Night Vision Add-Ons

A night vision add-on works with a day scope to give it night viewing. You can use one scope by day and by night instead of relying on a separate dedicated night vision unit. The range currently includes rear-mounted digital add-ons, which sit behind a day scope’s eyepiece, and a multi-purpose device designed for more than one format. You may already own a day scope, or you may be choosing one at the same time. Either way, the guide below the products shows how to match format, fit, illumination and features.

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Choosing a night vision add-on

Four decisions narrow the choice: how the add-on works with a scope, whether it suits your scope, how you will light the scene, and which features you will actually use.

1. Choose a format

  • Rear-mounted. The add-on sits behind the day scope's eyepiece and works with the image the scope forms. That means the day scope you pair it with, including its magnification setting, shapes what you see. This format suits you if you want to keep using a day scope you like and add night viewing to it.
  • Front-mounted. The add-on sits in front of the day scope, at the opposite end from the eyepiece. Its fitting requirements therefore differ from those of a rear unit.
  • Multi-purpose. Some devices are designed to support more than one format, such as working with a day scope or on their own. The formats available depend on the product and its configuration.

If you would rather have a single unit that needs no day scope, look at dedicated night vision devices in our wider night vision range.

2. Check fit and contents before you order

Fit is not universal. Manufacturer documentation for at least one rear-mounted model shows it attaching to the eyepiece through an adapter with size-specific inserts. Confirm these points for the exact add-on and scope combination:

  1. Version and format. Model generations and variants can differ, so match the full model name and the format or configuration you plan to use.
  2. Fit. For rear-mounted use, check your scope's eyepiece dimensions and the adapter or insert the add-on manufacturer specifies. For front-mounted or multi-purpose use, follow the manufacturer's compatibility guidance for that format.
  3. Contents. Check which adapter, illuminator, battery and charging items come with the version listed. Some items, such as illuminators, can be sold separately.

If you are buying a day scope as well, run these checks before you commit to either product.

3. Plan for illumination

Digital night vision builds its image from visible and near-infrared light reflected from the scene. When there is very little light, it may depend on an infrared (IR) illuminator, which lights the scene with near-infrared light. Some add-ons come with an illuminator option, while for others you choose one separately. If you expect to use the add-on mostly in very dark conditions, include illumination in your comparison and budget from the start.

Image quality in use depends on the add-on, the scope it is paired with, and conditions such as ambient light and weather.

4. Match features to how you'll use it

Power, recording and rangefinding differ between models. The FAQs below explain when each matters.

Night vision or thermal?

  • Digital night vision uses visible and near-infrared light reflected from the scene. In darkness it is often helped by an IR illuminator.
  • Thermal imaging uses longer-wavelength infrared and does not rely on an IR illuminator. The image shows differences in the infrared energy reaching the sensor. That energy can include radiation emitted by surfaces and radiation reflected from them, and the balance varies with the materials and surroundings. The result shows apparent thermal contrast. It is not necessarily a temperature reading.

The two technologies produce different kinds of image, and neither suits every use. To compare, browse our thermal clip-on units.

Related ranges

Night vision add-on FAQs

What is a night vision add-on?

It is a night vision unit designed to work with a separate day scope. It adds night viewing to that scope rather than replacing it. A dedicated night vision device, by contrast, is a complete unit on its own. Multi-purpose devices sit between the two and are designed to work in more than one way.

Will a night vision add-on fit any scope?

No. Fit depends on the add-on's format and on the exact scope. For rear-mounted units, the main factors are the eyepiece dimensions and the adapter the manufacturer specifies. For other formats, the manufacturer's compatibility guidance applies. When you compare products, keep your scope's make and model to hand. Also keep any measurements the manufacturer specifies for that combination, such as eyepiece dimensions for a rear-mounted unit.

I haven't chosen a day scope yet. Where should I start?

Choose the two products together. First decide which format suits you. Then confirm that the add-on manufacturer supports the scope you are considering before you buy either. If you would rather not pair two products at all, a dedicated night vision device, or a multi-purpose unit designed to work on its own, may suit you better.

Do I need an infrared illuminator?

That depends on how dark it is where you will use the add-on. Digital night vision needs some light to work with, and in very dark conditions it may depend on IR illumination. Whether an illuminator is supplied varies by version and package, so factor it in when you compare prices.

Should I choose night vision or a thermal clip-on?

Start with the image you want. Night vision shows the scene by reflected light, so it depends on the available light or on an illuminator. Thermal shows apparent thermal contrast without an illuminator. Its image can change with materials and conditions, and it does not necessarily show measured temperatures. If you are undecided, compare the two ranges side by side.

How much do battery and recording matter?

Battery. This matters most if you plan longer sessions. Check the battery type, whether it is removable and how it is charged. A removable battery may let you carry a charged spare, provided spares are available for that model. With an internal battery, charging between outings becomes more important.

Recording. This matters if you want to review or share what you saw. Check whether the add-on records video, photos or both, how footage is stored, and whether a companion app is available.

Do all night vision add-ons have a laser rangefinder?

No. Some models include a laser rangefinder (LRF) and others do not. An LRF is useful if you want distance readings from the same unit rather than from a separate rangefinder. If you don't need that, a model without one may suit you equally well. Check the specification of each product.