I3 Image Intensifier - Collins Electro Optics

[erick]

Though it might be a bit "academic" talking about a device that can only be owned by US citizens, I was fascinated by this image intensifier.

abelhunter (Lance) mentioned it in another thread and gave a link:-

http://www.ceoptics.com/

Here are a couple of articles on it from CN:-

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=35

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1657

Price starts at US$2995. Must be a US citizen to own one new or used.

Any experience with one of these?

[Jazza]

Well no, why us only?

[erick]

Generation 3 image intensifiers may only be purchased by US citizens by US State Department regulations.


Obviously every US citizen is trustworthy and won't use this device as a weapon of mass destruction against the US and its interests? :shrug:

[Bassnut]

Umm, you dont get something from nothing, I see from your links that they produce a fair bit of noise. Yes an amazing device, and I can totally understand (duh, Eric) why distribution is restricted, it has huge application in warfare. I understand this technology is standard issue for US troops and allows day light like vision during nightime combat - without site illumination.

Im wary of usefull astro applications given the noise and green caste.

[Jazza]

*throws up hands* I shall attempt not to hijack this thread... just seems a little silly to me.

[Bassnut]

Jazza !!!!!!! :scared:. Give up on a fistycuffs ?, wooze :P

[Jazza]

*throws up hands in disgust* better? ;)
I'm pretty sure you'll find night-vision tech is pretty standard across most armies nowadays?

[Bassnut]

Yeah sure, the point was, application in Astronomy :whistle:

[coldspace]

With the ever increasing advancement of light pollution in the cities and the ever increasing busyness of running families and business etc, people have alot less time to get out to the dark skies once a month. This is where tech. stuff like these and video cameras come in handy to assist with visual astronomy and to keep the buzz alive. The only thing with the I3 unit is that the tech. is closly monitored and only US citizens can access it at the moment. Each unit is registered to the owner and if you want to sell it you can only sell it to another US citizen so the Gov. can keep track of them. There is talk that these eyepieces may become available under a registered system to some of the US friendly countries so they may become availble here in the future or China will get their own system up and running one day. I wanted one but have since bought a Mallincam colour video system that will satisfy the hunger for awhile.

Matt.

[Karlsson]

But Eric...! wouldn't that be... cheating? ;)

Like an image intensifier is to astronomy what steroids are to athletics? Could you bear the ignominy of being disqualified from a Messier Marathon because you were caught with an image intensifier on M76?

"He went into imaging because he's been banned from visual astronomy for life..."

imagine! :D