| If you are in the market for a pair of night vision | | | | out if your item of interest is in there. And if it is, it could |
| binoculars and you are still in the information gathering | | | | also be in one star section. Continuing down the side |
| stage, you may be suffering from overwhelm, | | | | bar, you can also view night vision equipment by |
| especially from what is available on the internet. This is | | | | manufacturer and price range. |
| a quick guide to help you cut through the dross and | | | | In the main section of the page are examples of |
| home in on what you need to know. It's good to find | | | | popular night vision brands, sale items and then a brief |
| out some of the technical stuff and make sense of | | | | explanation of how night vision works, with links to |
| the jargon, but some customer reviews are helpful too. | | | | further information. I like this navigation system. Once |
| It's the next best thing to a personal recommendation | | | | you are on the Night Vision tab, everything is relevant |
| from a friend. | | | | to what you are looking for. |
| Here are a couple of sites that I find useful for | | | | Optics Planet |
| knowledge gathering and I have provided some tips on | | | | When I have searched here in specific categories, I |
| finding what you want. I am not expressing any opinion | | | | have found the range to be smaller than at Also, I find |
| as to what these companies are like to deal with or | | | | the site a bit cluttered and overwhelming. There is a |
| their prices. Whether or not you decide to buy there is | | | | big, scrolling banner across the top, what looks like a |
| your choice but I think you will find them worth a visit, | | | | 'tag cloud' below it and menus down each side. And as |
| just to help clarify what you are looking for. So, in no | | | | you scroll down, the centre of the page has categories |
| particular order:- | | | | with even more links. I am curious to know how many |
| has a very comprehensive range of all types of | | | | there actually are on this page. But don't panic. |
| binoculars and optical devices. When you visit there | | | | Optics Planet also has some good information on all |
| site, you will see across the top of the page, a tabbed | | | | types of optical devices. Go first to the dark blue |
| menu. Depending on your current level of knowledge, | | | | horizontal menu at the top. If you click 'Product Guides' |
| you may be interested in the last tab, 'Learn More'. The | | | | you will be taken to an index of How To articles. They |
| main focus on the page is an ad for a particular pair of | | | | are grouped under sub headings and it is much easier |
| binoculars but around it are some useful links. | | | | to spot what you are looking for here. There is a good |
| Unfortunately, these update when you refresh the | | | | section on night vision devices. These articles are |
| page. You may have to do that a couple of times to | | | | educational, thorough and with nice illustrations to help |
| find what you are interested in. | | | | explain some of the points. |
| One link that is always there is a a text link - 'Dr | | | | There is one drawback though. The site seems be set |
| Binoculars - Informative Videos'. These are series of | | | | up to automatically create links. For example, every |
| very short videos illustrating some of the main | | | | time the phrase, 'Night Vision Device' is used, it |
| principles of binoculars. They explain some of the | | | | becomes a link to another page. This can be quite |
| jargon in a few seconds. There is also a Frequntly | | | | distracting. The eye gets used to scanning over them |
| Asked Questions link. This takes you to a page where | | | | and you could miss links to some excellent video |
| questions are answered in slightly more depth, with | | | | guides created by some of the equipment |
| good illustrations, but still a quick read. | | | | manufacturers. |
| Back to the navigation options, the left side bar has a | | | | The next item on the top menu is 'Reviews'. This page |
| long list of links. If you scroll down, you will find 'Helpful | | | | is a very long list of equipment reviews with several |
| Information'. Here, there is a direct link to FAQs and a | | | | alternative methods of finding the one you want. |
| link for a glossary of binocular terms. For more specific | | | | Incentives are offered, in the form of discount coupons, |
| information about night vision binoculars, click the Night | | | | for people to write reviews of their purchases, to help |
| Vision tab at the top. | | | | other members of the community. One thing this |
| To the right of this page are pictures of various types | | | | suggests to me is that they are not worried about any |
| of night vision equipment with the option to view that | | | | negative comments about the Optics Planet service in |
| item or all items in that category. The left sidebar has | | | | these reviews. |
| night vision related links. The categories again and | | | | Another community aspect of the site is the forum, |
| below that, customer reviews. When you click one of | | | | also accessible from the top many. If you still have any |
| these, you are taken to a page with the product details | | | | questions you can ask them here. This seems pretty |
| and the reviews below. This is good because you can | | | | active with a lot of recent posts. If you can't find a |
| see if the customers view agrees with the | | | | review of a product you are interested in, you will |
| manufacturers description. | | | | probably find someone here who knows about it. |
| What is not so good is that night vision binoculars being | | | | I think that between these two sites, you can find out |
| something of a speciality item, there are a limited | | | | just about anything you want to know about night |
| number of reviews. Also, the reviews are listed by star | | | | vision binoculars or any other type of optical |
| rating. You would have to click the 5 star link to find | | | | equipment. |