anybody used the elcan day / night digital hunter?

[taliv]

gearhog just sent an email about them being on mfg closeout and only $800, where they are currently going for $1400 and i think MSRP around $2k or so.


years ago, i really wanted one of their regular ones, which had all sorts of nifty features, integrating camera and video so you could record your shots, and having a digital reticle that you could design yourself on your PC and load. So you could design any combination of holdover points or whatever you wanted. lots of other cool features.

but this one also includes some sort of NV support that i can't quite figure out. no specs are listed on it so I'm guessing it is an early version of what is called 'digital NV' these days.

the specs are hard to come by but apparently it has a mag range from 2.5-16x. maybe. runs on 4 AA batteries for >4hrs, is a foot long and weighs 3 lbs-ish.

still, a day/night scope would be pretty cool. i just wish there were some reviews of someone using it at night. i'd hate to drop that kind of money and find out it's completely worthless.

i did get to play with one of the original ones and it was pretty cool when you were still, but when things were moving, the refresh rate wasn't hardly enough to keep up.

 

[Destructo6]

Sounds like it incorporates an IR scope for night vision. If so, it should be white = hot or black= hot, perhaps switchable between the two.

 

[taliv]

white/black hot is usually for thermal. traditional starlight type NV is usually shades of green, but i don't know about digital NV

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Here's the image SWFA uses with the scope:

Doesn't look thermal to me. Looks like digital night vision (IR sensitive, high gain). So meh.

 

[taliv]

i'm cool with that. i mostly wanted it for the ability to do multiple custom BDC reticles for the subsonic projos. the NV was just a bonus since i'll actually be aiming with goggles and an IR laser mostly. however, the digital NV does allow me to video it.


looks like it is grey instead of green in that pic, but it's not an indication of relative temperature so much as reflectivity of the IR source

 

[Destructo6]

Yeah, you're right. I'd meant to say "thermal" but had IR stuck in my head (hands).

However, it does look like it is a Digital IR type:

Take night vision to a whole new level by enhancing the active nighttime performance of the ELCAN Digital-Hunter Day / Night Digital Rifle Scope with the addition of Yukon Infrared Flashlight. The IR Flashlight provides a burst of infrared light (that is virtually invisible to humans and most mammals) in dark environments that creates optimal viewing ability through your Elcan digital rifle scope. Yukon’s IR Flashlight comes fitted with a Weaver and Picatinny mount for secure attachment to your rifle. The included honeycomb filter helps prevent detection while providing illumination.

 

[berettashotgun]

I'm interested in purchasing one; few years ago the price was out of line with my budget, but looks better now.