A solution to Focus problems with Pulsar & Yukon NV Scopes used in daylight/twilight.

royr

Well-Known Member
Focus to target is fine when used with IR illumination , but I’ve had problems being unable to properly focus these 870 and Photon NV units in daylight/twilight time.
I then remembered a little photography tip that using a smaller aperture hole will give a greater depth of field, which should then give me better focus in daylight? To test this out I constructed a circular piece of cardboard with a centre 5mm hole and put this in front of both the 870 and Photon scopes objective lens. It works!
I’ve now drilled 5mm holes in both units objective lens covers, and use a small plastic/rubber plug to fill hole when not in use.
Thought this may be of interest to some users of NV scopes?
Regards
Royr
 
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Focus to target is fine when used with IR illumination , but I’ve had problems being unable to properly focus these 870 and Photon NV units in daylight/twilight time.
I then remembered a little photography tip that using a smaller aperture hole will give a greater depth of field, which should then give me better focus in daylight? To test this out I constructed a circular piece of cardboard with a centre 5mm hole and put this in front of both the 870 and Photon scopes objective lens. It works!

I’ve now drilled 5mm holes in both units objective lens covers, and use a small plastic/rubber plug to fill hole when not in use.
Thought this may be of interest to some users of NV scopes?
Regards
Royr

Yep sharper , clearer images when used in the dark , a pain if you are trying to zero at 100yds in daylight.
 
Hello Tikkafan,
That's interesting!
If I'm reading your post correctly, you are suggesting I should also get better depth of field & focus in the dark as well when viewing through the 5mm hole?
Would viewing through the smaller aperture then require additional brighter IR illumination? OR can normal viewing of screen be achieved just by increasing the Scopes brightness control?
Regards
Royr
 
A solution to Focus problems with Pulsar & Yukon NV Scopes used in daylight/twilight.

the best solution is

buy a Drone. :stir:
 
Hello Tikkafan,
That's interesting!
If I'm reading your post correctly, you are suggesting I should also get better depth of field & focus in the dark as well when viewing through the 5mm hole?
Would viewing through the smaller aperture then require additional brighter IR illumination? OR can normal viewing of screen be achieved just by increasing the Scopes brightness control?
Regards
Royr
No , just saying imagery is poor in daylight but sharp in the dark, additional IR illumination is essential with any digital / G1 night vision.
 
I don't think this is news to the people who have been using digi nv for a while.

Even the Drone will benefit hugely from reducing the aperture in daytime, I punched a 5mm ish hole in my lens cover a few years ago and just cover it with bit of tape when not using it.

My Drone mounts perfectly and is miles better than an N750, I know because I have both and the N750 has been permanently relegated to rabbiting duties on the HMR while the Drone has pride of place on my main foxing rifle. I am not saying that the Pulsar is not a good scope it still is but it is about time that they bought out a new more user friendly scope chassis, times have moved on since the N550 was introduced, Pulsar have not.
 
I don't think this is news to the people who have been using digi nv for a while.

Even the Drone will benefit hugely from reducing the aperture in daytime, I punched a 5mm ish hole in my lens cover a few years ago and just cover it with bit of tape when not using it.

My Drone mounts perfectly and is miles better than an N750, I know because I have both and the N750 has been permanently relegated to rabbiting duties on the HMR while the Drone has pride of place on my main foxing rifle. I am not saying that the Pulsar is not a good scope it still is but it is about time that they bought out a new more user friendly scope chassis, times have moved on since the N550 was introduced, Pulsar have not.


+100
 
Have to disagree , the NV750A is better plus you don't have to mount it in a unworkable position .

I have no issues with my drone mounted on my tikka 595, custom made mount that fits after you remove that black rifle crud of the bottom of the drone, best eye position as yet and no strain on my neck either. a great bit of kit.

bob.
 
I don't think this is news to the people who have been using digi nv for a while.

Even the Drone will benefit hugely from reducing the aperture in daytime, I punched a 5mm ish hole in my lens cover a few years ago and just cover it with bit of tape when not using it.

My Drone mounts perfectly and is miles better than an N750, I know because I have both and the N750 has been permanently relegated to rabbiting duties on the HMR while the Drone has pride of place on my main foxing rifle. I am not saying that the Pulsar is not a good scope it still is but it is about time that they bought out a new more user friendly scope chassis, times have moved on since the N550 was introduced, Pulsar have not.

spot on,

I have the 5x and used it on the 17 hmr first, front cap had a small hole in for day time use.

add the 2 x lens and it eats any of the pulsars for dinner. :stir: with a AS sunranger on top its the mutts nuts, I even prefer it over the pvs 14 I had.

bob.
 
The most cost-effective upgrade to any Photon is to whip off the factory lens, buy an adapter and a Pentax Takumar M42 lens (other makes are available) and turn it into an Xtreme. 55mm lens for rats n rabbits or either a 105mm or a 135mm for longer distances on foxes.

Add a SunnRanger AS led torch or similar and it gives the DP a run for it's money with the added advantage that you can simply adjust the aperture to suit the light conditions.

The only disadvantage is you void the warranty as soon as you remove the lens... but they can't be that expensive to fix outside of warranty.

Cheers

Fizz
:cool:
 
The most cost-effective upgrade to any Photon is to whip off the factory lens, buy an adapter and a Pentax Takumar M42 lens (other makes are available) and turn it into an Xtreme. 55mm lens for rats n rabbits or either a 105mm or a 135mm for longer distances on foxes.

Add a SunnRanger AS led torch or similar and it gives the DP a run for it's money with the added advantage that you can simply adjust the aperture to suit the light conditions.

The only disadvantage is you void the warranty as soon as you remove the lens... but they can't be that expensive to fix outside of warranty.

Cheers

Fizz
:cool:

That's the route I'm taking.Think i dodged a bullet not buying a drone at £1700 plus the mount for a tikka.
Don't need to shoot foxes at 300 meters with night vision,keep the money in your pocket and walk another 100/120 meters if you feel the need for long shots:rofl:
simple.
Dave
Dave
 
The most cost-effective upgrade to any Photon is to whip off the factory lens, buy an adapter and a Pentax Takumar M42 lens (other makes are available) and turn it into an Xtreme. 55mm lens for rats n rabbits or either a 105mm or a 135mm for longer distances on foxes.

Add a SunnRanger AS led torch or similar and it gives the DP a run for it's money with the added advantage that you can simply adjust the aperture to suit the light conditions.

The only disadvantage is you void the warranty as soon as you remove the lens... but they can't be that expensive to fix outside of warranty.

Cheers


Fizz
:cool:

Like who could do it ? very risky .
 
Like who could do it ? very risky .

Like Thomas Jacks? I'll ask them at the shooting show.

You'd be in be the same situation if it needed repair after the warranty period. There's not a great deal to go wrong with them really.......camera board with a settings menu and a viewfinder.


Atb

Fizz
:cool:
 
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That's the route I'm taking.Think i dodged a bullet not buying a drone at £1700 plus the mount for a tikka.
Don't need to shoot foxes at 300 meters with night vision,keep the money in your pocket and walk another 100/120 meters if you feel the need for long shots:rofl:
simple.
Dave
Dave

Speak for yourself, been over this ground before.

Every bodies circumstances are different, on some of the ground I shoot long shots are often called upon or you would get nowhere fast, wouldn't be my first choice but I would and have taken a fox out beyond 300 yards in the right conditions.
 
Hello Gents,
RE:- my original starting of this thread.
My apologies if this information / solution for using NV scopes in daylight conditions by viewing through small aperture hole was common knowledge; I was not aware of it.
Anyway I went out early yesterday at 15.30hrs to do some rabbit control, and viewing through the 5mm hole in the 870 lens cover I now have a very useable day scope; much better definition and clarity of target. Even increasing the magnification to 9X the definition was better, so very pleased with this no-cost upgrade.
Once it was dark and NV illumination was required, the 5mm hole did not allow enough light back to the 870 to function well, and even switching the NM800 to full power still produced a grainy picture. Probably a larger hole may improve matters?
I won't be experimenting further, because I've always been satisfied with clarity of view through the 870 when used in its designed NV mode at these closer ranges up to approx. 100 yards.

My reason for using the LRF870 for rabbits. If you are targeting close range quarry and using subsonic ammo with significant bullet drop, then the range finding facility of the 870 really gives the shooter the edge, because knowing the precise range you can then calculate holdover and layoff.
For longer range targets, using a flatter shooting bullet, the Drone 10X is definitely one to consider over the 870.

Regards
Royr
 
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Hello Gents,
RE:- my original starting of this thread.
My apologies if this information / solution for using NV scopes in daylight conditions by viewing through small aperture hole was common knowledge; I was not aware of it.
Anyway I went out early yesterday at 15.30hrs to do some rabbit control, and viewing through the 5mm hole in the 870 lens cover I now have a very useable day scope; much better definition and clarity of target. Even increasing the magnification to 9X the definition was better, so very pleased with this no-cost upgrade.
Once it was dark and NV illumination was required, the 5mm hole did not allow enough light back to the 870 to function well, and even switching the NM800 to full power still produced a grainy picture. Probably a larger hole may improve matters?
I won't be experimenting further, because I've always been satisfied with clarity of view through the 870 when used in its designed NV mode at these closer ranges up to approx. 100 yards.

My reason for using the LRF870 for rabbits. If you are targeting close range quarry and using subsonic ammo with significant bullet drop, then the range finding facility of the 870 really gives the shooter the edge, because knowing the precise range you can then calculate holdover and layoff.
For longer range targets, using a flatter shooting bullet, the Drone 10X is definitely one to consider over the 870.

Regards
Royr

Didn't mean to have a go at you, always good to share info with fellow shooters, if you are not already on NVForumUK you should have a look, lots of good info and knowledgeable people there.

I totally agree that the N870 LRF makes an excellent scope for a 22 with subs or even an air rifle.
 
Another method is to close your cap during daylight leaving it open just a little bit. That way you don't have to drill a hole in the cover.
 
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