Night Vision Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

[One-Eyed Jack]

I have a new PVS-14 and would like to hunt at night. I haven't been out yet in the desert (still snow on the ground) and am wondering whether a one-eye monocular is the best way to walk around with lots of bushes to trip over while I'm hunting.

Other choices include the PVS-7, which is still a monocular but is viewed by both eyes, and the ANVIS-9 binoculars (pretty pricey).

For those of you with experience, what would I gain with the PVS-7 or ANVIS-9 NODs for walking around and shooting (with IR aiming laser) compared to a helmet mounted PVS-14?

 

[RADcustom]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Depth perception is limited with both the 7 and the 14. The PVS 14 is the better option I think because it only fatigues one eye. When you take the 7 off, it takes a minute for your eyes to readjust for the darkness. The 14 is a little more versatile for weapon mounting too.

 

[Mustafa]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Go with the 14. With some practice, you'd be amazed what you can navigate with it on. I've had success using my left eye (non 14) to look at really close obsticles around my feet, and the right eye (with the 14) for general navigation.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Yes, total lack of experience is the reason for my basic questions, I'm really looking forward to trying out my NV gear when we get back to NV. Good point about eye fatigue, the PVS-14 give it for sure and I hadn't thought about having it in both eyes and in the dark.

My ACH has a Surefire helmet light on the right side, which would be the eye that doesn't have the PVS, so that could be an aid for that eye. I'm just worried about tripping in the dark with a loaded rifle, there are lots of bushes in the desert that present a hazard even in the daylight.

 

[IR-V]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

The greatest complication for navigating with [portable] night vision is the lack of "auto focus". In other words, if the focus is set for distance viewing (e.g. for scanning the horizon), then objects nearby (e.g. at your feet or hands) will appear blurry and vice versa.

There's a trick for helping your night vision monocular function more like the human eye, which can rapidly adapt its focus. It is the same trick used by folks with myopia who suddenly lose their spectacles [and who are creative problem solvers]. I've only seen this method conveyed in U.S. military and law enforcement training, so I have to refrain from disseminating the details. However, if you study up on how the human eye functions, the approach will become evident.

IR-V

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes, total lack of experience is the reason for my basic questions, I'm really looking forward to trying out my NV gear when we get back to NV. Good point about eye fatigue, the PVS-14 give it for sure and I hadn't thought about having it in both eyes and in the dark.

My ACH has a Surefire helmet light on the right side, which would be the eye that doesn't have the PVS, so that could be an aid for that eye. I'm just worried about tripping in the dark with a loaded rifle, there are lots of bushes in the desert that present a hazard even in the daylight. </div></div>

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Off the top of my head I can only imagine that the solution is to make my PVS into a pin-hole camera somehow, which has an infinite depth of field. The daylight lens cap is a pin hole of sorts.

 

[softcock]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

my vote goes to you using the pvs14 on your head for foot-travel and hunting . You will get acclimated pretty quick & adjust to seeing obstacles on the ground and navigating in & around them .
Balance/vertigo I have only experienced ONCE with pvs14 & it was pretty weird . Was walking across a RR Trestle with open slots to ground between the Ties & carrying gear . Was a real MindFuck on the concentration for placing my foot-steps .
.

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

I certainly want to avoid having any mind-f**k babies!! I tried walking around the house wearing my ACH and PVS-14 the other day and had trouble avoiding bumping into doorways. I just know I'm gonna be in trouble for awhile.

 

[softcock]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

You won't be having any problems @ all running around in terrain @ night with it .
Mono on one eye & on the helmet starts getting pretty natural real quick when using regular & getting current with use . depth judgments & all just seem to all adj. the more hours you put on it .

Your brain will compensate for all the changes you give your eyes & NV .
Only thing that really takes work & practice & you need to stay current on is . Using with your all your other equipment when wearing NV on the head .
Like opening/taking-out & stowing your gear out the pack. Zippers/buckles Or dumping batteries & putting new ones in Etc . Or even the Dew/Fog with lens's & IR supplement & there len's .
That's really were all the work comes in when putting NV on your eye-ball .
.

 

[IR-V]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Outstanding start, OEJ! Your comments below: spoken as a true [optics] physicist! Fully work out the depth-of-view issues and you'll be able to traverse banks of stairs quickly and with nary a stumble in the dark (with your NV on). In actuality, there's two methods. You're touching on one. Another method allows you to use the focus from your eye's lens instead of depending on the scope's lenses.

BTW: Wilcox makes a filter for the ocular of the PVS-14 that minimizes the backsplash of light without seriously affecting the perceived intensity of the image (projected to your eyes). It also helps to reduce both eye fatigue / strain *and* the duration of the "temporary blind spot" that remains until your eye regains its adjustment to seeing in the dark. The filter and surround doubles as a demist shield.

IR-V

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Off the top of my head I can only imagine that the solution is to make my PVS into a pin-hole camera somehow, which has an infinite depth of field. The daylight lens cap is a pin hole of sorts. </div></div>

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: IR-V</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In actuality, there's two methods. You're touching on one. Another method allows you to use the focus from your eye's lens instead of depending on the scope's lenses.</div></div>
If the image on the phosphor screen is blurred because the PVS lens is not focused on the sage brush at your feet, I don't think there is anything you can do to make the screen image sharper, except refocus the PVS lens. However, your brain may still be able to process the blurred image if you use your peripheral vision instead of your central vision. That doesn't mean that you will see the brush at your feet more sharply, but your brain is use to processing peripheral images that aren't sharp and you might be able to navigate because peripheral vision relies more on change and movement than a focused image. Just a guess on this end.

 

[IR-V]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

You were very quick to (correctly) ascertain the limitations of the AN/PVS-14 ... method #2 requires a different scope technology than the AN/PVS-14 ...

IR-V


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: IR-V</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In actuality, there's two methods. You're touching on one. Another method allows you to use the focus from your eye's lens instead of depending on the scope's lenses.</div></div>
If the image on the phosphor screen is blurred because the PVS lens is not focused on the sage brush at your feet, I don't think there is anything you can do to make the screen image sharper, except refocus the PVS lens. However, your brain may still be able to process the blurred image if you use your peripheral vision instead of your central vision. That doesn't mean that you will see the brush at your feet more sharply, but your brain is use to processing peripheral images that aren't sharp and you might be able to navigate because peripheral vision relies more on change and movement than a focused image. Just a guess on this end. </div></div>

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

"A different technology" would apply autofocus, like that found on video cams using IR, to the objective.

 

[IR-V]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Uh oh ... getting cold. Well, maybe not all that cold. Conceptually, you're still on the right track. Just remember that your eye is the autofocus, whatever else in front of it only has to not interfere with letting your eye do its work.

"The difficult things are always simple, the simple things are always difficult!"

IR-V

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"A different technology" would apply autofocus, like that found on video cams using IR, to the objective. </div></div>

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

I'm trying to avoid having the answer become a guessing game. Assuming that I'm wearing a PVS-14 on one eye and the PVS is focused at a distance, the brush at my feet won't be in focus through the NOD. Now I'm wondering whether my pupils operate independently or in concert. The brightness of the PVS in one eye could make the pupil in the other eye close, making it more difficult to see in the darkness with the naked eye. In that case, closing the eye with the bright PVS would open the pupil on the other eye, which you could use to look down at the brush.

 

[IR-V]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Taking a break before the thread [unintentionally]becomes a "find the rock" exercise ...

It is generally better to keep both eyes open when viewing behind a single-ocular scope, regardless of whether it is night vision or daytime optics.

One caution, however. If you are using high-powered IR lasers with a good seal between the eye-cup and your viewing eye, the PVS-14 monocular will protect the viewing eye as the incoming light does not pass directly through [the scope] to the eye. Unless you have safety eye-wear on in this use scenario, you could injure your other eye (not behind the PVS-14 monocular) from IR radiation deflecting back from reflective surfaces.

IR-V

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm trying to avoid having the answer become a guessing game. Assuming that I'm wearing a PVS-14 on one eye and the PVS is focused at a distance, the brush at my feet won't be in focus through the NOD. Now I'm wondering whether my pupils operate independently or in concert. The brightness of the PVS in one eye could make the pupil in the other eye close, making it more difficult to see in the darkness with the naked eye. In that case, closing the eye with the bright PVS would open the pupil on the other eye, which you could use to look down at the brush. </div></div>

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

IR-V -- I can't find anything on the Wilcox website about the filter you mentioned that reduces eye fatigue (or am I reading too much into this?) - do you have a part number or name for it?

 

[IR-V]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

OEJ,

It's the Wilcox Industries in NH:

Wilcox Industries Amber Filter Lens Cap

Specs and product numbers are at the link above!

IR-V

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">IR-V -- I can't find anything on the Wilcox website about the filter you mentioned that reduces eye fatigue (or am I reading too much into this?) - do you have a part number or name for it? </div></div>

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Thanks IR-V.

 

[IR-V]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

You're welcome, OEJ. One thing to take note of is that the Wilcox filter will change the viewing image on your PVS-14 from the usual shades of green to [lighter] shades of amber. Personally, this is not a problem for me and I find the amber light is actually easier on my eyes and helps me discern detail better. However, there are some who are much more partial to the "green screen."

If you acquire the Wilcox filter, let me know if you need some pointers on the installation. It doesn't typically come with instructions, and first-time users are often in a conundrum to figure out how to attach it to the ocular interface on their PVS-14.

IR-V

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: One-Eyed Jack</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks IR-V. </div></div>

 

[Victor-TNVC]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Here's another link to the filter.
http://www.tnvc.com/shop/wilcox-amber-filter/

 

[One-Eyed Jack]

Re: Night hunting: PVS-14, PVS-7, ANVIS-9 ??

Thanks guys, I'll call TNVC on Monday and order one. I hope it reduces the intensity of the green screen and the eye fatigue that goes with it.