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Posted: 11/17/2025 4:17:31 AM EDT
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I have been out of the loop for years on night vision. Just wanted to know what is the current best color capable night vision system available? It doesn't have to be Chinese.  I think it might be the Sionyx OPSIN, but wanted to know if other options were out there. Does anyone know if the OPSIN will take the origional COTI clip on thermal? The AN/PAS-29A version specifically. Thanks for any assistance with this. Things certainly have changed in the past few years since I was in the game. 
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It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
| Thanks for that info. I actually have one of the dual tube analog color night vision systems from a few years back and they do have their downsides. My COTI unit is set up for a PVS-14 objective lens and SIONYX customer support just told me the OPSIN has a 29mm objective lens compared to a 30mm outside diameter for the PVS-14. It might fit with a shim or some adjustments I am guessing. |
It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest: Thanks for that info. I actually have one of the dual tube analog color night vision systems from a few years back and they do have their downsides. My COTI unit is set up for a PVS-14 objective lens and SIONYX customer support just told me the OPSIN has a 29mm objective lens compared to a 30mm outside diameter for the PVS-14. It might fit with a shim or some adjustments I am guessing.  the sionyx is probably your best bet for digital color nv |
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Yeah, I had purchased the Adams Industries CNV a few years back. Still have it and it works as well as when I got it. Thanks, so the OPSIN is getting more like something I might want to try then. I was really trying to talk myself out of it.
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It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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that's awesome you have a pair of the adams cnv bino's i have a set of the 3d filters adams made for the cnv tubes , even with green tubes they help enhance depth perception if your looking for something helmet mountable the opsin might be your best bet. i think they need a good bit of supplemental ir to look good though if your not looking for helmet mountable google up "spi osprey x27" , the videos look out of this world |
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Originally Posted By 1iviper: that's awesome you have a pair of the adams cnv bino's i have a set of the 3d filters adams made for the cnv tubes , even with green tubes they help enhance depth perception if your looking for something helmet mountable the opsin might be your best bet. i think they need a good bit of supplemental ir to look good though if your not looking for helmet mountable google up "spi osprey x27" , the videos look out of this world That is neat you have the filters, they do increase contrast a bit. With the color cues though it became hard for me to go back to monochrome after the experience. I purchased an Opsin today, you pretty much convinced me to go for it.  It came with a free 940nm illuminator, but I also have the older AN/PAS-29A COTI that works with my PVS-14 and CNV system. It looks like I might be able to clip the COTI onto the Opsin objective lens and if the light levels get too bad for the Opsin, I will just use the thermal imager overlay to navigate. This will probably be both interesting and fun to try out. I've been drooling over a head mounted version of the SPi x27 for years, so this Opsin is the closest thing I can afford.
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It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest: That is neat you have the filters, they do increase contrast a bit. With the color cues though it became hard for me to go back to monochrome after the experience. I purchased an Opsin today, you pretty much convinced me to go for it. It came with a free 940nm illuminator, but I also have the older AN/PAS-29A COTI that works with my PVS-14 and CNV system. It looks like I might be able to clip the COTI onto the Opsin objective lens and if the light levels get too bad for the Opsin, I will just use the thermal imager overlay to navigate. This will probably be both interesting and fun to try out. I've been drooling over a head mounted version of the SPi x27 for years, so this Opsin is the closest thing I can afford. i really need to pick up an aurora pro for my wife , she likes hanging out back in the evenings watching the wildlife. she would probably enjoy seeing it all in color
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My Opsin will arrive tomorrow. I have the PAS-29A setup so I can see if the adapter ring will fit over the Opsin infinity stop, which is 39mm Sionyx tells me. It could be very close, or very frustratingly close if it doesn't fit. One other night vision guru did it, so it is possible. https://www.instagram.com/p/CmHSosRpT9c/ Not to get you to spend money, but I certainly enjoyed the 7 years of comet watching and auroras and many other kinds of fun just using the original Aurora camera. The Pro version certainly seems to have better image quality for not much more than the original cameras. |
It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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Update, Adapter ring is just a little too small, but the unit holds on pretty tightly and I have been able to use it in the field to test. Hoping Sionyx makes a lens adapter ring so we can more easily fit accessories like the Coti to it. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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Originally Posted By 1iviper: any pics or video through it that looks like it would be pretty wild Yeah, I am working on it. Had a bad update to the software and have to try again. Sionyx quickly found a solution and I hope to have that sorted this weekend. Friend is making a printed adapter for the COTI based on the measurements of the original adapter plus the larger diameter of the Opsin infinity stop. If I can't get any images this weekend, hoping it's all sorted out by next weekend. This is the dog on a chair in outline mode. The outline should be in orange/red. It is also out of alignment but that is adjustable with the COTI. Attached File Edit, Found more photos on the SD card, colors are correct when they were stored, just not being displayed on the eyepiece properly from the software. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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Originally Posted By 1iviper: i need one of those friends with a 3d printer  that setup looks promising , can't wait to see some more pics once you get it all sorted out Unfortunately, I never got it sorted out. Sionyx did give me a full refund though. They checked through multiple other Opsin units to try and find one that might be more suitable but all had the same problems that I was experiencing with my unit. Comparison photos Sionyx sent to me, the ironic thing was that the Aurora Pro consistently was displaying higher resolution as well as seeing more of the scene while facing the calibrated light source than the Opsin units. Attached File Attached File I ended up getting a digital fusion GF31. This is basically an ADNV G14P2 binocular that has an Iray 640x512 12 micron thermal core. Attached File With glare from vehicle lights and a half moon. Attached File Amercian Woodcock sleeping on the trail. Attached File Attached File |
It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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Originally Posted By MTNShewter: Op, this is really cool. What is the field of view with that new u it and what is the user interface like, vs an analog bino? Man, I apolgize that I didn't know anyone posted to this thread. The field of view of the GF31 is averaging at 40 degree FOV. Basically because of the sCMOS sensor format they are 40 degree FOV horizontal and 30 degree vertical. User interface has alot of options. You push in the central button on the bridge of the unit and a scroll menu come up allowing you to rotate the switch to the menu option you want. You can control things like the brightness of the Left tube, vs. the right one. The contrast, sharpness, and brightness, plus brightness of the OLED screens. the thermal sensor has its own settings of brightness and contrast that you can adjust when yo select Fusion mode. Fusion mode has a lot of variable settings as well. I have used the unit a few times each month so far, many times under no moon and overcast starlight, or just starlight and the performance never fell to the point where I could not see an image through the CMOS, in fact under those conditions it was actually superior to the view my Omni 7 PVS-14 was giving me. Most likely because the digital sensors are way more sensitive to light above 900nm, up to the atmospheric window from starlight at 1100nm. I wrote up a review here and took a few photos and videos. https://www.reddit.com/r/NightVision/comments/1spsai3/review_of_the_upgraded_adnv_gf31_fusion_digital/ The unit certainly has some advantages, my experience is the same as others have noted in the videos below. I love my analog image tube systems, but there are days where I actually prefer these units.  Analog vs. Digital Thermal Fusion — Which is Best?  Night Vision/Thermal Fusion Is a Game Changer | Good Nite Gear GF20 |
It's not stupid, it's advanced!!
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