Let There Be Light... Observing wildlife in the dark with the

MINOX NV 351 Night Vision Device

Text: Dr. M. Metzner

Photos: MINOX / Dr. K. Scherer

MINOX, as you may already know, is the company perhaps made most famous by the James Bond spy cameras. Recently, the “Schweizer Jäger” (Swiss Hunter) magazine tested the MINOX NV 351 night-vision monocular. In the following review they bring light into the darkness.

As I seem to remember, in the early 1990s night vision devices were generally offered in the hunting magazines and journals for horrendous prices. They usually had an unpleasant smell of sticky rubber and originated from somewhere in Russia. Since I was unsure of legal implications and health issues were not clear, I decided to leave them well alone. Still, I was fascinated by the opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat, especially at night to see exactly what they get up to. In recent years, I have used special tactical riflescopes and eyeglasses that are legally available for hunting purposes but not really suitable for nature observation. In recent months, I noticed increased advertising from MINOX regarding their new night vision device, the NV 351. They claim it is now possible to observe wildlife up to a distance of 70 meters in the dark for a very reasonable price of 349 euros (RRP). I eagerly grabbed five days to test this device. I received the package and included with the unit are simple instructions, a functional carrying case and a CR 123 battery. The technical data regarding the generations of night vision devices range from 1 to 5 with different types of technology available: Infrared, thermal imaging and image intensification. The MINOX offering is an entry-level device - an image tube with the latest technology and 2.5 times magnification. It only weighs 338 g and fits comfortably and snugly in your hand. The NV 351 is compact, has two buttons (on-off switch, infrared illuminator) there is a screw behind the infrared illuminator to access the battery compartment. A critical warning on the lens: "Do not remove the lens cover in daylight" protects the device from irreparable damage.

The lens cover itself is a rubber cap, which keeps daylight out and due to its tight fit keeps the lens safe from damage. Operating the monocular is very simple: Remove the protective cap from the unit on the back and look through the eyepiece. The eyepiece itself can be rotated to set initial focus. Even people who wear glasses as I do, can see the entire field of view. To fine-tune the focus on the target simply rotate the large silver metal ring on the front of the lens. At dusk I found the light amplification exceptionally good. Once darkness falls, all you need to do is switch on the IR illuminator providing a greenish screen, which allows distances from 30 - 60 meters to be seen. The generated image is indeed sharp, however it does have a slight blurred edge. This is not a significant drawback considering the price point and size of the monocular. Still not convinced? You could, of course, risk your health using an item from the military flea market orpay several thousand Euros for a high-tech model , but I think the best option is the new NV 351 from MINOX!

Once you focus on your target, you will find the monocular easy to track your subject using gentle swinging movements to keep the object in the centre of the image. This allows you to make great observations under the cover of darkness, which would otherwise not be possible. An additional bonus would be a weaver/picatinny rail adapter to mount another

infrared lamp or other accessories. After two weeks of testing the NV 351 in Africa (boar hunting and observation of black rhinos): I am pleasantly surprised. In normal distances (up to 50 m), you can safely and clearly see many details in the dark. It is refreshing to see the detail of the animal and not just its outline. It is easy to raise a wild boar or a sow and make a trophy kill. When stalking big game, it is also useful to see the animal eyes shine strong allowing the perfect time to move in closer. I also liked the fact that after I turned the NV 351 off (obviously not the infrared lamp), the picture is still available for a short time, i.e. I can turn it off and still work for about five minutes looking at the darker image. This saves battery life and then I can silently switch the unit on again. Conclusion: A clear best buy! For about 300 euros (internet price), we can use a practical tool to observe wild animals in their own habitat from dawn until late in to the night. This would otherwise not be possible even with the sharpest eyes or the best binoculars.