There are two main types of night vision devices: analog and digital. This blog will focus primarily on analog night vision, as this is what our website specializes in selling.
Analog night vision amplifies light using an Image Intensifier Tube (IIT). Residual light exists everywhere, but the human eye cannot always perceive it. These tubes are called IITs in all technical documentation, and we will follow that convention here.
IITs are classified into four generations: Gen 0, Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 3. Important note: if you hear someone claim to have Gen 4 devices, they are 100% mistaken, as no Gen 4 tubes currently exist on the market. We will now discuss each generation in detail.
- Generation 0 – The first generation of image intensifier tubes, initially used during World War II, relied on active infrared (IR) illumination to operate, which made the devices visible and quite rudimentary compared to modern standards.
- Generation 1 – Developed in the 1960s, this generation marked the first major evolution, offering low performance by today’s standards but significantly better than Gen 0. Gen 1 devices generally require infrared (IR) illumination. Their advantage lies in the low price.
Disadvantages: Almost constant need for a powerful IR projector to be on; Gen 1 tubes also produce significant edge distortion.
- Generation 2 – Introduces the microchannel plate (MCP), which amplifies electrons much more efficiently, providing a brighter and clearer image. Gen 2 significantly improves night vision quality, with a lifespan between 2,500 and 5,000 hours, making it more suitable for professional and law enforcement applications.
- Generation 2+ – The difference between Gen 2 and Gen 2+ lies in higher light amplification and better resolution. These small improvements generally make Gen 2+ night vision devices perform better under low-light conditions compared to Gen 2.
- Generation 3 – The current standard for U.S. military and law enforcement applications, using gallium arsenide photocathodes for enhanced performance in extremely low-light conditions. Gen 3 tubes offer a long lifespan (over 10,000 hours) and the ability to operate under a wider range of lighting conditions.
These are the basics of night vision devices. Next, we will dive into a more complex topic: what you should look for when purchasing an analog night vision device.