HEXCORE HD 1-3X
NIGHT VISION BINOCULARS

You don’t need to spend more than €4000 to get started in the world of night vision. It’s true that an analog night vision device is different from a digital one, but that’s not what’s intended here. This Hexcore HD binocular from Firefield comes at a highly competitive price for those who want to try playing at night, and it even offers the ability to record our gameplay in literal POV.

Night Vision

This binocular does not operate with tubes like analog models, which makes them very expensive; instead, it uses a high-performance 1280x720 CMOS digital night vision sensor that returns the image on a 640x360 LCD TFT screen, utilizing Thin Film Transistor (TFT) technology to enhance contrast and ensure sharp images. We liked this feature because having a single screen instead of a separate tube for each eye makes it much easier to look through them.

1·Objective

2·IR

3·Focus Dial

11·Up Button

12·Down Button

13·Mounting Point

8·Screen

9·“Menu” Button

10·Power Button

4·Battery Compartment

5·Micro SD Card Slot

6·USB-C Port

7·Cover

14·Strap Anchors

14·Strap

15·Screw Mounting Adapter

16·Extension Arm

17·Head Strap

18·Screw Tensioner

The IR Light

It’s true that in total darkness and without IR light, you won’t see anything. However, if there’s ambient light (like the moon or soft background lights), it will enhance visibility more than just your naked eye. Now, when you turn on the integrated 2200 mW IR illuminator at any of its three intensities, you really start to see in the dark. The downside is that anyone with NVGs will see your IR light as if you were moving around with a flashlight on. Additionally, the IR light creates a halo effect, similar to the “vignette” effect on Instagram, limiting your field of view.

The Range

According to the manufacturer, it can focus on objects from one meter up to 200 meters clearly, which generates a slight tunnel effect (similar to analog devices) that you have to learn to overcome. It features five levels of digital zoom (x1-3), which digitally enlarges the image (not optically), and while it will bring distant objects closer, you will lose resolution. Also, similar to regular binoculars or a smartphone camera, you’ll need to adjust the focus dial to see clearly at the desired distance.

1·Magnification

2·Time

3·Date

4·Micro SD Card Status

5·Viewing Mode: Day/Night/Low IR/Medium IR/High IR

6·Recording Mode: Video/Photo

7·Battery Charge

8·Recording Time

Recording

Unlike an analog device, this binocular allows you to record in HD (1280x720 px at 30 fps) what you see through it or take photos, also in HD (1280x720 px). Even more interesting, you can play back all the material you capture on the device itself, so you don’t have to wait until you get home to download the 64 GB micro SD card to relive the most epic plays.

Attachments

It’s interesting that it comes with an attachment that makes it compatible with standard action camera mounting accessories and tripods. For instance, it includes a DNV head mount, although if you want to wear it on a helmet, you’ll need to buy the helmet mounting adapter (FF18001.01) sold separately. When wearing it on your head, you will notice the 500 g weight, although you can offset this by carrying a power bank as a counterbalance, thus increasing the original charging autonomy (from 1.5 hours to 8 hours, depending on the mode of use) provided by the four AA batteries that power it.