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The best night vision goggles, binoculars, and monoculars can be perfect for surveillance, security, and nocturnal wildlife Birding Binoculars
The best night vision goggles can open up a whole new nocturnal world. Many can also capture images and videos, giving you the opportunity to record your night-time explorations and adventures.
1. Best affordable option 2. Best for all-weathers 3. Best compact solution 4. Best military grade 5. Great for beginners 6. Best tracking 7. Best weatherproof option
But night vision goggles are not the only option for seeing in the dark. Actually, there are really three types of devices you can use for night-time viewing. They all do much the same thing but vary in their physical design (there is also a choice of tech under-the-hood, which we'll discuss in the FAQs at the end).
1. Night vision goggles are wearable, hands-free devices that use image enhancement and light amplification to see in the dark.
2. Night-vision binoculars are a combination of analog and digital viewing, with an optical lens and a digital LCD that allows you to see what the night-vision technology sees.
3. Night-vision monoculars are a lighter alternative to night-vision binoculars.
Security and surveillance is just one aspect of this kind of technology. Night vision goggles are also perfect for wildlife watching, especially species that are primarily nocturnal. If wildlife is your thing, we also have a guide to the best trail cameras.
Best affordable option
Best affordable option We found the light – but slightly bulky – NightFox Corsac to be a good choice given the reasonable choice of around $149.99 / £149.99 / AU $251. Read more below
Best for all-weathers
Best for all-weathers In our test, we appreciated the solid construction and felt the slightly bulky size reflected a sturdy build from Sigweis. Read more below
Best compact solution
Best compact solution For the price and the functions available, we found the NightFox Cub is a very capable digital night vision monocular that will deliver good results. Read more below
Best military grade
Best military grade This best option for those wanting military-grade night vision, but the performance will cost you dear. Read more below
Great for beginners
Great for beginners If you're a beginner looking to buy for first set of night vision goggles these are a great option at an affordable price. Read more below
Best tracking For those looking at big game, this is one of the best options out there to keep take of your target. Read more below
Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
We found the light – but slightly bulky – NightFox Corsac to be a good choice given the reasonable choice of around $149.99 / £149.99 / AU $251. The ability to record Full HD footage, both in night vision mode and the daytime color, is extremely useful for anyone, not just those hoping to see the unseen.
In our test, we were able to see clearly at up to 150 meters, with the image becoming slightly soft at 180m. Nonetheless, at this distance, we were able to see animals like sheep, deer, and smaller creatures like rabbits, leaving us impressed overall.
Read our full NightFox Corsac review for more details
In our test we appreciated the solid construction and felt the slightly bulky size reflected a sturdy build from Sigweis. We were able to record Full HD footage both in night vision mode and color during the day for up to 2 hours and 38 minutes, a very useful amount of time. Having room for 9,999 3MP images meant we didn't run out of room and nor, we suspect, would you. A Micro-USB cable or microSD card reader will let you transfer the files as you need to.
If size and weight are not an issue I would say the Sigweis offers better features over similarly priced alternatives, offering great night vision capabilities with usable video footage and image capture you will certainly have something to show off to all your mates.
Read our full Sigweis night vision binoculars review for more details
For the price and the functions available, we found the NightFox Cub is a very capable digital night vision monocular that will deliver good results to around 100 meters (330 feet), with the image becoming slightly fuzzy beyond that (but still usable for deer and other forms of wildlife).
In our test, we liked the adjustable display brightness and sensitivity, not to mention the portable size.
In our review, we noted that, at this price point, you are some way short of the highest recording rates or formats available, but the quality is enough to show to your friends and family. For the price, you are getting a great bit of kit that will serve you well in your observations.
Celestron Professional Astronomical Telescope Read our full NightFox Cub review for more details