| To most people, the difference between a goggle and | | | | the night vision device for. Security surveillance? |
| a binocular is not always clear. Many times the two | | | | Criminal activity? Wildlife observations? Goggles and |
| kinds of systems use the same or similar housings and | | | | Binoculars make the most sense for surveillance and |
| both have two eyepieces (one for each eye or | | | | observation operations because the two eyepieces |
| biocular) and typically require the system to be | | | | reduce the amount of strain on the eyes. Monoculars |
| handheld in order to view through it. That, however, is | | | | are slightly more versatile in their applications, but |
| where the similarities end. | | | | viewing through one eyepiece for any length of time |
| The difference comes in the objective lens or the end | | | | causes a higher amount of strain on the eyes. Another |
| viewing lens (lenses). A goggle has one objective lens, | | | | consideration for eye strain is the quality of the night |
| while the binocular has two. This creates a difference | | | | vision image tube and the optics. There are many night |
| in the depth perception of the systems. With two | | | | vision companies these days that will sell a cheap pair |
| objective lenses, the binocular has two separate views | | | | of goggles or a monocular in hopes that consumers |
| of the same target image and combines them into a | | | | will be apathetic about returning the item upon |
| single image giving the user better and more accurate | | | | discovered that it doesn't work all that well. The night |
| depth perception. When adding the additional element | | | | vision tubes and optics in these systems are far |
| of "night vision" to a binocular, this is called | | | | inferior to those that are put into the systems sold to |
| "stereoscopic". Utilizing two image tubes (one for each | | | | the military and law enforcement agencies. Using |
| objective lens) the binocular creates a stereoscopic | | | | cheap night vision equipment with inferior tubes and |
| view with better depth perception. Field of view may | | | | optics can cause eye strain by possible fuzziness, |
| or may not be reduced, depending on magnification. | | | | larger blooming areas, additional black spots, the list |
| Because night vision binoculars utilize two separate | | | | goes on... There are any number of possible defects |
| night vision image tubes and two separate objective | | | | that could be cause for eyestrain when working with a |
| lenses (basically two of everything), they are more | | | | lower quality night vision system. |
| expensive than goggles and also weigh more. | | | | There is a reason cheap night vision devices are |
| Typically, a binocular is only handheld because with the | | | | "cheap". |
| extra weight. Head and/or helmet mounting would | | | | Night vision systems sold to the military and law |
| cause too much strain on the neck of the user caused | | | | enforcement agencies are based on generation 3 night |
| by the additional weight. | | | | vision image tubes manufactured in the U.S. by either |
| Goggles, on the other hand, only use one night vision | | | | ITT or Northrup Grumman. These two companies are |
| image tube and one objective lens. They weigh less | | | | the primary suppliers of image tubes to the U.S. military |
| and can be easily head or helmet mounted. Goggles | | | | and it's allies. These tubes cannot be exported outside |
| are one of the top choices of military and law | | | | of the United States. They are the real McCoy and |
| enforcement agencies across the United States. They | | | | tend to be on the expensive side. However, what you |
| provide the quality night vision capabilities needed along | | | | see in comparison to an inferior tube based system is |
| with the mobility and versatility required for special | | | | substantial and if you're looking for performance, the |
| operations and surveillance. | | | | price increase will not be a consideration in your |
| So which one should you choose? The answer to that | | | | purchase. |
| question depends on what you're primarily going to use | | | | |