Changes in generations of night vision devices

Depending on their clarity and sensitivity, night vision devices are categorized into four generations - gen0, gen1, gen2, and gen3 (note that there is currently no gen4 for night vision devices).

Gen 0 refers to other principles of construction of night vision devices (mainly infrared night vision devices) other than microlight night vision devices, the first time to use in the European theater of operations during the Second World War. gen 0 need infrared IR irradiation (naked eye invisible light) in order to have a bright enough image.

The Gen 1 was the earliest generation of microluminescent night vision devices that could magnify an established light source thousands of times and were inexpensive. After purchasing several Gen 1 night vision devices, we have always found that while the gen 1 is inexpensive, it performs very poorly without active IR illumination and does not detect IR light from other GENERATIONS of night vision devices. Therefore it is not recommended at all. (To be honest, using gen1 night vision device is better than using flashlight)

Gen2 adds a “Micro Channel Plate” on top of gen1, which enhances the flow of photons and makes the image much clearer and brighter. gen2 night vision devices vary in quality and clarity, and a good gen2 is no worse than an average gen3. 

Gen3 is currently the most advanced night vision device that human technology can achieve, the world's first country to use gen3 night vision device is the United States, in the Gulf War the U.S. Army used the PVS-7 greatly improved combat efficiency. Relative to Gen2's ordinary Photocathode (photocathode), gen3 uses Gallium Arsenide photocathode (Gallium Arsenide photocathode), the sensitivity is much higher than ordinary photocathode. We preferentially recommend the gen3 for night vision.