Digital Night vision system "SuperVision"

[LowBat]

AzGB, I look forward to hearing more when you go "hands on".

[Invader_ZIM]

AzGB, great to hear. Glad to get a candlpower member that can get some hands on experience with this device. Really looking forward to hearing more about it and seeing some photos.

[nc987]

Awesome! Finally a CPFer will be testing one of these out. Looking forward to what you have to say about it.

[AzGB]

Just checking back in to say that I haven't forgotten the Supervision report. We're expecting our shipment this week, as soon as they arrive, I'll begin a little T&E session. Also, I'm heading out into the great outdoors sometime in the next few weeks for a large session of minigun fire. I will definitely be bringing a Supervision for some night work while we're there. Through-the-lens photos in an urban environment are nice and all, I'd rather shoot pictures under starlight only conditions.

[Invader_ZIM]

Sounds Great AzGB, great to hear your planning to test the system under some very dark environments, as well as providing some photos.

[paulr]

I'm reasonably receptive to believing the claims. I've heard from trustworthy sources that consumer digicam ccd performance has gotten close to the quantum limits and that they are limited basically by photon (shot) noise. That is, they are at the physical limit of low light performance and nothing can do any better, type iv intensifier tubes or anything else. That combined with digital processing to clean up the noise should give better results than an intensifier tube ever could. See:

http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedeta...l.size.matter2

for stuff about digicam ccd's.

[AzGB]

We received our first shipment of 4 about an hour ago. One is already sold. I've already been to our basement for a quick photoshoot test. Here's the description of the environment: Completely dark sublevel, no lights turned on, only ambient light is coming from my EDC (SureFire KL4 with E2D strike-bezel, on a 1-cell VitalGear FB1 body) placed bezel down with light spilling out of the crenelations. The two photos below are shot from the same step-ladder at a shelf about 25 feet away. The Non-SuperVision shot is a 20-second exposure (ISO200, F/5.6), the SuperVision magnified shot is a 1/4 second exposure (also ISO200, F/5.6) manually holding the camera to the back of the lens.

I will be taking a unit home with me this weekend for more testing and pictures. If anyone has any questions, please let me know, I'll try to answer as best I can. So far, this seems like a pretty good system, we'll see what I can learn.

[LowBat]

The first pics look good.

[OpticsHQ]

You guys might also want to check out an ongoing thread/review in process here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=18&t=219467

[gregw]

Actual review thread comparing the Supervision with Gen3 NVD over at AR15 is located here.

[J_Oei]

What's the status of the group buy?

I read on the AR15 board that prices are already in the $1100 range.

[Cranes Country Store]

I read on the AR15 board that prices are already in the $1100 range.

Without saying too much I can confirm that price range as being correct.

BTW, this is really a cool site! Once I figure my way around here I've got a few more things to toss out there......

someone said something about group buys and somewhere else I read something about specials for members here.....

hmmmmmmmmm..... being a dealer can be a good thing



Oh and since I don't see a welcome forum for newbies I'll just say hello to everyone right here!

Hi Everyone!!!! It's nice to meet you!

[BB]

The AR15.com site has posted some pictures and comments about this device and a Gen 3 scope.

You have to go back to the first post--The first post is being updated (review added to) every few days--Part 2 is now up.

-Bill

[BB]

Final review for "SuperVision" is up at AR15.com... The entire review is in post#1 and it is not 56k modem friendly...

-Bill

[CM]

Excellent review by Victor on ARFCOM. The gist of it is that the CCD technology is no competition to a Gen III intensifier. Frame rate is the killer for me. 200ms is a lot of frames to lose and interpolate between. Might as well use a Sony nightshot type of camera. I'm kind of dissapointed since I was ready to dump my Gen III for the CCD. I think I'll hold on to it for a little longer until the technology matures a little more...

Edited to add: I think if the price drops substantially below $1k, it may have a place for recreational users. Otherwise, a Gen II intensifier may still be better.

[Lips]

Awesome review there...


I'm holding off too...

[LowBat]

Great review! In weighing the +'s and -'s of CCD over image tubes I'm inclined to wait and see if the technology continues to improve. I'd like to have a model that can do 30 frames per second.

[BB]

Unless you need passive IR, probably just get a Sony Video Camera with NightShot (or equivalent) + an IR camera lamp. Costs less plus you have video recording and a new general purpose video camera to boot.

Another problem with the slow shutter speed is that the SV unit (or any camera with slow shutter speed for night use) must be tripod mounted... Any little vibration (let alone a large motion to scan the scene or a running figure) just blurs the image into uselessness.

-Bill

[Invader_ZIM]

It was a very well done review. I'm going to hold off too on purchasing the SV, it's minimum focus distance of 20 feet, and low framerate are what kills it for me.

[hnoppenberger]

This is a toy. interesting technology but It by no means replacing standard tube units like a pvs14.
however, still cool. if you just looking for a toy i recommend saving alot of money and just getting this:
sightmark wraith dvs14, its a digital imager just like the supervision at way less of a price, and will give you similar performance.

[FRITZHID]

yeah..... thats what they were say'n 5 yrs ago.

[CuriousOne]

Unaware of this particular invention, I went almost similar way by myself.

I've purchased 1/3 BW CCD module from Sony. Carefully unsoldered the sensor from main PCB and placed it on peltier cooler system (-45C). airtight sealed and equipped with older, uncoated optics. Placed some silica gel in assembly. Tweaked amplifier circuitry to boost the signal level to the max (disabled AGC). I got pretty close to Gen.1 NVDs, with the total cost of under $50. Sure, power consumption was much more (5.2A @ 12v) but it was still fun.

[firelord777]

PVS-14s are military issues NODs, from the looks of the supervision, it doesn't exactly seem weapon mountable nor helmet mountable. But it does offer an alternate technology, much like making pictures seem brighter by prolonging the time the shutter is open.

I still think its a bit overpriced, though I might be wrong. There is a Night Owl Gen 20/20 or something like that, it operates on the same principle, but it's only $400 and has more "features" I guess.

I saw a brief review comparing this and a PVS, the PVS won I think.

Cheers