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Best Night Vision Monoculars
Nothing reinforces our limited vision than low-light or complete darkness. Quality night vision monoculars can help you to see what you have been missing once the sun goes down.
The five products below represent the best night vision optical devices.
Our Top Five Night Vision Monoculars Reviews
| Product | Viewing Range | Magnification Power | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1. Solomark Night Vision Monocular Our Best Pick  Check Price | 956 feet | x1 - x3 | 4 x AA |
#2. Firefield Nightfall 2 Vision Monocular  Check Price | 328 feet | x1 - x2 | 4 x AA |
#3. Bushnell Equinox Z Digital Night Vision Monocular (3 x 30)  Check Price | 590 feet | x5r | 2 x AA |
#4. Night Owl Optics 5-Power Night Vision Monocular  Check Price | 656 feet | x1 - x3 | 4 x AA |
#5. Bushnell Equinox Z Digital Night Vision Monocular (6 x 50)  Check Price | 700 feet | x5 | 1 x 3v Lithium |
#1. Solomark Night Vision Monocular
The first thing that stands out on the Solomark is the body shape.
It does not offer a tubular-type of a profile, but this design feature is understandable when considering the functions that it provides.
The 6 x 5 x 5-inch dimensions are noticeable only when they are compared to traditional monocular shapes.
A color LCD screen generates the images that are captured with the third-generation technology that is used by Solomark. Images are clear in appearance no matter which magnification setting is selected.
The magnification is adjustable to 1.0, 1.3, 1.6, and 2.0 viewing sizes. These settings may feel more like a gimmick as most users will detect little changes except at the lowest and highest magnifications.
A maximum range of approximately 328-feet can be achieved with this unit, but only in low-light conditions. Ranges will be less than this in total darkness, a possible trade-off for the lower price point. Its 7 level IR illuminator compensates for this by providing a clearer view of objects in the dark.
It has a built-in SD card with 1GB of memory. It has the capability of loading any captured video footage to external devices such as a smartphone or a laptop computer.
- It has image capture and video functions
- A color LCD screen provides field-of-view imagery
- The manufacturer offers a two-year warranty
- Video quality drops in total darkness
- IR features can generate noise
Where Does it Fall Short?
While this monocular uses generation 3-plus technology with NVD, there will be a noticeable drop in video capture quality in total darkness.
It offers peak performance in the low-light of dusk and pre-dawn hours.
#2. Firefield Nightfall 2 Vision Monocular
The Nightfall 2 is made from durable materials that should provide the interior components with adequate protection.
A rubber coating has been added over the body to provide extra protection, with an added bonus of generating greater grip.
It is weather resistant, a design feature that can be lacking with some inexpensive night vision optics. This will the product to be used in wet weather without the fogging issues that plague other devices. Keep in mind that weather resistance does not equate to water-proof, however.
The display produces images in a light green color in five power magnification. That power should provide the magnification needed for identifying potential targets and low-light tracking.
A 12 mm eye relief allows a user to see the entire field of view without having the eyepiece crammed into their eye socket. This can be an important consideration for those who wear corrective lenses.
The Nightfall 2 uses an IR light to highlight objects. This provides a clearer image in the darkness that helps the target stand out. The view will not be as clear for objects along the edges though.
- Durable design elements provide longevity
- Water resistance keep it working in wet conditions
- A longer eye-relief helps users wearing glasses
- It uses first generation night vision technology
- The infrared light can be seen at certain angles
Where Does it Fall Short?
The lower price point for this monocular does come at a technology cost. It uses the first generation night vision technology.
That means that the images that are seen are not as clear as they could be if second generation technology or above were employed.
#3. Bushnell Equinox Z Digital Night Vision Monocular (3 x 30)
This night vision monocular has a wider body, giving it a shape that measures 6.5 x 2.1 x 3.2-inches.
The 15-ounce weight does keep it from feeling too bulky, however. A wider body allows it to house the infrared illuminator that assists in painting a target in the dark.
A 30-foot field of view is an increase when compared with other products in the Equinox Z Digital line, and the range of 656-feet is farther than other night vision equipment with a similar focal length and magnification power.
Full-color images can be displayed and the ability to use this unit as effectively in the daytime provides a more versatile night vision monocular.
The built-in IR illuminator is not only able to paint a target, the brightness of the beam is adjustable. This added feature sounds great, but most viewing in the darkness will require it to be adjusted to the maximum setting.
While an unstable hold can produce a grainy picture, this monocular comes with a picatinny-style rail mount as well as a tripod mount. This allows it to secure onto a steady platform.
- Works effectively in daylight as well
- The IR brightness is adjustable
- It comes with rail and tripod mounts
- Image clarity influenced by the stability
- Does not record images or video
Where Does it Fall Short?
A letdown with the 3 x 30 model is that it cannot capture images or video, a feature that is found on the other Equinox Z units in the series.
That could be a deal breaker for those looking for a Bushnell night vision monocular with those capabilities.
#4. Night Owl Optics 5-Power Night Vision Monocular
The monocular is covered with a rubberized sleeve that, along with an ergonomic shape, provide comfort and hand relief when it is used for long viewing sessions.
The built-in IR emitter is located along the top and creates a taller profile than a side-mounted either would. It is still compact enough to not be considered bulky, and its minimal weight adds to this feel.
The Night Owl makes use of first-generation technology that was standard in the past. It will generate green screen images, but they do appear crisp and provide adequate detail. A higher resolution can be achieved through the 35 line-pairs per millimeter rated optics.
A wide field of view is provided by this night vision monocular, with a width of 44-feet at a distance of 200-feet.
This device has a power magnification of five, a feature that should provide quick target identification for hunting or observation. Another element to appreciate with this monocular is a viewing range up to 700-feet.
A hand strap is included that will improve image stability and protection from drops. Impact-resistant thermoplastic protects the lens in the event it is dinged or dropped.
- It has a wide field of view
- The eyepiece is adjustable
- Provides up to 100-hours of battery life
- Uses generation 1 technology
- IR emitter barely improves image capture in darkness
- Battery must be purchased separately
Where Does it Fall Short?
A lack of improvement when the target is painted can be noticed. A built-in IR beam should noticeably improve the target’s detail but the images that the Night Owl captures are barely improved when IR highlighting is added.
#5. Bushnell Equinox Z Digital Night Vision Monocular (6 x 50)
The many features included in the 6 x 50 model require more housing, and this is noticed in the 7.8 x 2.5 x 3.9-inches body.
A weight of 27-ounces nearly doubles that of the 3 x 30 model but is not a deal breaker by any means.
The 984-foot viewing range might only be achieved under the best conditions but this device almost doubles the range achieved with the other monoculars in this review. Its longer range does drop the field of view down to 20-feet at 100 yards of distance.
The digital technology used in this night vision monocular allow it to generate color images during the day, a feature that allows the Equinox Z to be used effectively no matter when it is called upon for viewing
Unlike the 3 x 30 model reviewed above, this monocular is able to capture images and video. It includes a cable for exporting data to external devices.
It also includes a rail and tripod mount, as well as a hand strap for image stability.
- It has image and video capture capabilities
- This model is rated with a longer maximum range
- Five buttons provide exacting control of features
- This monocular is a bit heavier than others
- Clustered buttons difficult to select in the dark
Where Does it Fall Short?
While the 6 x 50 does provide a noticeable range increase when compared with the 3 x 30 reviewed previously, it provides little improvements to image quality beyond that.
The magnification power is the same and the images are displayed in the same black and white quality found with the 3 x 30.
Our Choice
Each of the night vision monoculars reviewed above can offer unique build and design features that any user will enjoy. We do feel, however, that the Bushnell Equinox Z Digital Night Vision Monocular (6 x 50) does represent the best of the best on this list.
The stand-out feature on this monocular is the maximum viewing range. At just under 1000-feet, it provides images found at greater distances than the other four devices simply cannot.
Add to this its ability to capture both still images as well as video, and it begins to become clear as to why the Equinox Z 6 x 50 could be our choice.
It can be used just as effectively during the daytime as it can be in low-light or darkness, with the added bonus of producing color imaging during the day.
While this monocular will cost you more than the others, the price should still be in range for those looking to see what goes bump in the night!
Good review of the Best Night Vision Monoculars.