night vision binoculars/camera
 

Hello,

I wish to buy very good binculars and camera(digital)with night vision and long distance zoom access
pls advise
thanks
moni

I've made very good experiences with my Swarovski SLC 8x56 binos. A little moon light is more than enough to watch lions and leopards without spot light during a night drive.

PS: www.swarovskioptik.at

nyama thanks for the info, but if I only want night vision binos what would u suggest

Moni

What's your definition of "night vision binos"? If you mean these electronic devices used by armed forces then you must spend thousands of dollars for getting good visual quality.

Gosh, no, cannot spend soooo much on binos, my budget is around 1000$ for my binos. Would not some make of binoculars with night vision be available at this price,thanks
Moni

nyama, I checked the swarovski website, I would like to buy the binos but I live in india, so how do I get them and how expensive are they
Moni

Forget the electronic devices for less than $1000.

Search for good optical night binos (such as 8x56 or 10x56). The second number is important and should be at least 56.

Moni -- my last reply was meant to your previous post.

Try www.bhphotovideo.com, quite good for international orders.

nyama thanks, I checked the website and it looks good, if I need any furthur help regarding specifications I will post on this link again, be in touch, moni

Are these 2 different items? If so, I have the Sony DSC H9 (15x optical zoom) and it will shoot photos with no light and no flash. It does a nice job but they turn out pretty much black and white. I wanted that feature for a non-Africa trip where I thought I might only see animals at night. I didn't use that feature in Africa and as it turned out I did not need it for the other trip. But it's nice to have just in case.

I have found night vision on binocs to be unnecessary for Africa safaris. Regular binocs of decent quality (under $500) have provided enough light for me on night drives. You are not allowed to walk around at night and use night binocs. On night drives you are either moving so using binocs is impossible or you are stopped and looking at something with a light on it. So I think your major use of night vision binocs on an African safari would be looking out your window at night.

You won't see a thing with night vision binos when the tracker shines a light on whatever you are looking at. While moving, you won't see anything at all. Better to spend your money on a good image stabilized binos.

On each safari I'm happy that I have my bright binos - there are enough opportunities for using them at night or dark light conditions: watching animals at a waterhole in front of your tent, or animals wandering through camp. Spotting leopards in the distance. Watching lions during a night hunt (the tracker can only shine ONE lion). During dusk and dawn in areas where night drives are not allowed and vehicles have no spot light.

I had one of my most exciting wild dogs sightings from my tent at night. During my recent safari I spent hours watching elephants in camp, and we followed a lioness in a park where night drives are not allowed and the vehicle hadn't a spot light.

It certainly depends on the kind of safari and what you want to see. If you only look at the things the tracker is spotting with the light, and your interest in game watching ends with dinner, you certainly don't need such binos.

Nyama,

If your elephant tusk spearing of the vehicle happened at night, does that mean you were able to catch the whole thing through the night vision binocs?

During dusk and dawn my regular binocs really increase the light and seem to be sufficient.

You make a good case for spending the extra and going for the night vision binocs.

atravelynn -- to answer your question: if there is moon light - yes.

I like to learn more about spotting technics and try to actively support the guides during night drives. Sometimes with good results - thanks to my binos.

I also enjoy sitting on the verandah of my tent/chalet in the late evening, drinking another beer/wine, listening to the sounds of the African night and watching what is going on. In bush camps such as Kutandala I usually sleep with open windows and even can do this from my bed. And if I make a sleep-out in a hide it's not just for sleeping.

For me bright binos with night vision capabilities enhance the whole experience of my safari - they let me see things that you normally don't see.

Before I bought them I looked through dozens of good binos of guides and other clients, just to learn the differences and if this big investment is worth the money - well, for me it was.

How much were they?

About 1300 EURO in 2002.

Hello at atravelynn,hills27 and nyama,

atravelynn, yes I am looking for 2 different products a camera with night vision features and binos with night vision,

It was wonderful to hear your stories of using night vision binos at night

I agree that though expensive its really worth the money if u can spot something spectacular at night,

thanks for the info....

Moni

Hello,..........

Moni

bump