Empathy List Archives

PE

Philip Eslinger

Mon, Apr 30, 2007 9:12 AM

I had planned to buy a Gen III night scope prior to leaving the
Hawaiian Islands next Spring. My research came across a new product
called SuperVision which claims to be superior to Gen III scopes and
sells for less money. It seems to be based on a CCD chip which is
basically camcorder technology. Take a look at the web site and see
what you think. Pay particular attention to the comparisons between
the SuperVision and the PVS14 night scope at the upper left of the
home page. Looking at the differences and the price, this product
looks almost too good to be true. What do others think?

http://xenonics.com/default.asp

Phil Eslinger
Flat Earth N5025
Ko Olina, Hi

I had planned to buy a Gen III night scope prior to leaving the Hawaiian Islands next Spring. My research came across a new product called SuperVision which claims to be superior to Gen III scopes and sells for less money. It seems to be based on a CCD chip which is basically camcorder technology. Take a look at the web site and see what you think. Pay particular attention to the comparisons between the SuperVision and the PVS14 night scope at the upper left of the home page. Looking at the differences and the price, this product looks almost too good to be true. What do others think? http://xenonics.com/default.asp Phil Eslinger Flat Earth N5025 Ko Olina, Hi

JM

John Marshall

Mon, Apr 30, 2007 3:06 PM

I would suggest looking at a FLIR. Not sure how the technologies
compare in cost, but infrared as opposed to light amplification gives
a nearly 'daytime' view at night. You can see with just as much
detail, except for it being black and white. It isn't bothered by
flare from lights. I installed the Mariner version from FLIR, Inc. on
Serendipity.

Amazing how you can look into a black anchorage and see everything
via heat differentials. Boats, buoys and structures obviously show up
clearly, but surprisingly, also wave and current patterns, not to
mention any warmbodied creatures, from seals to birds to people. You
can even tell which boats have people on them if that's useful.

Most military and police applications started off as light
amplification, but have moved to FLIR as the technology matured.

John Marshall
N5520-Serendipity

On Apr 30, 2007, at 2:12 AM, Philip Eslinger wrote:

I had planned to buy a Gen III night scope prior to leaving the

Hawaiian Islands next Spring. My research came across a new product
called SuperVision which claims to be superior to Gen III scopes and
sells for less money. It seems to be based on a CCD chip which is
basically camcorder technology. Take a look at the web site and see
what you think. Pay particular attention to the comparisons between
the SuperVision and the PVS14 night scope at the upper left of the
home page. Looking at the differences and the price, this product
looks almost too good to be true. What do others think?

http://xenonics.com/default.asp

Phil Eslinger
Flat Earth N5025
Ko Olina, Hi

Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water World
Productions, formerly known as Trawler World Productions.

To be removed from the PUP list send an email with the
subject "unsubscribe" (no quotes) to the link below:

mailto:passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com

Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List

I would suggest looking at a FLIR. Not sure how the technologies compare in cost, but infrared as opposed to light amplification gives a nearly 'daytime' view at night. You can see with just as much detail, except for it being black and white. It isn't bothered by flare from lights. I installed the Mariner version from FLIR, Inc. on Serendipity. Amazing how you can look into a black anchorage and see everything via heat differentials. Boats, buoys and structures obviously show up clearly, but surprisingly, also wave and current patterns, not to mention any warmbodied creatures, from seals to birds to people. You can even tell which boats have people on them if that's useful. Most military and police applications started off as light amplification, but have moved to FLIR as the technology matured. John Marshall N5520-Serendipity On Apr 30, 2007, at 2:12 AM, Philip Eslinger wrote: > I had planned to buy a Gen III night scope prior to leaving the > Hawaiian Islands next Spring. My research came across a new product > called SuperVision which claims to be superior to Gen III scopes and > sells for less money. It seems to be based on a CCD chip which is > basically camcorder technology. Take a look at the web site and see > what you think. Pay particular attention to the comparisons between > the SuperVision and the PVS14 night scope at the upper left of the > home page. Looking at the differences and the price, this product > looks almost too good to be true. What do others think? > > http://xenonics.com/default.asp > > Phil Eslinger > Flat Earth N5025 > Ko Olina, Hi > _______________________________________________ > > Passagemaking Under Power and PUP are trademarks of Water World > Productions, formerly known as Trawler World Productions. > > To be removed from the PUP list send an email with the > subject "unsubscribe" (no quotes) to the link below: > > mailto:passagemaking-under-power-request@lists.samurai.com > > Passagemaking-Under-Power Mailing List

MM

Mike Maurice

Mon, Apr 30, 2007 3:06 PM

I had planned to buy a Gen III night scope prior to leaving the

Hawaiian Islands next Spring. My research came across a new product
called SuperVision which claims to be superior to Gen III scopes and
sells for less money. It seems to be based on a CCD chip which is
basically camcorder technology. Take a look at the web site and see
w

I spent 2 years studying night vision technology before buying a unit
about 8 years ago. There is a lot of fluff and a distinct lack of info
on the site. For instance, after reading the FAQ.

It uses a rechargeable battery, but there is no info about how long this
lasts or what the cost is of a replacement battery. Power consumption
must be pretty high if it using a rechargeable. My unit will run for
some days on a single alkaline AA. Lithium Ion batteries don't hold
their charge for more than a month or so. This is a serious issue for
casual use.

How water resistant is it, no info.

There is no posted User Manual to study, after all this is a product
selling for over a thousand dollars.

There is no info as to the life expectancy of the unit. Gen II units had
a short life expectancy, where does this fit in.

There is no independent testing or independent product review.

If this is so spectacular why isn't the military buying up all the
production?

Don't get me wrong, this is a VERY interesting development, but these
products are generally very finely targeted at some kind of use and that
use may or may not be well adapted to use on a boat.

There are no graphs of sensitivity versus wavelength, which tells a user
exactly what kind of light this takes. There is some vague reference to
the use of a infrared floodlight, does this imply that the viewing
samples were made using such a flood?

I can think of more questions, but this should keep anybody busy for a
while.

Mike

Capt. Mike Maurice
Beaverton Oregon(Near Portland)

> I had planned to buy a Gen III night scope prior to leaving the > Hawaiian Islands next Spring. My research came across a new product > called SuperVision which claims to be superior to Gen III scopes and > sells for less money. It seems to be based on a CCD chip which is > basically camcorder technology. Take a look at the web site and see > w I spent 2 years studying night vision technology before buying a unit about 8 years ago. There is a lot of fluff and a distinct lack of info on the site. For instance, after reading the FAQ. It uses a rechargeable battery, but there is no info about how long this lasts or what the cost is of a replacement battery. Power consumption must be pretty high if it using a rechargeable. My unit will run for some days on a single alkaline AA. Lithium Ion batteries don't hold their charge for more than a month or so. This is a serious issue for casual use. How water resistant is it, no info. There is no posted User Manual to study, after all this is a product selling for over a thousand dollars. There is no info as to the life expectancy of the unit. Gen II units had a short life expectancy, where does this fit in. There is no independent testing or independent product review. If this is so spectacular why isn't the military buying up all the production? Don't get me wrong, this is a VERY interesting development, but these products are generally very finely targeted at some kind of use and that use may or may not be well adapted to use on a boat. There are no graphs of sensitivity versus wavelength, which tells a user exactly what kind of light this takes. There is some vague reference to the use of a infrared floodlight, does this imply that the viewing samples were made using such a flood? I can think of more questions, but this should keep anybody busy for a while. Mike _____________________________________ Capt. Mike Maurice Beaverton Oregon(Near Portland)

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SuperVision