Looking to buy a Night Vision Monocular, any experience or suggestions?

[Blackcloud2]

I'm looking at a Bushnell in the lower $200.00 range and they seem to have more than one, but it's a bit confusing. 1st Gen, 3rd Gen, widely varying price for the same item from different sources? It has me leery about simply buying without knowing more. Product reviews are all about the same; half the reviews are great, half not so great. I'm looking to get this for my son who works patrol at night. Have any of you guys jumped into this arena?

[azmick]

I bought one for about $200 a few years ago, don't recall the brand, it lasted about a year and went pinchers up. It worked OK, and believe it was considered 1st generation. The images are green, my older brother is color blind and could not see a thing through it.
That is every thing I know about them, pretty much nothing

[Injunbro]

I've used Gen. 1 & 3, I threw the Gen. 1 stuff in the trash. If you're going to give this to your son for police work go directly to generation 3. Gen. 1 only uses existing light from stars, streetlights, etc. & are only marginally useful for anything. Gen. 2 is somewhat better but still lacking. Gen. 3 emits it's own light source (invisible to the naked eye) & is pretty good. There is such a thing as Gen. 4 that also uses heat sensing technology (& is so good it's scarey) but is only available to the military.

[Blackcloud2]

Update: Taking in the advice of my Arizona brothers, I did some research and now clearly understand what makes up the varying 'generation' technology. One of the guys at work did buy a 1st Gen device that I tried and then had my son give a run-thru over the past weekend, it was impressive to say the least! Not sure how long it will hold up, but the son's position is that for the non-routine times he'll be needing it, it should do a more than adequate job. The reason he says 'non-routine', it's not something he'd be carrying on his belt or use in a physical combat scenario, no it's something in his vehicle gear bag that he could pull on depending on the situation and opportunity. Injunbro, I agree by way of my reading that the 3rd Gen gear is (pardon the pun) the difference between 'night and day' related to performance quality, but they're also the price of a good used 4WD truck! We're (I'm) going to order one like my compadre from work has and let the son add it to his bag of tricks, for the price it's worth a try. It's a Bushnell sold thru Optics Planet. More to come as the son deploys it. Thanks for the input gents, much appreciated!

[EXNJCOP56]

BC2......$200.00 buck's...Can't buy any love today..Old Bushnell has outlet's here in Kansas City, a'lot of refurbished stuff in the store's...$200.00 bucks can't buy love....unless your in Vegas....

[DocZeus]

Yup....Quality Night Vision stuff's gonna COST ya.

Here's the latest thing available for civilians:

Cabela's: ATN Thermal Imaging Scopes

Absolutely MILITARY-GRADE Thermal Imaging Scopes.....BIGGGGGGGG Bucks!

Check out the resolution, and they work in TOTAL Darkness, through fog, smoke, etc.; light 'em up like a Christmas Tree:





Hopefully, in a few years, the price will come down on this thermal stuff......you can run, but ya can't hide.....I ALMOST feel sorry for our enemies.

DocZeus
AKA
David