What is the hive’s opinion on the PVS-18? Pics up in OP

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What is the hive’s opinion on the PVS-18? Pics up in OP

Posted: 12/21/2018 10:55:30 PM EDT

I’ve got one on the way (no tube).

Finally arrived!

Posted: 12/22/2018 12:36:21 AM EDT

[#1]

Good solid unit, dovetail is a plus, however make sure you get the aluminium dovetails on it, the plastic ones will break on you.

Also, careful when installing the tube, the IR and low battery indicator LEDs sit on a thin strip of flex-pcb which easily breaks on you.

Posted: 12/22/2018 12:37:25 AM EDT

[#2]

I hiked a few miles earlier tonight with my PVS-18 and Nightcap/Lowstow setup.The plus to the 18 for me it’s my lightest weight NV system I own since the dovetail mount is built in. I also added the Ether lens to mine dropped weight even more.

Optics wise the eyepiece glass is better than the 14 to me all night long. Objective lens I’ve been told is the glass you would like to have for Intens/4G tube I ran a full Intens tube in mine for a while it did look great performance wise. Right now I have a high spec L3 WP filmless inside 72lp/35SN . It also looks great image that said I’m not sure it looks much different than the same tube did inside a pvs-14 housing first.

Overall, I like the 18 the issue is it’s just overpriced compared to a new 14 housing cost wise. That said it’s a great mil-spec housing overall.

Posted: 12/22/2018 12:45:27 AM EDT

[#3]

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I hiked a few miles earlier tonight with my PVS-18 and Nightcap/Lowstow setup.The plus to the 18 for me it’s my lightest weight NV system I own since the dovetail mount is built in. I also added the Ether lens to mine dropped weight even more.

Optics wise the eyepiece glass is better than the 14 to me all night long. Objective lens I’ve been told is the glass you would like to have for Intens/4G tube I ran a full Intens tube in mine for a while it did look great performance wise. Right now I have a high spec L3 WP filmless inside 72lp/35SN . It also looks great image that said I’m not sure it looks much different than the same tube did inside a pvs-14 housing first.

Overall, I like the 18 the issue is it’s just overpriced compared to a new 14 housing cost wise. That said it’s a great mil-spec housing overall.

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I got mine for a similar price as a new PVS14 kit, so I did ok on that end.

What Ether eyepiece does it take?

Posted: 12/22/2018 12:46:24 AM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
Good solid unit, dovetail is a plus, however make sure you get the aluminium dovetails on it, the plastic ones will break on you.

Also, careful when installing the tube, the IR and low battery indicator LEDs sit on a thin strip of flex-pcb which easily breaks on you.

View Quote

Thank you for the warning. The only thing I ever broke on my MUM14 was the fricking light pipe and it’s impossible to find.

I’m pretty sure this one comes with the aluminum dovetail. If it doesnt, I’ll make an order with TNVC.

Posted: 12/22/2018 12:50:15 AM EDT

[#5]

It’s the 15/18 Ether eyepiece UNV sold me mine and it seemed like it dropped the weight way more than the pvs-14 Ether eyepiece did on my pvs-14 housing. The mil-spec pvs-18 glass has a much larger eye box than the 14 does it’s a great eyepiece glass wise. I added the Ether mainly for weight reduction and I like the locking diopter feature on the Ether glass.

Posted: 12/23/2018 7:48:55 PM EDT

[#6]

What Butler flip cap fits?

Posted: 1/6/2019 6:40:42 PM EDT

[#7]

@terry1, how do you remove the copper retaining ring to put in a new tube?

Disregard. There was a plastic retaining ring. I used a dental pick to unscrew it, removed the copper ring and placed the tube.

Works like a champ!!!

Posted: 1/6/2019 11:23:19 PM EDT

[#8]

HUGE props to Alex_B for helping me get this thing up and running.

Ridiculously good glass and a great tube (@brodband8)

I really like the -18.

Posted: 1/7/2019 1:37:57 AM EDT

[#9]

Sorry just saw your post looks like you have it up and running. The glass is excellent and really works well with the 4G tubes also.

Posted: 1/7/2019 2:46:11 PM EDT

[#10]

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Sorry just saw your post looks like you have it up and running. The glass is excellent and really works well with the 4G tubes also.

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No problem. Thing is great. Might have to consider upgrading to a higher spec tube.

Posted: 1/8/2019 2:15:26 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
HUGE props to Alex_B for helping me get this thing up and running.

Ridiculously good glass and a great tube (@brodband8)

I really like the -18.

View Quote

Glad you got it all assembled and working!

Posted: 1/8/2019 9:59:42 PM EDT

[#12]

Posted: 1/8/2019 10:37:35 PM EDT

[#13]

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Quoted:
HUGE props to Alex_B for helping me get this thing up and running.

Ridiculously good glass and a great tube (@brodband8)

I really like the -18.

View Quote

How much different is it than a 14? I like the built in dual dovetail. Are the optics much better or different than a 14?

Posted: 1/8/2019 10:45:59 PM EDT

[#14]

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How much different is it than a 14? I like the built in dual dovetail. Are the optics much better or different than a 14?

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The ocular has better eye relief, thats the only noticeable optical difference.

Posted: 1/9/2019 9:00:37 AM EDT

[#15]

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The ocular has better eye relief, thats the only noticeable optical difference.

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Quoted:

How much different is it than a 14? I like the built in dual dovetail. Are the optics much better or different than a 14?

The ocular has better eye relief, thats the only noticeable optical difference.

I don’t know how much different, but the eye relief feels significantly better to me. I usually cannot wear my eye glasses with my PVS14. I can quite easily wear them with the -18.

Posted: 1/11/2019 9:56:20 AM EDT

[#16]

Where did you get the housing at?

Posted: 1/14/2019 11:37:51 PM EDT

[#17]

I like mine but use my 15s more. The main thing is they can be made more waterproof, and early versions had a neato variable gain tube, but that housing is different than yours.

Posted: 1/14/2019 11:51:22 PM EDT

[#18]

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I like mine but use my 15s more. The main thing is they can be made more waterproof, and early versions had a neato variable gain tube, but that housing is different than yours.

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I’d love 15s. I can’t find housings for reasonable prices.

Posted: 1/15/2019 10:11:23 AM EDT

[#19]

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I’d love 15s. I can’t find housings for reasonable prices.

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Correct.

Posted: 1/15/2019 10:38:18 AM EDT

[#20]

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Correct.

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I’d love 15s. I can’t find housings for reasonable prices.

Correct.

They use the same glass as -18s, correct?

Posted: 1/15/2019 12:13:42 PM EDT

[#21]

Is there any way to adjust either of the PVS18's dovetail's for horizontal adjustment?

For example my PVS14 with Norotos dual dovetail creates a similar form factor as a PVS18. One dovetail is fixed while the other has a horizontal adjustment slider built in, and you can swap the two from side to side to pick if you want the primary/adjustable side to be left or right.

Does the PVS18's wider eyebox just completely make up for a lack of horizontal adjustment?

Posted: 1/15/2019 12:16:02 PM EDT

[#22]

If you have the broken light pipe i can probably 3d print you a replacement. I 3d print all light pipes out of clear abs and they work great.

Posted: 1/15/2019 12:28:27 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Is there any way to adjust either of the PVS18's dovetail's for horizontal adjustment?

For example my PVS14 with Norotos dual dovetail creates a similar form factor as a PVS18. One dovetail is fixed while the other has a horizontal adjustment slider built in, and you can swap the two from side to side to pick if you want the primary/adjustable side to be left or right.

Does the PVS18's wider eyebox just completely make up for a lack of horizontal adjustment?

View Quote

It does not appear to have a horizontal adjustment slider.

I haven’t noticed the need for such, so maybe the bigger eye box does compensate?

Posted: 1/15/2019 12:28:37 PM EDT

[#24]

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If you have the broken light pipe i can probably 3d print you a replacement. I 3d print all light pipes out of clear abs and they work great.

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PM sent

Posted: 1/15/2019 8:30:22 PM EDT

[#25]

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They use the same glass as -18s, correct?

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The 18 is basically a half a 15.

Posted: 1/15/2019 10:51:46 PM EDT

[#26]

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The 18 is basically a half a 15.

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Quoted:

They use the same glass as -18s, correct?

The 18 is basically a half a 15.

That’s what it looked like. I considered grabbing a 15 chassis I’ve seen for sale, but then I read elsewhere how some people don’t like the 15 and that it’s hard to get repaired. That sucks because I like the 18 eyepiece a lot.

Now I’m considering a DTNVG kit.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What is the hive’s opinion on the PVS-18? Pics up in OP

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