Comparison Yukon Tracker 3x42 vs Yukon Tracker 1x24

The greatest distance at which a night vision device is capable of detecting individual objects.

The methods by which manufacturers determine this parameter may vary in detail, but the general principle is the same. Usually, the distance is indicated at which, with an illumination of 0.05 lux (a quarter of the moon) and a medium-contrast background, a rather large object can be seen — for example, a human figure with a height of about 170 cm is most often taken. of this object, but only to notice the very fact of its presence. Simply put, a detection range of, say, 200 m means that “something that looks like a person” can be seen in such a device at a distance of 200 m, but individual parts (head, hands) cannot be disassembled.

It is also worth noting that in fact this parameter is highly dependent on the characteristics of the situation. For example, a dark object on a very light background will be visible further, and on a dark one it may not be noticeable even up close; a similar phenomenon is observed for thermal imagers (see "Type"), only regarding the difference in temperature, and not in colours.

The degree of image magnification that a night vision device is able to provide without digital image processing, solely due to the optical system. Such an increase is considered to be preferable to digital, because. it does not impair the clarity of the visible image; and for models based on image intensifier tubes (see "How it works"), this is generally the only available option.

Theoretically, the higher the magnification, the greater the detection range (see above), since a powerful increase allows you to see smaller objects. However, it does not always make sense to chase the maximum performance. The fact is that with increasing magnification, the angular field of view decreases and the minimum focus distance increases (see both below), which can create problems at close range. It is also worth noting that a high degree of magnification adversely affects the luminosity of the entire system — as a result, the actual detection range in complete darkness may be higher for a device with a lower magnification, because. it "catches" more light. Yes, and this parameter affects the cost accordingly.

Note that night vision devices, unlike classical binoculars and monoculars, most often have a fixed magnification. Models with the possibility of smooth adjustment are almost never found, and the only option is to use additional nozzles (see "Form factor").

Now on the market are night vision devices with the following optical zoom: 1x, 2 – 3x, 3.1 – 4x, > 4x

The diameter of the entrance lens that the lens of the night vision device is equipped with.

This parameter is one of the most important for any optical device, including night vision devices: the larger the lens, the more light (or infrared radiation) enters it and the more sensitive the optics are, all other things being equal. The downside of this is an increase in the size, weight and cost of the device. In addition, do not forget that various tricks and additional technologies can be used in the design; therefore, by itself, a large lens is far from always an unambiguous indicator of a high class.

The angle of view provided by a night vision device — that is, the angle between the lines connecting the observer's eye with the two extreme points of visible space. Wide viewing angles allow you to cover a large area, but the magnification factor (see above) is low; in turn, increasing the magnification leads to a decrease in the field of view.

The smallest distance to the observed object, at which it will be clearly visible through the night vision device. For normal use of night vision devices, it is necessary that this distance does not exceed the minimum expected distance to the objects in question; thus, it must be borne in mind that the higher the magnification factor (see above), the greater the focus distance, usually.

The diameter of the exit pupil created by the optical system of a night vision device. The exit pupil is called the projection of the front lens of the lens, built by optics and electronics in the region of the eyepiece; this image can be observed in the form of a characteristic light circle, if you look into the eyepiece not close, but from a distance of 30 – 40 cm.

The practical significance of this parameter is that for normal visibility it must be no less than the size of the pupil of a person looking into the eyepiece. The diameter of the human pupil can vary from 2-3 mm in bright light to 7-8 mm in the dark. Therefore, the larger the size of the exit pupil of the night vision device, the better the visibility, usually; this is especially true with a minimum amount of light, when the brightness of the image is low even when viewed through the device. On the other hand, this feature significantly affects the cost of the device.

The offset is the distance between the eyepiece lens and the exit pupil of an optical instrument (see "Exit Pupil Diameter"). Optimum image quality is achieved when the exit pupil is projected directly into the observer's eye; so from a practical point of view, offset is the distance from the eye to the eyepiece lens that provides the best visibility and does not darken the edges (vignetting). A large offset is especially important if the night vision device is supposed to be used simultaneously with glasses — after all, in such cases it is not possible to bring the eyepiece close to the eye. It is also relevant for devices that can be installed on a weapon: the greater the distance to the eye, the less likely it is to get injured due to recoil.

The presence of a helmet-mask in the delivery set of the night vision device.

The helmet-mask is a hoop with a system of belts and a mount for the device. This design allows you to wear night vision devices on your head, due to which your hands remain free when working with the device. At the same time, the thickness of the hoop and belts is usually small, which allows them to be worn under a headdress.

It should be noted that the possibility of installation on a helmet-mask is found in many NVG models, however, the helmet-mask itself is far from always supplied in the kit. Buying it together with the device is much easier than picking it up separately.

The longest time that the device is able to work continuously from fresh batteries without replacing / recharging them. It should be taken into account that manufacturers usually indicate this time for perfect conditions: high-quality batteries, low brightness of the visible image, operation without the use of IR illumination, video output and video recorder (if available, see "Additional"), optimal operating temperature (see below) ) etc. Therefore, in fact, the time of continuous operation may well be lower than stated. Nevertheless, this parameter makes it possible to both evaluate the battery life of individual devices and compare them with each other.