******
- Verified Buyer
I am funny about 'night vision', especially when you don't just come right out and say 'InfraRed' or 'IR' to start...see, there are two types of 'night vision', 'light gathering' and 'heat' or 'IR'. IR tends to not be as crisp, concise as light-gathering units do...and often have a shorter range as a result. I read the 'specs' on the listing, then went out on the internet and did more research on the unit...frequently cited as 'the best unit you'll find for $200.' Ok, fair enough...and at that price, anyone that has ANY knowledge KNOWS you aren't going to get into 'true light-gathering' units until you go above $2,000...so, obvious, it's 'IR'. I read a lot of the reviews, noted a few that got 'used and didn't work' units...ok, I'll watch for that when it arrives. I ordered a set. Shipping was fast, product was new...and the day it arrived, I also received a letter from the OEM saying 'if you receive a used pair, we did NOT send it. We do not send out ANY 'used' products. Amazon tends to 're-issue' returns, and you have received a re-issue. If it does not work, for any reason, simply return it to us, and we will 'make it right'...wow, now THAT is excellent...service AND an explanation! Don't get that everyday!So, one major comment is 'read the instructions FIRST'...got it. Seriously, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE UNBOXING ANYTHING ELSE, to avoid the temptation. Once you're done, get a cup of coffee, think it through, THEN READ THEM AGAIN! I promise, you'll reference them at least one more time before you probably turn it on! Now, manual in hand, read WITH ATTENTION about batteries. This does NOT like rechargeables...but as I am an 'Eneloop junkie', and maintain mine properly, I know that mine, with a fresh top-off, hold almost 1.4-volts, similar to an average Alkaline, I dropped them in and they CAN WORK...though they'll drop one bar of battery charge faster than, say a new Energizer. All other rechargeables need not apply. This unit uses a LOT of power...and as such, most rechargeables don't like that high of drain-rates.Next...WHERE DOES THE MICRO-SD card go? Seriously, I read and re-read...and couldn't find it...and didn't notice the nuance of it not going INSIDE the battery compartment on the left, but goes in the left side case itself...little rubber door that covers the micro-USB and card slot area! Duh. Next, pay ATTENTION (as the instructions are VERY specific): this is NOT water-resistant, let alone water-proof! KEEP IT OUT OF THE RAIN...if this affects your planned use (boating, fishing, hunting, etc.) re-think buying it...you're going to have a failed product pretty-quick, I'm guessing.As for performance...it has most everything you want. Adjustable resolution camera (up to what would be about 2K), still and video capable, records to card, and you can download the card to your computer without removing the card! (great for keeping that card slot reading for years to come!)You can turn the IR on, or leave it off...you've got a 4x 'binocular' either way, with an additional 3x digital zoom (you lose resolution when not using the 4x optical zoom). It has a focus ring on the optics...and can get crystal focused, if you need. The camera is set up to detect 850-nm wavelength IR's, so if you have something you frequently look at (out-building, trash cans, etc.) you can buy extra 850-nm lights and place them permanently around your 'target'...it will assist your night vision binocular to 'see better', without giving itself away at all.This unit also has an 'auto-off' to save batteries...you can disable it, or adjust this feature as you need. Turning the unit on, adjusting IR intensity or zoom...easy as hitting a button (short or long hold times, depending on the function you need)...all of your camera 'settings' show up on the monitor you look into...and it has a date-time stamp, if you need that feature for certain applications...also easy to set.It also comes with a nice semi-rigid case, neck strap, cleaning cloth, 32-Gb micro-SD memory card (you can get larger ones...I'd have to open the book back up, to see the max limit on card size it will accept, however).So, basically, you're getting a 'binocular', 'camera', 'night vision device' all for the one price...which is very low. Resolution is good for the price. Again, it doesn't have swiss-ground glass lenses...but it's not going to set you back $5,000 either. (some people get me...they want Gen 5 Starlite Night Vision for $100)...if you want it, new, you're going to pay for it. If you are using standard functions (camera, binocular, etc.) you get a color screen with excellent 'low-light' imaging. When you go 'IR-on', you see a black-and-white type monitor...and it does get 'grainy' as distance increases...this is due to light (850-nm) light disappation). If you want less grainy and can do it, depending on your focal point, ADD MORE LIGHTING! It will improve your image quality.As for walking into a 'totally dark' house at night...turn the unit on, flip to still-camera (it always starts in 'video' mode), turn on 'IR' and set to the IR-level, 1-7, that you need, and start walking...might as well be daylight! If you are walking, and want to see 'what's near my car' before I get there in the total darkness, again, BINGO...daylight! This is not a 1,000-foot 'scope'...in fact, the manual tells you that at 1,000-feet, you can 'see a house'...at less than half that, you can 'see a person', and at half that, again, you can see a 'dog'...resolution is IR-light intensity dependent. The unit focuses well...but the built-in IR source IS LIMITED...there's only so much IR you're going to get out of 6-AA batteries!Please, don't try to compare this to a new Gen 4 or better Starlite Scope in performance, without comparing this price with that Starlite $5,500 pricetag! It's just not fair. This is NO TOY...and you can do a lot with it...but at the same time, even top-end military units have their limits too...and you will ALWAYS pay for what you get!I highly recommend this unit, and would buy it again!I have put off buying night vision devices for years for fear the technology I could afford would be poor. I forget why I was directed to GThunder but I am THOROUGHLY surprised at the low cost and high performance and effectiveness of these goggles; I wish I'd bought them years sooner. I now can stealthily roam the woods at night and see a world that my flashlight would have chased off.....and I'm glad I didn't spend $3500 for ATN models as GThunder is more than adequate - perfect - for my budget.The product arrived nicely packaged and as advertised. Once I added the batteries and power it up it operated perfectly. The directions were easy to follow and the storage case is well padded. If your expecting to see night vision like in the movies at this price range you will be disappointed. This is set up is decent for the price range so do not expect to see things like on tv.. The advantage is this is handheld and can also take snapshots and video too. If you want to see what is creeping around in your yard at night these do a good job of enhancing the darkness. I'm satisfied with the product.I purchased this on a whim during the amazon deal days and thought it might be useful. The product arrived nicely packaged and as advertised. I added the batteries and it powered right up and operated perfectly. The directions were easy to follow and the storage case is well padded. If your expecting to see night vision like in the tv and movies at this pricepoint then you would be dissappointed. This is set up more like a decent security camera with infared capabilities. The advantage is this is handheld and can also take snapshots and video too. If you want to see whats creeping around in your yard at night these do a good job of enhancing the darkness. I'm satisified at this point with the product.Out of the box, with batteries I provided installed, this works really well.I use it for work, so this is definitely something I needed to function at a high level but not break the bank to do so. It is intuitive to use and allows me to do the thing I need most - see in the dark at a distance. I can spot bad guys doing things they shouldn't be doing at a range of several hundred yards away in what they think is complete darkness and safety. I have already used it to excellent effect. Paired with rechargeable batteries, I'll get a ton of mileage out of this.In terms of what that mileage looks like - I have a specific bar I need and it's different than most. I need to spot the actions a watched person is taking at a distance in very low light as opposed to being able to identify *who* they are. If I can discern an individual, say, cutting a bike lock in an alley at 300 yards, I don't need to be able to identify them personally as "Mr John Doe 5'10" 175lbs brown hair red sweatshirt blue jeans" But I do need to be able to say "THAT particular dude in that alley just stole a bike." This works phenomenally for that purpose. The closer they are, the more closely I can come to that John Doe description. The optic zoom works great. The digital not as well so really far distances fall flatter than the mid range. But it's a grand total of 7x zoom.Things like trees/bushes/foliage will obscure the IR. I don't like that there is not an on-screen indicator of what output level the IR is currently set at. Apparently you just have to cycle through 7 levels plus off for the IR emitter. But recording video and taking a photo are simple. I have not tried it from inside a vehicle (and through the glass of the windshield/windows) but when outdoors it works fantastically.I can see down alleyways that have surrounding light - meaning there is illumination "noise" around it - in front, behind, to the side, etc. Bright light of course will drown out the night vision but as long as I'm not looking directly at a bright light source, it's really good. I can discern and distinguish objects, animals and people at several hundred yards away even on cloudy nights with no starlight or moonlight. Even in pitch black it's good.The lack of accompanying audio recording is a bummer, but that's typical with these items.What I could really use is a better method of carrying the binocs. The case they came in is an average molded-shaped type protector. But that case is not designed for quick deployment nor for anything other than hand carry. It also comes with a neck strap, but how many uniformed good guys want to walk around tough parts of town with a noose wrapped around their neck? I don't run around with a tactical helmet on to attach this to, either. A belt loop style pouch mount on the back of the case or a molle-capable type web would be a big help.Fairly decent mage quality for night vision. Changing light sensitivity from low - med - high doesn't make much difference. Can't use rechargeable batteries. Digital zoom works but after increasing DZ past about 60% of the "allowable zoom" yields an image with no more detail (just more pixelation).Screen is very bright with no way to lower the screen brightness. In low light, this hinders your eyes' natural (retinal) adaptation to the surroundings (maybe a FW update could fix the issue).You can use these to "see" when there's no visible ambient light and the IR spotlight at levels 5-7 illuminates objects (eg trees) ~1000' away.The IR light is completely invisible (no red glow) to humans ('m sure this is true for all other mammal or birds) but the light emitted from the display is bright enough to be used as a flashlight in low light conditions.Definitely a fun toy to play with and the image quality (while not using digital zoom) is pretty impressive - e.g., you can clearly make out small letters (about size 20 font) with zero ambient light from 20' away and clearly identify birds at 50' away in pitch dark without using the digital zoom.Love how military tech trickles down to the average Joe after time and unless we’re in the business we don’t know what we’re missing. What a great set of night vision binos and they are priced incredibly well. Sturdy. Some weight to them. Comes with a micro SD card. Can be used during the day. But at night is where these binos excel. Will put them through their paces and update. Early opinion is there are excellent. Buy them.This product is absolutely amazing. I bought this for my husband’s birthday and will be buying a few more as xmas presents. Living in Northern Ontario and in the country – we decided to test this product out – and there is no disappointment.The night vision is clear and unbelievable. Easy to use and have already seen wild life in our back yard. We used the night vision and pointed at the lake and were able to see fish eyes in the water! (night time) This will be packed at all time when we use our side by side to either fish and hunt!!!Thanks for making a great AFFORTABLE product. We have shared this experience with all out friends!!!With infrared light, night vision is very clear. Great for the money and will serve it purpose. Left 4 stars because the field of vision is too small for "scanning" the area. My generation 1 binoculars with infrared can scan much more effectively although image is not as clear.THIS PRODUCT REALLY DID SUPRISE ME FOR THE PRICE I PAID.REALLY WELL BUILT EASY TO USE,GREAT INSTRUCTIONS.THE FEATURES IN THE PRODUCT ARE WORTH A LOT MORE THAN WHAT YOU PAY FOR.HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT,COMES IN A STURDY CARRY CASE ALSO A STRONG STRAP TO HANG IT AROUND TOUR NECK
