Which nightvision googles for darkroom work?

[Bill Burk]

Wh


What replaced it and about how much?

Their newer models are slightly telephoto so less useful for darkroom

 

[gordrob]

ATN Viper was the best suited to the task, headgear is awkward. Focusing eyepiece and close focuses. Not telephoto (1:1). Don’t make them anymore but great for the job.

I have the Viper for use in the darkroom when needed but so far I have not had to use them very often. I agree with Bill that the headgear is awkward to use and probably the biggest reason I don't use it often in the darkroom. I took it out camping a couple of years ago and thought I would have a look around while we were getting ready for bed and looked across the towards the trees across from our site and saw a couple of eyes looking back at me from the dark. Last time I did that and I did not tell my wife.

 

[eli griggs]

Strange eyes in the darkroom would be pretty unnerving, but out in the outdoors, a great way to get a keeper shot.

 

[eli griggs]

Their newer models are slightly telephoto so less useful for darkroom

Could a close-up set of filters be used on these tools or at least one lens?

 

[Bill Burk]

Could a close-up set of filters be used on these tools or at least one lens?

Worse, their new ones are over two grand

 

[MCB18]

Honestly, I tried night vision goggles when cutting film, and I did not like them. I got super hot in them, the screen was really hard to see for me, and after one time using them, I decided that it wasn’t worth it. I just went back to doing everything in the dark, been doing that for around four years now and it worked great.

 

[Paraframe]

I am a bit of a night vision snob and would normally recommend nothing less than IIT gen2+ pvs14, I use a pair of Anvis 9s (dual gen 3 thin film tubes) on a ground mount adapter attached to an ACH. Of course those recommendations revolve around positive ID in shoot/don't shoot scenarios and not getting shot yourself so you probably don't need a 6k dollar set up for rolling film in your dark room. haha.

Even on the super budget end, I still think analog image intensifying tubes are better than digital. Digital in the night vision realm today is at about the point of digital for photography was at in about 2000, without the cool nostalgia.

 

[MCB18]

I am a bit of a night vision snob and would normally recommend nothing less than IIT gen2+ pvs14, I use a pair of Anvis 9s (dual gen 3 thin film tubes) on a ground mount adapter attached to an ACH. Of course those recommendations revolve around positive ID in shoot/don't shoot scenarios and not getting shot yourself so you probably don't need a 6k dollar set up for rolling film in your dark room. haha.

Even on the super budget end, I still think analog image intensifying tubes are better than digital. Digital in the night vision realm today is at about the point of digital for photography was at in about 2000, without the cool nostalgia.

I think it’s worth noting that ambient light goggles won’t (or shouldn’t) work in this application. You really need an IR illuminator for total darkness.

 

[eli griggs]

I think it’s worth noting that ambient light goggles won’t (or shouldn’t) work in this application. You really need an IR illuminator for total darkness.

And your budgeting recommendations for this kit are?

 

[MCB18]

And your budgeting recommendations for this kit are?

Jakks Pacific SpyNet goggles. If I can find mine I’ll sell them for $40 including shipping, which is about what I paid 2 years ago. They work just fine, just never ended up using them. Would be happy to pass them along.

 

[Kino]

These look interesting as a potential IR light source.

 

[tezzasmall]

I've been meaning to buy a pair of night vision glasses for a while now. Just checking eBay UK, I bought a new pair at the lowest price of about £35.00, so it will interesting to how good they are.

For US members, I've just checked eBay.com, and they start at $53.53 from China. Just type in 'Night vision googles:

Pardon Our Interruption...

Terry S
UK

 

[btaylor]

I just received a pair of Jakks Pacific Spynet IR googles I bought on eBay for $30 (free shipping!). Looking forward to trying them out.

 

[eli griggs]

Jakks Pacific SpyNet goggles. If I can find mine I’ll sell them for $40 including shipping, which is about what I paid 2 years ago. They work just fine, just never ended up using them. Would be happy to pass them along.

Cheers!

 

[DF]

Night Vision Goggles - to use in a DarkRoom?!? -
This is certainly a first for me...

 

[eli griggs]

"The Silence of the Lambs" gave a good lesson on the usefulness of such tech, so, put the Leica in the bucket and all the film too!

 

[Bill Burk]

Night Vision Goggles - to use in a DarkRoom?!? -
This is certainly a first for me...

Handling film for bulk loading, loading film onto reels, development of sheet film in open trays. Makes it magical like developing prints.

First generation devices are relatively cheap, in the 70’s nobody could afford it.

 

[tezzasmall]

I've been meaning to buy a pair of night vision glasses for a while now. Just checking eBay UK, I bought a new pair at the lowest price of about £35.00, so it will interesting to how good they are.

For US members, I've just checked eBay.com, and they start at $53.53 from China. Just type in 'Night vision googles:

Pardon Our Interruption...

Terry S
UK

Well they've arrived!

Only tried them in daylight at the moment and darker areas of the room. Upon checking them out, I'm quite impressed with the amount of features on them. I can't wait to try them in the darkroom (with some photo paper initially to check they are safe to use with this at least) but also outside at night. There are foxes and occasional badgers that come into the garden at night, so it's a matter of time really.

Terry S
UK

 

[RichardBones]

Regarding the Nightfox goggles I reached out to them to ask about the Swift and got this reply from them a few months back. My use-case is for when loading the Filmomat reel for super 8 as you can easily mess it up without noticing before its too late. I have not ordered the googles yet but figured this email would be of interest to this thread anyhow:

"Thank you for getting in touch and for your interest in our Nightfox range for developing film. I would suggest a different device, as the Swift is an older unit and only has 850nm IR which is the brighter/stronger IR that can product a red glow from the IR LED. I would instead suggest the Prowl as it is a head wearable monocular, it can have the firmware easily updated at home to the latest version, if that isn't already installed. This allows you to dim the viewing screen to a really low level, which will help better address any light spill from the screen and it also have inbuilt 940IR (as well as the 850nm IR, for higher IR levels). The 940nm IR produces a much lower visible red glow from the IR bulbs which will help to reduce any issues with light exposure with the film you're developing. The Swift only has 850nm and isn't able to be updated to dim the screen further, which is why I suggest the Prowl. Both device will be able to focus close up, ie 5-10cm from the lens.

I hope this helps, and please don't hesitate to message us again if we can be of further assistance.
Best wishes,
Rebecca
Product Support
Bristol, UK"

 

[drew tanner]

For what it’s worth, I have the Nightfox Swift 2 Pro, listed here:

Nightfox Swift 2 Pro Night Vision Goggles

Handsfree recording with comfortable night vision goggles. With 1x magnification and a wide 54° viewing angle you'll stay aware in the dark.

us.nightfoxstore.com

The Swift 2 Pro has a 940nm mode. I’ve used these across multiple sessions loading a couple hundred feet of film, so far, including Agfa Aviphot 200, which is sensitive up to 750nm. I’ve also used these with HP5+ and Porta 160 with no fogging-related issues.

The rep is correct that with these or any other IR goggles, you don’t want to use the lower 850nm mode, which does give a very, very faint red glow from the LEDs.

 

[RichardBones]

For what it’s worth, I have the Nightfox Swift 2 Pro, listed here:

Nightfox Swift 2 Pro Night Vision Goggles

Handsfree recording with comfortable night vision goggles. With 1x magnification and a wide 54° viewing angle you'll stay aware in the dark.

us.nightfoxstore.com

The Swift 2 Pro has a 940nm mode. I’ve used these across multiple sessions loading a couple hundred feet of film, so far, including Agfa Aviphot 200, which is sensitive up to 750nm. I’ve also used these with HP5+ and Porta 160 with no fogging-related issues.

The rep is correct that with these or any other IR goggles, you don’t want to use the lower 850nm mode, which does give a very, very faint red glow from the LEDs.

Good to know!

 

[MCB18]

For what it’s worth, I have the Nightfox Swift 2 Pro, listed here:

Nightfox Swift 2 Pro Night Vision Goggles

Handsfree recording with comfortable night vision goggles. With 1x magnification and a wide 54° viewing angle you'll stay aware in the dark.

us.nightfoxstore.com

The Swift 2 Pro has a 940nm mode. I’ve used these across multiple sessions loading a couple hundred feet of film, so far, including Agfa Aviphot 200, which is sensitive up to 750nm. I’ve also used these with HP5+ and Porta 160 with no fogging-related issues.

The rep is correct that with these or any other IR goggles, you don’t want to use the lower 850nm mode, which does give a very, very faint red glow from the LEDs.

I almost bought a pair of these for 75 bucks on eBay, it came with the case and all the accessories and stuff… Unfortunately, I hesitated too long and by the time I decided to buy it, someone else had already picked it up. Still kick myself for that. Honestly, I have no idea if I would’ve even used them, but they look a ton more comfortable than ones that I have now.

 

[cliveh]

View attachment 419990

How could any darkroom worker possibly manage without such a useful optical tool?

 

[MCB18]

How could any darkroom worker possibly manage without such a useful optical tool?

You get used to it, you understand what you’re doing, you feel around, eventually you get to a point where the night vision is more of an inconvenience than anything.

 

[mshchem]

For me these aids are no different than eyeglasses, shoes, warm coats. It's just adapting to the world around you. No different than turning on the headlights at dusk.