Eat as many carrots as you like - there are simply some things that you’ll never see in the dark!
Thankfully modern technology has provided us with night vision. Typically used by night hunters, night vision scopes are the perfect solutions for anyone in need of enhanced eyesight under the cover of darkness. Devices like this aren’t always the most affordable. Depending on the brand, these scopes can range up into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Night hunting is a dangerous and taxing activity. It’s imperative to have equipment that enhances the experience and does not weigh you or your pocket down.
But we have good news: We’ve have selected some of the best cheap night vision that won’t break the bank. Our comprehensive reviews of each will help put you on track for selecting the best cheap night vision scope for you.
What Is A Night Vision Scope?
A night vision rifle scope is an electronic device used to intensify one’s eyesight under darkness.
Night vision were originally developed for warfare. Soldiers used them to gain advantages over their opponents. Seeing in the dark is an obvious benefit in any combat situation. Today, while they’re popular amongst hunters they are still used in the military, as well as by law enforcement and firefighters. Advances in manufacturing have made night vision extremely durable and thus reliable in most night crisis situations.
Night vision scopes fall under two main types; ‘active’ and ‘passive’ night vision systems.
Active Night Vision Systems:
Active night vision systems are also known as infrared imaging systems. They project IR light onto a space via an IR illuminator. This light is invisible to humans. The rifle scope will then turn the space into visual imagery using image conversion technology. This is then projected back for the viewer to see.
Passive Night Vision Systems:
Passive night vision systems are a little bit different. They make use of any available minimal lighting and amplify that ambient light thousands of times. The visuals coming through a passive vision system are anywhere between 20 to 50,000 times brighter than the human eye can view unaided.
NV scopes are valuable pieces of equipment to incorporate into night hunting. They will become your eyes in the darkness, just like in warfare. These devices are important for hunting as they don’t give away your position while stalking an animal. Any alternative means of seeing in the dark would require a direct beam of light toward the creature. This shows them immediately that you’re lurking nearby and will spook them.
Night Vision vs Digital Night Vision
Early models of night vision optics required batteries so big you’d have to carry them on your back. Thank goodness for advancements in technology!
Today’s scopes can work with an average, everyday battery pack. They usually last a few hours in the field and are recharged as necessary.
Normal night vision riflescopes don’t rely on digital imagery to relay visuals to the user. They work solely through an intricate setup of lenses and plates to deliver the image from one side to the next. As light enters the front of the night scope it passes through a range of protons and electrons. Eventually it hits a screen made of green phosphor and the interpreted image is then delivered through the viewing lens. This process requires zero digitalization to work. It’s purely scientific and reactive. Dim light enters on one end of the rifle scope and exits multiple times clearer out the other.
Digital night vision is a bit different and has been called “the future” when it comes to night vision culture. Instead of amplifying light through the afore mentioned series of events, a digital night vision rifle scope instead uses a digital signal to do the job. The process is entirely electrical.
Image sensors absorb the incoming light and transmit the imagery to a screen in the eyepiece. In short, the screen contains the imagery unlike in Gen-1 devices where the imagery is live. Because digital night vision is relatively simple it’s often far more affordable that its counterparts.
When compared to Gen-1 devices, you’re definitely better off going with a digital night vision unit. The quality of viewing and performance isn’t noticeably different and you’ll be saving a lot of money.
When compared to the units of Gen-2 or 3, however, the range and resolution of digital night scopes aren’t up to standard. The image quality is noticeably lower and not a worthwhile investment even if you’re saving a few bucks. Although with time digital night vision will continue to improve in image quality and start becoming a viable alternative to Gen-2.
Digital night vision riflescope will always be the better choice if using a scope during both day and night is of value to you. They have this ability while standard NV does not.
It’s important to familiarize yourself with the generational history of night vision as it gives you a greater sense of understanding and appreciation for the technology. Since you’ll likely be making much use of it while out in the field, it helps to know how it evolved, and also the value you get for the money you’ll pay.
Under $2000:
Luckily, as with any technology, there is usually a range to suit any budget. When night vision optics first became available to the public they were extremely unreasonable in cost. Once the novelty wore off and technology advanced however, they became more readily available to the masses. Manufacturers began to compete for new models and designs & as a result the cost of buying one dropped considerably. That being said, there are still many ranges of higher-end scopes out there that would be considered costly.
Finding quality rifle scopes for under $2000 is possible, but requires a bit of informed investigation.
As mentioned, digital night vision scopes are the most affordable of the technology and typically all fall under the $2000 price tag; Usually with Gen-1 devices not far behind.
Gen-2 and Gen-3 rifle scopes are unpredictable in price. Some are high-end and unaffordable while others of equal quality fall well under the $2000 price tag. It’s all dependent on the brand and quality of the materials used to make the device.
We are pleased to report our pick of top 7 cheap night vision scopes all make it well under the $2000 mark. We believe that all night hunters should have access to a night vision scope of sorts both for performance enhancement and added safety. Night hunting can be unpredictable. Any equipment that can help alleviate the threats that exist under darkness should be accessible and affordable.
Top 6 Best Cheap Night Vision Scopes
As promised, here is our comprehensive breakdown of the features of our top 7 best night vision rifle scopes. Make use of the reviews, pros and cons in order to select the best cheap night vision scope for you.
1. ATN OPMOD X-Sight 4K Pro 3-14x
Best Night Vision Scope
The ATN OPMOD X-Sight is the best night vision scope on our list because it’s designed for high-quality imagery, longer battery life and optimal 3-inch eye relief. There are only two differences between OPMOD and ATN. Firstly you’ll see the OPMOD branding on the side of the night scope and OPMOD has an external battery.
X-Sight’s 4k Pro is a smart day and night riflescope that has a high definition ATN 4K M265 sensor & high-resolution optics. You can record videos in 1080P resolution and stream your recordings through WiFi Stream.
What’s more, the obsidian 4 dual-core processor provides faster optics with an array of vivid colors. There’s also an integrated ballistic calculator that will give you accurate data on humidity, wind and angle to target which will ensure you hit your mark every time.
You’ll love that the ATN OPMOD X-Sight rifle scope provides over 18 hours of operating time so you can stay on the hunting field for longer. The optic has Recoil Activated Video that works by creating a video as soon as the recoil of your weapon is detected.
The smart range finder will help you take two readings of your target so the rifle scope can range in on your prey and adjust your reticle’s point of impact. This optic’s smart range finder will work in night vision mode when you’re hunting in darkness.
Specifications:
- 5m range detection
- 4 – 14x magnification
- 600Ip/mm lens resolution
- Dual stream video
- Smart range finder
2. Pulsar Digex N455
The Pulsar Digex N455 rifle scope is an excellent choice when you want to go hunting during the day or night. That’s because this cheap night vision scope has a 500m night-time viewing range and the device has a wide selection of contrast & brightness settings. The powerful integrated infrared illuminator is perfect for moonless nights.
Whether it’s low light conditions you’re hunting in or a bright sunny day you can see targets at distances of 450m to 550m away. If you want to take videos or still images then use the built-in HD quality recorder. All pictures and videos can be transferred to a laptop or mobile device provided you have an internet connection.
Additionally, you’re able to perform high precision zeroing thanks to the Picture-in-Picture mode on the Pulsar Digex N455 rifle scope. The frame will show you a magnified image of your target and allows you to see your mark closely in the aiming area.
Updating firmware on your Pulsar Digex N455 rifle scope is effortless. All you need is an internet connection and the Stream Vision app to update your optic regularly so you have the latest firmware on your device.
You’ll appreciate that there are 10 reticle shapes namely ballistics, shot type and scalable with eight color modes to pick from. Since the Digex optic is digital it always stays in the same plane as the target. Overall the Pulsar Digex N455 rifle scope is easy to mount, it’s highly durable and comfortable to use.
Specifications:
- 50mm eye relief
- 1970yd range detection
- 4 -16x magnification
- Lithium battery
- All-metal housing
3. SightMark Wraith HD 4-32x50 Digital Riflescope
The SightMark Wraith HD rifle scope offers an array of high tech features at an affordable price which makes this device better value for money.
This cheap night vision scope provides excellent clarity and a full-color display. The optic has a CMOS 1920x1080 high definition color imaging sensor FCLOS display ensures you have crystal clear vision through the scope when hunting during the day.
There are two NV modes; in emerald or black and white. Select one of the 10 reticle options and 9 color displays on the SightMark Wraith. The color and reticle options allow you to customize your night scope according to your surroundings.
Take still images or videos with your SightMark Wraith HD rifle scope and transfer them to another device to save & view your hunting adventures. The rifle scope allows SD cards with a storage capacity of over 250GB so you can record and take hundreds of pictures & keep them on your device.
Overall the SightMark Wraith HD rifle scope has a durable construction made from aluminium and it has an IP55 rating which means the device can withstand any weather conditions. This rifle scope operates on four AA batteries that last for 4 to 5 hours even when recording videos and utilizing the infrared illuminator.
Specifications:
- Video record resolution is 1080x720 pixels
- Diameter of objective lens is 50mm
- 4 – 32x magnification
- Has 6 illumination colors
- Digital night vision
- Weaver rail
4. Night Owl NightShot Digital Night Vision Riflescope
As the moon changes, so does the ability of this cheap night vision scope by Night Owl.
The hunting range is between 100 and 200 yards depending on the phases of the moon. At full moon, the rifle scope will be at its highest capacity for distance and vice versa. The performance ability of this night scope also doesn’t flounder under changing weather conditions. It’s fully weatherproof and capable of withstanding even the harshest environmental conditions.
With the infrared illuminator on, the battery will only last around two hours. With the illuminator off it can function up to five hours. We note that this is considerable less battery life than the unit mentioned previously. However, this shouldn’t deter you - it’s still a valuable buy.
The Night Owl night vision rifle scope is most ideal for hog hunting by night. Its IR illuminated range allows for this. The device can’t be used during the day at all as it isn't a digital night vision riflescope.
Specifications:
- 13.2 x 2.7 x 4
- 640 x 480 display resolution
- Field of view: 5.6º
5. Sightmark SM18009 Photon XT 6.5x50S
We love the sleek, matte black body of this Sightmark SM18009 Photon XT rifle scope. This is a digital scope, so shooters can make use of it in both daylight and nighttime. It’s a well-priced, versatile unit.
The built in illuminator offers an effective range of between 100 and 125 yards. That’s perfectly suitable for hog and varmint hunting.
The Sightmark Photon scope is 30% lighter than most of its competitors and also offers around 30% more operating than they do. To top it off it’s all weatherproof and can handle intense shock waves.
Perhaps the best part about the Sightmark is the fact that it has a video output function that allows your hunt to be recorded. This isn’t a feature seen often in cheaper scopes.
Specifications:
- 6.5x magnification
- 50mm objective lens
- 656 x 492 resolution
6. ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Smart Day/Night Rifle Scope
Here’s another versatile cheap night vision scope that can be used both during the day and at night. The ATN X-Sight is the newest rifle scope from one of the first companies to bring digital night vision riflescope to the world.
You’ll have the best of both worlds being able to view your terrain during the day and under darkness. The rifle scope has the battery to outlast the hours of the day while out in the field. You’ll only need to recharge every 18 hours.
Also equipped with on board recording ability, the X-Sight can stream your visuals to a third party for live viewing. The visuals will remain stored in the SD card within the scope as well as in the feed of HD quality streaming - impressive!
Specifications:
- HD 4K Sensor
- 5.20 x zoom
- Ballistics calculator on board
- Remote control compatible
Additional Information
Thermal vs Night Vision:
Thermal scopes work slightly differently. While their sole purpose is also to produce imagery in low light, their process isn't the same as night vision scopes. Thermal scopes use a thermal detector (microbolometer) to detect the heat that is radiated off objects and surfaces. This information is then used to generate the image that you see through the scope eyepiece.
In this sense thermal scopes work in a similar way to active night vision systems. The infrared radiation emitted by the objects is undetectable to the human eye just like the infrared light.
Thermal rifle scopes and NV scopes are essentially two different ways of achieving the same results: Vision in darkness. The biggest difference is that thermal rifle scopes can be used in bright light while night vision scopes can’t. Bright light will damage the intensifier tubes located within the scope and they will no longer work.
Thermal scopes can, to an extent, see through smoke and debris while night scopes typically can’t. However we hope that smoke filled air is never going to be a factor on your hunting trip, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
There is a common agreement amongst hunters that thermal scopes are wonderful for detection, but not great for recognition. The opposite is to be said about night vision scopes; it’s easy to recognize an animal or being’s specifications, but detecting shot range should the object stand stationary can be tricky.
Thermal scopes also tend to be considerably larger, heavier and more costly than an everyday night scope. The bodies of night vision scopes, though smaller, are more durable than most thermals.
Night Vision Generations:
1940s:
As mentioned, night vision technology began with warfare in the early 1940s. The United States military developed the software and made use of the active systems against their opponents.
Because active systems emit infrared light, the opponents could not see the technological devices with the naked eye. They did however, over time, develop alternate detection software that could pick up infrared light being projected at them.
1960s-1980s:
This led to the development of the passive systems in the 60s - New technology that was completely undetectable by the opponent. These new night vision scopes became known as “starlight” because they were powerful enough to produce visuals with just the rays coming from stars in the sky. Quite incredible if we say so ourselves!
These starlight systems were the first passive scopes to be used in warfare. They debuted in the Vietnam war and officially became known as “Generation 1” technology. Though this was only the beginning of a long line of developments.
As warfare and technology advanced, so did night vision scopes. There was a constant goal to make them better, smaller and stronger. Eventually the technology became known as “Generation 2”. These were a range of scopes that were smaller, lighter and had the best image resolution yet seen. This technology continued to evolve throughout the 70s and early 80s.
Night vision scopes were taking the military world by storm. It wasn’t long before hunters became aware of them and wanted them for hunting. The scopes were, however, not easily accessible by the public and certainly not for recreational use.
1980s Onwards:
The late 80s saw the birth of “Generation 3”. 3rd Gen Night vision scopes were a big step up from Generation 2 and promised superior quality and performance. These scopes used gallium arsenide placed on the photo cathode inside the imaging tubes. This substance resulted in extremely sharp resolution in even the lowest of lights.
These Gen-3 devices were used during the Persian Gulf War. After this, during the 90s, the US Department of Defense cut a lot of their budget that would normally have been used in advancing this technology.
Hunters were still hot on the heels of this equipment. Therefore, manufacturers decided to make the technology available to the public with models specifically designed around night hunting.
Finally, hunters across America could get their hands on these tools once reserved solely for warfare. Now night vision scopes are amongst the easiest technological purchases to make; however they cannot be exported outside of the US. There are a variety of manufacturers and brands on the market constantly catering to the ever-changing needs of hunters.
Today:
Night vision scopes are no longer the toys of the military elite. They are everyday hunting aids that give users not only vision in the dark, but safety as well.
Night Vision Scope Brands
There are many brands on the market that manufacture optics but not all of them are the same. Some scopes simply aren’t as feature-rich as other devices. The best night vision scope brands on the market are the ones we mentioned on our list of reviews.
ATN X-Sight, Pulsar, SightMark and Firefield are all scope brands that offer the latest in optic technology at affordable prices. These brands make rugged optics that can record videos, take still pictures and use it to save all your data onto an SD card.
Some brands such as the Pulsar Digex N455 allow you to pair your optic with your SmartPhone so you can adjust your settings on a user-friendly app such as Stream Vision.
Additionally, these night vision optic brands have integrated more reticle options and colors into their scopes so you can customize your device according to your environment. This makes hunting during the day or night easier and less frustrating.
Range and Magnification
Digital optics has range of magnification which allows you to zoom in on targets. For most avid hunters the ideal magnification range is between 4x and 6x. On the other hand, if you’re shooting at a further distance between 1000 to 1500 yards you’ll need a magnification of 10x.
You want to pick a scope that allows you to adjust the magnification range according to your preference. Some scopes such as the Pulsar Digex N455 have a 4x to 16x optical zoom. Keep your scope on a lower magnification if you’re shooting close range and you’re dealing with moving targets.
Connectivity
As mentioned before, some brands allow you to pair your scope with a mobile app. Through these apps, you’re able to update your digital optic’s firmware regularly. You can also upload videos and images through the app provided you have a Wi-Fi or data connection.
You also want to be able to connect your optic to another device such as a laptop so you can transfer all your images and videos onto a computer. Make sure the optic you pick allows you to connect to the internet so you can get the most out of your digital scope.
IR illuminator
If you want a night vision optic then it must have an integrated IR illuminator. The IR illuminator emits light in the infrared field so you’re able to see your target at night or in low light conditions.
This infrared tool works similar to a flashlight but the human eye can’t see it. You’ll only be able to see in the dark through the optic if it has an IR illuminator.
Battery Life
Select an optic that has a rechargeable battery or ones that you can change easily when they go flat. For rechargeable digital optics you want to select a device that has longer battery life. When you’re out in the field you may not have power source to recharge your device so ensure it offers 10 hours of battery life or more.
You could pick a device that allows you to change the batteries or accept external power supply. Simply make sure you have an extra battery pack with you on the hunting field in case the ones inside your scope go flat.
Range Finder
A range finder is probably the most important part of your riflescope. The rangefinder is a device that measures the distance from where you are to the target. When picking a scope with a rangefinder make sure it can detect distances of up to 1000 yards. The rangefinder must also have a reticle and adjustable magnification.
Mounting
You should not experience problems mounting your scope onto your rifle. Ensure that the mounting equipment is the correct sizing for your rifle and that it sits securely onto your weapon. Pick a night vision rifle scope that has fewer parts so that it’s easy to attach to your rifle.
Consider the materials the mounting equipment is made from and how heavy it is. You want a scope that’s durable so that it has a long service life and it must be lightweight so it doesn’t affect your aim.
Final Thoughts:
We hope you’re leaving this buyers guide more informed in one way or another about the night vision scope market. As with hunting, the more information you have about the target, the more success you’ll have.
Our feedback on five different units from five different brands should give you a clearer idea of where to invest your money. Just because a scope is considered “affordable” doesn’t mean that it needs to fall behind in performance or features.
Night hunting is a sport of the masses and everybody should have access to affordable experience aiding technology when they need it.
There’s a scope out there to suit even the most limited hunter’s budget.
Forget the carrots - buy yourself a night vision scope today!