Night Vision vs. Thermal Scopes: Which is the best for Hunting and Tactical Scenarios?

Unlike most nocturnal animals, humans lack enhanced night vision. While animals like cats have tapetum in their eyes to cause light reflections, humans have technology. We might not see clearly in the dark, but we can use technology to enhance our vision.

When the sun goes down, we have to rely on thermal imaging and night vision devices to see clearly in the dark. These devices are crucial when it comes to tactical situations and hunting. These devices are a must-have when hunting, camping, dealing with pest problems, or simply any tactical scenario at night. The devices enhance your vision and help you accomplish your mission. They place you at an advantage allowing you to see what your naked eyes cannot see.

In this post, we will help you make an informed decision between night vision and thermal scopes. In the past, people relied on night vision devices to see in the dark. However, thermal imaging devices have entered the market and greatly gaining popularity. They have become a worthy competitor to night vision devices. Which one stands out as the best? Well, stay with us and get to know which device makes you see better in the dark.

What is a night vision device?

Let’s get started by first understanding what night vision devices are and how they work. Night vision devices are not new. They have been in use since World War Two. These are specially designed optical devices that transmit available light in the moon and from the stars. The devices significantly help boost image brightness for enhanced visibility.

Even in the darkest nights, there is still some available light from the moon or stars. The work of a night vision device is literally gathering light and focusing it on a specific object. These devices are no different from optical scopes in rifles. The devices also feature a power source that provides green, white, or black images. They intensify such lights on the target objects for enhanced vision.

How do night vision devices work?

Night vision devices feature a complex working mechanism. They usually feature a tube body, which is a vacuum. It is in this vacuum that the image is intensified. The photon lights coming through the objective lens on the device travel down the tube. The light is converted to electrons and multiplied to thousands as it passes through the microchannel plate. These channels are what we know as glass tubes. They are usually arranged uniformly and produce a sharp resolution leading to a clear image.

As you can see, this process is quite complex and difficult to understand. In simple terms, the night vision scope collects available light and converts it to electricity. This electricity is then converted back to light and viewed as the image on focus. The production of night vision devices is usually long, with over 400 different processes.

Types of night vision device technologies

There has been a great deal of technological advancement since the first-night vision scope was produced. The available night vision scopes currently are classified depending on their technological advancement. There are different scope generations on the market to choose from. These generations include:

• Generation 1

• Generation 2

• Generation 3

• White Phosphor Technology

• CORE Ceramic Technology

Generation three scopes are one of the latest with excellent vision and clarity. The quality of vision in the different Generations usually varies from one manufacturer to another.

What are the leading night vision scope brands?

Here are some of the main and trusted night vision scope brands in the market

• Yukon

• Sightmark

• ATN

• Firefield

• Armasight

Thermal Imaging

Now that we know what night vision scopes are and how they work, we can have a look at thermal imaging devices. Thermal imaging devices detect the heat radiation from objects allowing you to see parts of the light spectrum our naked eyes cannot see. In the electromagnetic spectrum, radiations usually have varying wavelengths. Longer waves have the least amount of energy, while shorter waves have more energy.

The human eye can only see part of the spectrum in wavelengths of 400-800 nanometers. When it comes to thermal imaging, the infrared IR, the spectrum is the only wavelength the human eye can see. This simply means the human eye can easily see the IR radiations emitted by objects on focus. The heat emitted by animals and humans show a red shade when viewing under thermal imaging devices. These devices allow hunters to see clearly through thick bushes.

How thermal imaging resolution affects clarity?

The resolution used can greatly affect the thermal image clarity. Thermal imaging scopes vary from different resolutions ranging from 240 X 180 to 640 X 512. However, scopes with higher resolutions will cost more but deliver clear and sharp images.

So, how do thermal scopes work?

Thermal scopes are a lot easier to understand how they work compared to night vision scopes. These scopes usually emit light in the form of IR energy, which is undetectable by the human eye. The light is then focused on the target area to help collect data on the illuminated object. Here are simple steps on how thermal scopes work:

• The infrared light detects heat elements on the target and activates

• The scope then focuses IR energy on the target

• Temperature data from emitted heat is obtained from within the field of view

• A thermogram of the object emitting the radiation is created

• The thermogram image is converted into electronic impulses

• The electronic impulses are converted to a signal processing unit on the device chip

• The chip then sends the signals processed into the display for viewing

• The processed signal appears to the naked eye in different color intensities depending on the heat energy emitted.

The end results are usually a bright image of the target in total darkness. The entire process goes through stages, but you finally get a clear image of any object that emits heat.

Technologies in thermal imaging scopes

There are usually two types of technologies when it comes to thermal scopes. The first one is the uncooled thermal technology used in rifles. This is a standard technology and one that is readily affordable. The second technology is the cryogenically cooled imaging find in cameras. It offers extremely fine details but one that will cost you a lot.

Un-cooled thermal imaging

This is by far the most common thermal imaging technology and one you find in most rifles. The technology works in room temperatures. It does not feature any special components that require cooling for enhanced performances. The un-cooled thermal scope features a built-in power source. It runs quietly and makes a perfect choice for hunting in the dark.

Cryogenically cooled thermal imaging

This is a pretty expensive technology but one that will give finer and clear details. The technology involves keeping components in a special sealed container at temperatures below 32 degrees F. However, this technology will offer you increased sensitivity detection and higher resolution. It can easily detect temperature differences of 0.2 degrees F.

Leading brands of thermal imaging scopes

There are different brands of thermal scopes in the market. However, not all brands offer the best thermal scopes. Here is a list of some of the best brands of thermal scopes:

• Armsight

• FLIR Systems

• ATN

IR Illuminators: What are they and how do they relate with thermal scopes?

IR illuminators are basically flashlights but only release IR energy instead of the usual flashlight. The released IR energy is not visible to the human eye. The IR illuminators usually have a range at which they can focus the light. They are commonly used in rifles. Most IR illuminators have a range of 30 yards. This means you have to get up to 30 yards close to the target to illuminate it. However, some of the advanced Generation 3 IR illuminators have a range of up to 500 yards.

Which is the best choice between night vision and thermal scopes?

These two devices are both excellent when it comes to enhancing night vision. They have different working mechanisms. Night vision devices are passive and require some light to work. Thermal scopes, on the other hand, are ‘active’ scopes and don’t require light to work. So, the big question is which one stands out as the best?

Let’s put them under different situations to see the one that holds out better

Dual day use

Which device works best for both day and night use? There are instances where you need help to view targets during the day. Night vision devices are not the best for dual day use. The excess light during the day is quite destructive to internal components. While there are a few high-end devices that work both at night and day, thermal devices have the upper hand when it comes to dual usage. This is because you can use them during the day and night.

Game identification

This one goes without saying. Night vision scopes are the obvious choice for identifying game at night. These devices can provide a viable image with minimal light. While thermal imaging can also identify the game, it does not provide you with a clear vision of the game.

Durability

When it comes to durability, there is no obvious winner as both can be durable and reliable. The ideal choice comes down to a preferred brand.

Price

Night vision scopes are readily available and affordable. This is because they have been in the market for long. However, thermal scopes are also becoming popular since they were released to civilians by the government.

Final Verdict

There is no obvious winner here, and the ideal scope comes down to what works best in your situation. Avid hunters usually have both devices with each coming into use in different scenarios. These are luxury devices that will cost you some good cash. However, they are worth the prices if you’re looking for excellent results when hunting or controlling pests.

---

Eric grew up hunting, fishing, and roaming the hills of the Eastern U.S. and has dedicated himself to becoming a well-rounded outdoorsman. Anytime there is an opportunity for a little fishing or a morning spent hunting, you will find him in the woods. In his off time, he teaches a variety of outdoor skills including land navigation and basic survival. Recently a Search and Rescue member, he has begun learning the ancient art of human tracking in a variety of terrains.