Ha, I remember that guy.

It’s clear the specs are really good but doesn’t it still amplify less than a Gen 3 Harris or L3?

Specs are how they perform and amplify light. Although you have to look at more than just SNR and res, but if all the specs match on a photonis with that of a gen 3 it’s going to perform and amplify the same or in theory anyways.

If everyone can, try to respect the poster and keep it on topic and avoid the photonis vs L3 nitty gritty. The info is out there on both tubes so I think what needed to be said was said. L3 is best and photonis is really good with the edge going to really low light to the L3. It’s been beat to death.

I agree to respect the OP, personally I think it’s misleading to just leave it as L3 best then Photonis. SNR is important but so is the amount of gain

Edit to add: Harris/ITT is conveniently left out in these conversations

OP, I was about to buy some RNVGs myself, but circumstances intervened.

Mod3s are nice, but I will own at least 1 extra monocular for a loaner, I’m sometimes a klutz (and thus appreciate the ruggedness of the RNVGs), and it was significantly lower in cost.

YMMV.

I mean, I really do consider you guys to be experts (and direct folks to your company quite regularly) but the blind spot you have about yourself, your marketing approach, and your own products while excoriating others is extremely ironic.

I am no expert. I have a decent amount of experience from buying and trying a LOT of stuff in a short period of time, but my uses are simple - just shooting at night. I do so about 6 times a year - more than some, less than some, and I don't rely on tubes to catch bad guys or defend good people overseas.

I personally have the Mod-3B with L3 white phosphor tubes, and honestly I have found it to be a little overrated. This isn't to say it's not amazing. But for the price difference, I honestly only feel like I am *slightly* deadlier in killing steel targets than with a single green 14. Sure, there is a difference. But at a price point of about $8,500 compared to around $2,000, I don't think the difference is warranted. I think the sweet spot for what I do in terms of performance to price would be either bridged 14's in a lightly blemmed but reliable set of tubes, or a good deal on a used true binocular system with older tubes, especially stuff with rotating eyepiece designs like the DTNVG or PVS15s.

The Mod3 is definitely cool, but my experience has been this: my buddies still don't care enough to shoot at night with me (for the most part), so I'm not loaning out one of the pods, and even if I wanted to, you still need to have somebody else that has a decent helmet and mount system of their own (or you supply it which adds cost). In addition, there's basically no situation where I personally would only use one of the pods when I could just be using both. Maybe for some this would be feasible.

I don't have experience with the Photonis WP tubes that have gotten really popular, but most of the user reports I read make me think that they aren't really for me. Not to say they aren't for someone else. But this is another area where I'd rather get upper echelon greens for about the same cost that will perform better with no ambient light than have Photonis WP that might leave something to be desired and require IR supplement.

@TNVC Vic, no disrespect to you and your company, but I think most people take what Ed Wilcox says about Photonis Echo tubes as a good reason to consider them over current L3 filmless option since he is "The Godfather or NV" It's hard for people to see for themselves a direct comparison between the L3 and Echo tubes side by side since it's a very small community to begin with. In states like Texas where a lot of night hunting is done it's much easier to find friends with different kit to see the difference first hand vs here in Cali where we live and users are far and few between. I know Terry1 (very knowledgeable) rented both a L3 and Photonis Echo NV to do a side by side review and he did give the win to L3, but again the specs of the tubes where unknown since it was an uncontrolled comparison. As for me I'm extremely happy with my L3 and Harris/ITT NV and have no desire to switch anytime soon, but then again I'd thought I'd be happy with a single PVS14 not that long ago. As all ways keep doing what you do since it's very much appreciated by myself and others here. IMHO I really like the "No B.S." tell it like it is that TNVC is known for whether you make a sale or not attitude, it shows it's not about the sale, but about the knowledge for the buyer to make an informed decision.

OP to get back on track: Buy the RNVGs, since they'll mysteriously multiply all by themselves so you will be able to share with friends in the not to distant future.

I picked MOD-3 and am extremely happy with it.  The main reason was the ability to separate.  I didn't think I'd really ever use it as a single that much, but I have far more than I anticipated.  A handheld monocular has come in handy much more than I thought.  If remote battery pack is important to you, MOD-3 also can be modified for this.  I think even by the user if you just buy the part.  I haven't done it, not entirely sure about that.  Mine is still on its original CR123 battery.  Unsure of how many hours, but it seems like a lot.

Thanks for your input.