filming through night vision googles at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion

Open DV Discussion
For topics which don't fit into any of the other categories.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 25th, 2009, 05:55 PM   #1
New Boot
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 7
filming through night vision googles

Has anyone ever had to get night vision goggle images onto tape ? If so how did you do it ? I have some army training to film and the producer wants the images in the goggles to use in the doco we are shooting. Is there a rca / video output on some types of goggles, I realize that different makes will have outputs and some not. I cant think of a way to get it onto tape especially if someone is wearing the goggles. I dont have access to the goggles until I get on location so if anyone has any kind of info on this your input will be appreciated.

I have a Pana HVX 200 that has RCA inputs so IF I can get a feed out from the goggles I will be able to capture the images.

Thanks !!

Adam Dodd.
Adam Dodd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 25th, 2009, 06:06 PM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Daegu, Korea
Posts: 180
I believe I might be qualified to answer this...


The best way to film night vision is to use a night vision adapter. There are several manufacturers; the best I've used is the AstroScope by Electrophysics. I've never used NVGs with external outputs, which isn't to say that they don't exist, but I highly doubt that you'd find any.
Daniel Bates is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 25th, 2009, 06:30 PM   #3
New Boot
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 7
NVG's

Thanks Daniel will see how I go.
Adam Dodd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 25th, 2009, 09:51 PM   #4
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Apple Valley CA
Posts: 4,874
Probably a silly thought, but how about just getting an inexpensive Sony handycam with nightshot? You could add IR illumination if needed for cheap too (Sima IR LED lights come to mind). You'd get basically the same images, and viewers wouldn't know the difference I'd think - if there are any graphical overlays in the goggles, you might have to have those recreated, and maybe some other tricks in post to better match the image, but I'd think it would do the trick?
Dave Blackhurst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 12:50 AM   #5
Equal Opportunity Offender
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,007
Adam,

What is it that you are thinking of shooting with the 'night vision' gear?

Andrew
Andrew Smith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 03:03 AM   #6
Trustee
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cornsay Durham UK
Posts: 1,992
I know a lot of people who have used the adaptors and they are OK up to a point but make very dim green images. Some of my contacts have used a sony hi 8 camera with nightshot and it is very good as it shoots in infa red and you can actually light a scene with IR lights.

It is also more black and white that green so it easier to see.
__________________
Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/
Gary Nattrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 06:35 AM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales
Posts: 734
Infra red (eg through a Sony camera with nightshot) gives a completely different picture to that seen through night vision binoculars/monocular. I use a Sony camera and get a completely different result to a colleague filming through a (very expensive) night vision camera.

I have been shown some relatively inexpensive night vision equipment which did have composite video output for connecting to a monitor or camera. Something like the Yukon Ranger Pro Digital Night Vision Scope 5 x 42. I have no idea of the size of image produced by this.
__________________
Canon XH A1; Canon XF100; Nikon D800
Annie Haycock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 06:40 AM   #8
Equal Opportunity Offender
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,007
In a squeeze, you could always use the 'hypergain' mode of the Sony V1 and colourize it to be green. At least you would get the night-vision effect.

Andrew
Andrew Smith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 08:33 AM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 656
Adam:

I have had two very high end pair of NVDs, an ITT commercial product (cant remember the model) and a surplus product (AN/PVS-23).

None of these are going to have any provision for feeding a video signal. They are not made for that and it would also require the unit to contain a video imager/CCD, something they just don't have.

You are going to need a specialty NVD product of some kind. Probably you can rent them from somewhere. Those are bound to cost $10K+ for any recent technology product.

As far as using some other method, no camera or spoofing trick is going to provide any similar performance, at all, to a recent Gen III NVD. Don't even think about it. Until you use one of these NVDs, you have no clue about the performance (and limitations when there is light in the area).

You need to contact some rental houses and/or the military contact ASAP. The military guys believe in doing things the right way. Don't show up unprepared.

What base will the filming be on?

EDIT: I just noticed you are in AU. Good luck.
__________________
Panasonic HMC150/Canon A1/JVC HD1/Sony Vegas 8.0c
Jeff Kellam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 09:25 AM   #10
Equal Opportunity Offender
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,007
Ahh. Adam, you are in Australia?

I was almost going to mention this earlier ...

There is a company somewhere that rents military grade ($20k worth) night vision gear, and this has been used before by current affairs programmes such as Today Tonight etc.

Here's the product info: Night Vision Module - AstroScope 9323B for Broadcast Cameras - Military & Law Enforcement Technologies

Here's the rental info: Rental Night Vision for ENG Broadcast - Military & Law Enforcement Technologies

Hope this helps. :-)

Andrew
Andrew Smith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 26th, 2009, 09:42 AM   #11
Equal Opportunity Offender
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,007
Oh yeah ... camcorder adapters are also available.

(I'm on a roll here tonight!)

Andrew
Andrew Smith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 21st, 2009, 08:28 AM   #12
Tourist
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 1
How did you go?

Hi Adam, I was just wondering how you went.... I tried to open a new account to ask you at the time you posted, but it takes weeks to get an account on this forum :(

Anyway, I use a simple Yukon DV camera adapter with my NV goggles/scopes. Then I wind the eyepiece correction up to about +3 diopters (helps when I zoom in) and just shoot straight through the eyepiece and get a nice circular image that's really sharp.

You can get NV lens adapters ( I had a M2160 but it was just too large... ) and I have a digital NV device that puts out CCTV and works quite well but I find that the camera adapter is still the simplest way to record through a NV goggle.

But I'd be interested to find out how your solved your particular issue -

Regards,
David.
David Kitson is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Open DV Discussion

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:43 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network