binocular nv

Sounds like something wasn't setup correct on the PVS-15c. If the tubes are matched well and everything is adjusted correctly the two tube images merge togather like a normal set of day Bino's giving you "one" perfect round image circle. You shouldn't be able to tell Right from Left image tube. Image wise it's sort of like having HD TV its better than a single NV to look at maybe its the Depth in the FOV or just your brain likes the view better

Like in anything else there's trade off's as you lose your one night adjusted eye,heavier system weight,double cost and so on with night Bino's. You have to match the gear for the mission and pocket book as the say. These double mono mounts do really interested me as you have the best of both worlds making a single or dual systems in seconds giving you lots choices on how to use your gear. I looked at the BVND binos alot lately asyou can flip on side up and use as a single mono also if needed. Still owners of these I have spoke with all say the use it both eyes all the time so its nice to have that ability but rarely used.