Night Binoculars: A Better Approach to Visibility Problems

Being able to see at night is a valuable asset for animals, since the night can be very dangerous.  Many animals can see in the dark, while humans have relatively weak night vision.  This is because of physiological differences between human eyes and that of other animals.  Human eyes can see more colors, but lose the ability to capture more light, the reverse is true for animals and so they see fewer colors but can see better in low-light conditions.  Man has sought for ways to improve his night vision, and night binoculars are fruits of his labor.

There are two basic approaches to night vision: increase the range of detectable wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum, or intensify what is already there.  Basically, it is a choice of whether to see more kinds of light or use what is there and make it stronger.  Night binoculars employ the second approach, and rely on ambient light.  They have large objective lenses, or lenses at the front end of the device, that capture more light than normal binoculars.  The amount of light captured by night binoculars is significantly higher than normal binoculars, meaning that what would look dark and indistinct with ordinary binoculars would look clear and well-defined with night binoculars.

Because of the optical nature of its workings, night binoculars do not require power sources.  They only use what is already there and concentrate it to make the image brighter.  This means that you do not lose color vision, as you would with electronic spectrum-widening night vision devices.  Additionally, since they do not need batteries and they do not contain electronic parts, night binoculars can last longer than other types of optical devices.  The downsides to using such large lenses are the bulk and weight of these devices.  Thus, they are best used when mounted on a tripod, or from some static position.

One application that comes to mind is their use for night wildlife spotting.  These optical tools can use light from the moon and stars, or even artificial light sources far away from the subject of observation.  As an example, imagine one of these mounted on a small tripod near a window, with which you can spot cats and owls in the night.  Night binoculars are also great for hunting trips.  Compared to the green-colored or monochrome images from other night vision devices, night binoculars allow you to see in full color, meaning you can identify night targets by their coloration and more.  Remember to care well for the lenses, though, as they are rather large and thus susceptible to abrasions.