FirstSpear

Archive for the ‘Optics’ Category

US Night Vision PVS14 iPhone Adapter

Friday, January 20th, 2012

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US Night Vision showed us an adapter that connects the AN/PVS14 to an iPhone. Manufactured form aircraft aluminum, it slides right onto the phone and features a view hole and threads that screw into the threads on the 14. Once the iPhone is in camera mode you can take full advantage of the features of the camera app, including zoom and image stabilization. Then, sharing photos and video is as simple as SMS or email.

Models are also already available dor the Galaxy and Casio Commando but look for additional Droid and Blackberry options soon.

This is literally one of the coolest things we have seen all week.

www.usnightvision.com

Adams Industries Introduces Tan Battery Boxes

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Adams Industries showed us the Tan version of the Warrior Battery Pack we wrote about during the Maneuver Warfare Conference. You can see the box as well as their Surface ANVIS Mount which is great for agencies who have ANVIS goggles but no helmet mounts.

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Check them out in SHOT Show booth #5008.

www.adamsindustries.com

Wickit Clean

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Liquid EyePro is introducing Wickit Clean. In addition to cleaning your eyepro it can also be used on any lenses such as NVGs, goggles, gun scopes, and even computer screens. The cap is an eraser, that can remove fingerprints and smudges and it can not only remove water spots but also apply an anti-fog treatment as well

See it in booth #6608.

www.LiquidEyePro.com

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Granted, the market is changing and companies that have sold a lot of gear to the US military over the last 10 years have got to come up with ways to diversify their market. We thought we’d seen ‘zombie’ everything until now. EOTech has developed a ‘Zombie Stopper Holographic’ sight. We have this sneaking suspicion that the reticle is shaped like the biohazard symbol. Additionally, they’re offering a ‘Holographic Hybrid Sight Kit as Seen in MW3.’

It’s interesting marketing…Sure, we get it. But this might just be too much. We are definitely looking forward to EOTechs military and tactical offerings.

If you’re at SHOT Show see them in booth #20159.

www.eotech-inc.com

N-Vision to Show Long Range Surveillance Monocular at SHOT

Friday, December 30th, 2011

N-Vision Optics LRS Long Range Surveillance Monocular

One of the things that makes this Gen 3 night vision device worth note is that it is compatible with Nikon and Canon SLR Cameras and their lenses. It can be attached to the chassis and placed between the camera and lens in order to create a long range night vision camera. Visit N-Vision at SHOT Show in Booth #20034.

www.nvisionoptics.com

4 x 32 BROWE Combat Optic

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Newcomer BROWE Inc has introduced their 4 x 32 Combat Optic (BCO). Packed in a titanium housing, the BCO features a Single Intuitive Control (SIC) button, Target Light Sensor Technology, field programmable BCO Microcontroller, and a Vibration Motion Sensor.

The SIC button offers Automatic Mode at a single press which will utilize the Target Light Sensor Technology to measure the light transmission and automatically set the reticle illumination to the proper brightness. When you press it a second time the BCO enters into Manual Mode offering the choice of 10 day settings and 3 night vision settings.

The BCO has been designed with future improvements in mind. The is a sealed utility port at the backside of the battery housing which can be used to update the operating firmware or customize the existing program, or to attach remote pressure pad switch. What’s even more interesting is that this port can also be used to import or export power meaning that accessories such as lasers or mini red dots could be powered from the BCO battery. Since it’s also capable of importing power, it can run on an external power source such as powered rail.

Additionally, it boasts an average battery life of 2000 hours (at least 775 on max) partically due to the Vibration Motion Sensor which places the BCO in SLEEP mode if motion is not detected for two hours.

There are several models available with various reticles including NATO Chevron, NATO Crosshair and US Army Mil Dot. Finally, the BCO comes standard with an A.R.M.S. Mk II Throw Lever Mount. There is also a new LaRue mount that will be unveiled at SHOT Show. Many hope that there will be additional options as well.

Be sure to visit www.browe-inc.com at SHOT Show in Booth #20059.

Lytro Camera

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Lytro is another interesting camera technology. It is a focusless camera. To explain this, we’ll share an explanation from their website:
Unlike a conventional camera that captures a single plane of light, the Lytro camera captures the entire light field, which is all the light traveling in every direction in every point in space.

There are two advantages to this. First, it allows you to focus in on individual objects in the frame after the fact. Additionally, since there is no focus, images are captured instantly, without any delay for an auto-focus feature to adjust the lens.

This photo gives you a good idea of the size of the camera.

This type of camera could prove most useful as a vacuum-style collection system. Turn it on and let it run in a wide area surveillance mode, shooting photo after photo after photo. Later, the imagery could be analyzed in a forensic mode to spot individual phenomenon. The fact that such technologies are becoming more widely available at the consumer level makes them great candidates for disruptive technologies.

www.lytro.com

Looxcie

Monday, December 19th, 2011

This is pretty amazing. Looxcie is a video camera that you wear on your ear like a bluetooth headset earphone. Once turned on it records everything in a POV (Point of View) format. It can store data in its buffer, send clips to your email and social media, or stream it live through a wireless connection to viewers of your choice. The possibilities are pretty exciting. In fact, Looxcie is already in use with Kenya’s Rangers who protect wildlife from poachers.

To share clips with your friends using Flashbax, “When something cool happens, simply press the instant clip button to get the last 30 seconds. Press the button longer and the instant clip is immediately shared to your social network.

Looxcie Live is your opportunity to broadcast what you see discreetly with those you choose via different smartphone app. The broadcast is also available on the Looxcie Live server for up to 24 hours for review with full archiving coming soon. Additional features include text chat and Push-to-talk voice cues to provide feedback to the broadcaster.

This isn’t science fiction or government-only, TLA tech. It’s available now.

looxcie.com