Want to Buy In Search Of darkroom night vision goggles.

20250427_154237.jpg

D
20250427_154237.jpg

  • 2
  • 0
  • 52
Genbaku Dome

D
Genbaku Dome

  • 5
  • 1
  • 71
City Park Pond

H
City Park Pond

  • 0
  • 1
  • 65
Icy Slough.jpg

H
Icy Slough.jpg

  • 1
  • 0
  • 53
Roses

A
Roses

  • 8
  • 0
  • 136

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
197,504
Messages
2,760,028
Members
99,521
Latest member
Kileypeters12
Recent bookmarks
0
Trader history for MCB18 (4)

MCB18

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 16, 2023
Messages
838
Location
Colorado
Format
Medium Format
Looking for a way to see in the darkroom, as cutting sheets is a bit more difficult than expected in complete darkness. If anyone has any recommendations, or has some goggles/monocular they aren’t using, let me know.

Budget is ideally $50, but can’t be more than $100.

Thanks.
 

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,655
Format
35mm
I just got a Jakks pacific eyeclops 2.0 off of ebay for about $30. It worked after a fashion.

First off you'll need to find a way to tightly secure it to the back of your head. I think it was intended to use as a binocular. Second, once it's strapped to your head you'll have to seal it up to get rid of any light. Light leaks all over the place. I did the best I can and it seemed to have worked. I used it to punch holes in film to make some 126 film.
 

Kino

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,602
Location
Orange, Virginia
Format
Multi Format
There are many 940 nm illuminator LED boards on Amazon for security cameras. Maybe building a light tight box with gloves to handle film with one of these boards and a security camera would work? Use a monitor outside the box, of course...

Testing would certainly be advised!

Sample
 
OP
OP

MCB18

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 16, 2023
Messages
838
Location
Colorado
Format
Medium Format
There are many 940 nm illuminator LED boards on Amazon for security cameras. Maybe building a light tight box with gloves to handle film with one of these boards and a security camera would work? Use a monitor outside the box, of course...

Testing would certainly be advised!

Sample

Probably not that practical, I’m using a large rotocutter, and the roll itself is huge.

I just got a Jakks pacific eyeclops 2.0 off of ebay for about $30. It worked after a fashion.

First off you'll need to find a way to tightly secure it to the back of your head. I think it was intended to use as a binocular. Second, once it's strapped to your head you'll have to seal it up to get rid of any light. Light leaks all over the place. I did the best I can and it seemed to have worked. I used it to punch holes in film to make some 126 film.

Promising, looks cheap enough… how can I tell where the light leaks are, though? I’m going to be wearing them in my head after all…
 

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,655
Format
35mm
Probably not that practical, I’m using a large rotocutter, and the roll itself is huge.



Promising, looks cheap enough… how can I tell where the light leaks are, though? I’m going to be wearing them in my head after all…

It leaks around the viewing part. You'll have to add foam or something. There's also a tiny bit of leaking from the switches but that didn't affect my film.

I found the leaks by having someone in the darkroom and telling me where the leaks were. When it go to the point where they can only sense the light but not pinpoint it I said it was good enough.
 

Kino

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,602
Location
Orange, Virginia
Format
Multi Format
Probably not that practical, I’m using a large rotocutter, and the roll itself is huge.



Promising, looks cheap enough… how can I tell where the light leaks are, though? I’m going to be wearing them in my head after all…

I had a silly, but maybe workable idea.

Make a hood of light tight material around the mask and poke a snorkel through the fabric to breathe!

That would be a sight to see! 😄
 

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,655
Format
35mm
I had a silly, but maybe workable idea.

Make a hood of light tight material around the mask and poke a snorkel through the fabric to breathe!

That would be a sight to see! 😄

I thought of this. I have a few old gas masks kicking around but in the end it's already hot enough in my darkroom.

I did catch the leaks using a combo of foam and discarded 120 backing paper.
 

Kino

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,602
Location
Orange, Virginia
Format
Multi Format
Maybe the components of the toy could be removed and placed in a better fitting shell?

I have one laying around here somewhere I found at a thrift store; maybe I will disassemble it and give that a try. As it stands, it's very ungainly and I put it to one side after testing it.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
I've used Jakks Spynet goggles for several years. One has built in illumination, one set of leds is pure IR, the other is near IR, I taped over the NIR leds.
They look like binoculars, I strap them to my head, no light leaks. Not stereo, so zero depth perception, narrow field. Can be focused.
 

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,655
Format
35mm
I've used Jakks Spynet goggles for several years. One has built in illumination, one set of leds is pure IR, the other is near IR, I taped over the NIR leds.
They look like binoculars, I strap them to my head, no light leaks. Not stereo, so zero depth perception, narrow field. Can be focused.

Got a photo of your setup how you strapped it to your head? I'm still struggling with it. I don't have a very large head so that might be where it's not getting a good seal on my face.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
Got a photo of your setup how you strapped it to your head? I'm still struggling with it. I don't have a very large head so that might be where it's not getting a good seal on my face.

I tried bungee cords, I settled on enormous twist tie like things used like bungees. I have a pretty good sized behemoth head too.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
51,951
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
We have a "vigorous" discussion happening in another thread about whether it is fair to expect people to post photographs.
This thread cries out for photos! 😉 😁
 
OP
OP

MCB18

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 16, 2023
Messages
838
Location
Colorado
Format
Medium Format
Maybe the components of the toy could be removed and placed in a better fitting shell?

I have one laying around here somewhere I found at a thrift store; maybe I will disassemble it and give that a try. As it stands, it's very ungainly and I put it to one side after testing it.

If you don’t want it, I’ll take it! I’m sure I can figure out some way to make them work.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
20211006_134629.jpg


GUARANTEED A CHICK MAGNET¡!!!
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
This picture has a auxiliary wide angle attachment from an old VHS camera. The attachment helps widen the view but degrades the sharpness
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
51,951
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,655
Format
35mm
I tried bungee cords, I settled on enormous twist tie like things used like bungees. I have a pretty good sized behemoth head too.

I used a camera strap, large rubber bands and 120 spools to ratchet the whole thing onto my face. Might just get a head lamp and take the straps off of that.

View attachment 343020

GUARANTEED A CHICK MAGNET¡!!!

This is gold Jerry! Gold!

How do you keep the light from leaking out the back around your face? And where can I find such wonderful bungee straps? Specifically in that color?

I was also thinking of sticking a strip of developed and exposed film over the inside screens to cut back on light. I don't need such a bright screen.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
I used a camera strap, large rubber bands and 120 spools to ratchet the whole thing onto my face. Might just get a head lamp and take the straps off of that.



This is gold Jerry! Gold!

How do you keep the light from leaking out the back around your face? And where can I find such wonderful bungee straps? Specifically in that color?

I was also thinking of sticking a strip of developed and exposed film over the inside screens to cut back on light. I don't need such a bright screen.

It smushes up tight, the goggles are black vinyl. I think the only way that you would fog the film is if these things would fall off. There's a lot of different toy IR goggles these are Jakks Pacific, Spynet goggles. These haven't been made new for a few years. I have a recording version as well that will make movies on a thumb drive
Best Regards Mike
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
Looking for a way to see in the darkroom, as cutting sheets is a bit more difficult than expected in complete darkness. If anyone has any recommendations, or has some goggles/monocular they aren’t using, let me know.

Budget is ideally $50, but can’t be more than $100.

Thanks.

 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format

These look identical, I bought mine at Menards, made in USA, looks like same manufacturer.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,239
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
Extremely narrow field of vision, refresh rate is so slow things get swirling if you move your head fast. I don't try to walk, everything in 2D. Try lighting candles on a cake with one eye closed. 😁
 

Cholentpot

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
6,655
Format
35mm

Thanks!

Extremely narrow field of vision, refresh rate is so slow things get swirling if you move your head fast. I don't try to walk, everything in 2D. Try lighting candles on a cake with one eye closed. 😁

I have mismatched eyes, when I don't have glasses on I don't have much DoF. Par for the course. I'm used to it.
 
OP
OP

MCB18

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 16, 2023
Messages
838
Location
Colorado
Format
Medium Format
Extremely narrow field of vision, refresh rate is so slow things get swirling if you move your head fast. I don't try to walk, everything in 2D. Try lighting candles on a cake with one eye closed. 😁

I only have 1 eye that I can really see out of, so mono vision is pretty normal to me. I’m also super near sighted, so if it has a telephoto-effect, then that’s perfectly fine, if not preferable.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom