FAQ’s:
1.) Should I buy BNVD or PVS14?
That’s a tough one. Really, the PVS14 is the gateway drug into night vision. Most people start with a PVS14 and eventually jump into bino’s. There is nothing wrong with that at all. A PVS14 can provide you awesome capabilities and at the end of the day will help you see more at night than your own eyes. You also will be able to use IR illuminators and lasers with a PVS14. With all that being said, Binoculars do everything better, generally speaking. Depth perception is better with bino’s like the BNVDS. BNVD’s also offer more features and you always have the ability to run the BNVD’s with one channel stowed up if you’re running a handheld thermal scanner. We tend to argue that Bino’s will offer more performance, but if your budget says PVS14, that’s a great option.
2.) Which Image Intensifier is best for me?
Currently L3 is pretty much off the table. The lead times are often 6 months or more and there could even be further delays until really high quality L3 tubes hit the open market. That is unfortunate, but with the help of NVD we have put together a list of good options that will work for most people.
ELBIT: Usually a phenomenal performer. The downside is currently we only have 1600 FOM green ELBIT tubes available in limited quantities. Once higher spec ELBIT tubes become available with REASONABLE lead times, we will add them to our site. These are 4-6 week lead time as available. Currently we have access to a few dozen.
Photonis ECHO & 4G tubes: Photonis tubes sometimes get slammed in the industry. They are not US made tubes. While they may not perform exactly like the ELBIT or L3, we have quite a few units in house that we have used in content that feature the Photonis tubes. If you are in a more urban environment and there is some light pollution, the Photonis will be amazing. The clarity of the tubes is there, but they will not perform in super dark conditions quite as good as the ELBIT or L3. Will that be a problem for most people? No, most people will find the Photonis tubes to work great. If you need nightvision capability and want a clear tube in white phosphor, the photonis is currently your best option. 1-4 week lead time on Photonis.
- See below. Currently PVS14 tubes are limited. If you have questions, simply contact us.
3.) White Phosphor or Green: Which is Better?
This really is a personal preference. With that being said, we prefer white phosphor as it feels more natural looking through the units. The human eye will naturally see more under white phosphor than green. With that being said, there are still plenty of people that prefer green. Ultimately, find your budget and pick the tube with the best performance within your budget. That is the most important part.
- Currently the ONLY tube option we have is the Photonis White Phosphor FOM 1800 MIN. This tube is a SOLID option for an entry unit with good clarity and performance, especially considering the price. We eventually hope to gain access to more ELBIT and L3 tubes, but for now, Photonis is your best bet. 1-4 week lead time to build up the units to your order.
4.) What Sets the PVS14 Apart?
PVS 14’s are extremely reliable, easily maintained, and are extremely versatile in their uses and function. Manual gain allows you to dial in your image depending on lighting conditions and their lightweight form factor means very little fatigue even when running long periods of time with your PVS14 on a helmet. If you don’t have the budget for Binocular night vision devices, a PVS14 might be the perfect fit for you. At the end of the day, a PVS 14 allows you to see better and shoot better at night. That’s pretty rad.
5.) Does TA Targets build these units in house?
We partnered up with NVD to provide these units. Night Vision Devices is a leader in the game of night vision and there are few places building night vision that have as much experience and time assembling units. We also choose them for these units because they have been around long enough to be able to advertise their 10 year warranty. Some smaller “pop up” night vision manufacturers might have warranties, but will they be around long enough to stand by them if something goes wrong with your unit prematurely? NVD will.
6.) What about a warranty?
These units are covered under a 10 year warranty by NVD.
7.) Is a helmet mount included in the price above?
No. You will need to purchase a helmet mount separately. With that being said, a J Arm is included that will clip into most mainstream PVS14 mounts.
Standard Accessories: Soft Carry Case, Operator’s Manual, (2) AA Batteries, Demist Shield, Sacrificial Filter for Objective Lens, Head/Helmet Mount Adapter (J-arm), Head-mount Assembly with 3 Brow Pads (Except XLS), Lens Tissue, Neck Cord, Eye-Cup, and Front Lens Cap.
Gary P (verified owner) –
Awesome communication and customer service. I opted to hand pick my tube on an Elbit XLSH and the process and shipping was insanely fast and easy. Great dudes to work with and support and also super knowledgeable about their products. Will always be my go to for seeing in the dark
Ryan –
Good experience buying from Ark. Paid for the hand select and he texted me the tube pics along specs. Not sure how the process would work with a backorder but if there’s options doing the hand select is worth it. You’ll get something nice either way tho. Now i can see in the darks so thats cool.
Matt (verified owner) –
Picked up a Photonis WP to bridge with one of my existing tubes. Received a personal text as soon as processing was done to coordinate delivery. Immediately left a great impression. Device arrived a couple days later, and was fantastic. Great clarity, no major defects. In fact, it’s replaced the other tube over my dominant eye, and is still keeping up with gain even after attaching a clip on thermal.
Isaac (verified owner) –
Great customer service and product. I was able to talk to Ethan directly through text. He answered all my questions and kept me up to date on my order. I ended up with a great looking elbit tube and highly satisfied. Don’t hesitate to place your order with them!