Anybody know anything about night vision equipment?

I know GH4h, Freak and h4f all night hunt. And I know that GH4h makes videos with IR. The only thing I have any experience with is a Starlight Scope and that was back in '72-'74 when I was in the Army. What is available now days? There are just too many critters out there for me at night, skunks, wild boar, rattleheadedcoppermoccasins just to name a few. What is small, light and reasonably priced for night vision?

PCJoe

you can pick up gen 1 head mounted binocs for under 500. but will burn out if a bright light hits it.. I have a ir that is digital, so you don't have to worry about it buring out.. single monocule costs around 200. at that price it won't magnify. what are you looking for. something to keep in place like mounted or something to just look around every once in a while?

I want to see critters and be able to dig without a visible light. I don't want to spook anyone with a visible flashlight. LOL Nothing clandestine or illegal, just not so visible to others (and to see critters). Head mounted would be ok as long as it doesn’t interfere with headphones. It would be nice to dig a plug, retrieve the target, repair the ground and not have to have a flashlight shining everywhere. If that make sense?

Helmet or head mount either a single minocular or binocular are available. Gen 1 is the cheapest but really needs moonlight if there isn't an ir illuminator. Most cheaper versions have two eye pieces but is necked down to a single intensifier tube. Its really hard to judge distance with those.The dual intensifier tubes helps with perseption and distance, but cost more. if you can stay away from the Gen 1 and 2 and go with digital they are sometime as cheap and will last a lot longer, at least in the ones I have.. I have had the best luck with Russian NVG but had to modify the double a's to fit. I've used yukon's and bushnells, both are ok, but you get what you pay for.. ATN's are pretty much the higher end if you can afford them.. lol they are high.. Ive only had one spotting scope from them.. couldn't afford a new one, got it in an auction guy didn't know how to operate it, so the bid was low...

Ok, tell me about your Digital IR? Can you recover a target with it? Bulky, compact? Battery life? Brand? Cost? I am open to what ever is good, durable and of course price will figure in. If I remember reading about Yukons night vision, they were really expensive.

my yukon was a monocular. It had to hand held. No unfortunately recovering a target would be hard and almost impossible. Battery life was quite long. Uses 4 AA's. Its about 6 inches long, 3 inches high. Fit the hand perfect. Unfortunately no zoom. It came with an illuminator attached. The screen is white/black. you can adjust the sensitivity. this particular unit could be turned on during the day and you wouldn't have to worry about hurting it. it was like watch cctv surveillance footage. I had a atn binoc that attached to a head mount. look to spend a little money. if you have a military friend that can get declassed units those will be the cheapest... but good luck with those, you will usually have to have them repaired.. the intensifier tubes usually have burns or streaks in them.