Sionyx Aurora & PVS-14 Comparisons 

You must've gotten the last one then because they're all sold out literally everywhere, you lucky bastard.

Good for vomiting on the head mount.

if you actually want to use it head mounted good luck navigating with 30 fps

Some of this has to do with sionyx using compression but understandable at price point remember it's not a multi thousand dollar ptz camera or next generation envg cool device for what it is though 😎

Of course, Chris, no problem. I think I talked to you once about getting two of my PVS14s converted into binos once upon a time - nice to have your professional compliments on my video!

Whats up chris!

Chris - I am in the market for SiOnyx Aurora. What's your website/contact info?

cmrtaco www.adamsindustries.com will have contact info, but I don’t see the Aurora listed with their usual government model NV.

@Maine Jackal it can absolutely be helmet mounted. That's how I use mine for hog hunting

Might be interesting to check this video for clarity of stars in a time lapse: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Eg8DD5duSPQ.html

Good catch - the backstory here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZDS34Vktb-o.html

nope its not fair, sense one can be then used as head mounted and the other will make you throw up

I think the RU-vid video end result IS a little worse than what was native to the camera. A couple points: 1.) Using the amber filter was probably a mistake for filming: When using a PVS14 directly on your eye for hours at a time, the Orion or Wilcox filters are awesome. Not as hard on the eye as the green native output. But when putting a filter inbetween the iPhone and the PVS, it's got to be degrading the capture a tad. 2.) The SiOnyx is pretty unusable in complete darkness, but add even a little IR illuminator, and it "wakes up" the image better than a PVS14 because of the added clarity you get from the different colorization cues. 3.) I tried mounting the SiOnyx to a Team Wendy helmet with a Wilcox mount, and while it "sort of fits", a.) the eye needs to be right on the viewfinder or the unit turns off (proximity on/off), and b.) the magnification/lens view is a little off. It's usable to walk around with it, but size/perspective isn't pure zero like a PVS14. 3.) Both units need to be focused, there's no near and far field at the same time. I used the Streamlight IR torch because it reaches out way farther than the Surefire M600 KM2 I use for near-field. That light excels in room-to-room movement, but isn't a waytheheck out there lamp. I might do a video with the Surefire and the PVS compared to SiOnyx to show what closer in work might look like.

Blackford Oakes Thank you for the reply and great in depth testing! I think the SiOnyx and a good IR Illuminator will give me a good alternative to a PVS14 to get into the night vision game. I eventually want a PVS14, but the budget won’t permit it at this time.

Further note: I'm going to run a similar (tripod) test in the dark part of the grove (as shown at 3:02 or so) but with the FPS turned down to 15 or 30 on the SiOnyx - I believe that will allow for more light capture to happen. I hadthe SiOnyx turned up to 60FPS to minimize the jitter and smooth the movement when fast panning or walking around, as well as to head-to-head it with the iPhone FPS rate. But if you're in a deer blind, or other static position, if you don't mind the "refresh rate" lag effect, you can probably get more light gathering in the darker areas. There's interesting areas in the video above where the PVS looks to blow the SiOnyx away in clarify, and certainly in super low light, but then again, I find myself preferring the SiOnyx image in other areas - look at 2:08 on, once the low light noise dies down on the SiOnyx, and from there on, the house lights bloom out the PVS, whereas the SiOnyx has better distinction due to the lights not washing it out and color separation.

Blackford Oakes I definitely see what you mean. At around 2:30 the color detail and clarity of the SiOnyx looks real sharp!

I've only got Gen 3 NV, so can't speak to lesser / older units vs. this. I think my take away is that the SiOnyx is a very neat tool in the box for static use (deer blind, etc.), surveillance, and for nighttime video and photos. If I have a need for active use, walking-around-with NV, I'd go with one of my PVS14s. I haven't mounted this to a rifle yet, but probably will soon to see how it works with my DBAL illuminator and aimer. Or a MAWL, which might be a better choice. (I used to have a MAWL pre-production unit before they came out - nice illum that would be a fit here - but had to give it back!) Either way, this unit really benefits with the addition of external IR illum, but when it's got it - it really pops and works great with the color and clarity.

Wilcox is coming out with a dovetail adapter

There's ways to mount it to a helmet, their insta shows two units set up on a bump helmet with a Wilcox mount.

Digital night vision lags too much for helmet mounting imo. Pvs14 is real time.

Actually, there's a (probably uninteresting) story behind that... :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZDS34Vktb-o.html

most likely GEN two white phosphorus... PVS is exceptional but we are kind of seeing the difference huh...If you haven't seen the Aurora pro footage definitely check it out brother...Shit this gear is exceptional for the price!

@@The-LongRoad-Home yeah Im really considering pulling the trigger. I was dead set on getting a PVS14 gen 3 WP un filmed . but now Im seriously looking into the sport model. I wish I could try both for one hour so I could decide.

You know they just announced Gen 2 a few weeks ago? The SiOnyx Pro model was released at Shot Show.

Blackford Oakes seems like a small update.

Gen 3 - But the Amber Orion filter might be degrading what’s making it to the iPhone. I’ll run some video with the filter off soon. Filter is great for eyes, but dims it a bit with an iPhone!

I'd have to agree with iPhone not picking up the details from the Gen3. Appreciate the side by side of them both for sure though, thanks.@@ScapegoatIndustries

Correct.

It's not a low-end unit, but agreed that it doesn't look as good as it "should" because you've got to take into account that the digital footage coming from the SiOnyx is native through a videocamera. Whereas the NV is being captured through an iPhone held behind the lens of the PVS14. The naked eye is going to see much less light loss stuck right up to the PVS14, as opposed to multiple layers of glass and sensors trying to capture what the eye sees. Add the Orion amber filter to the PVS (which looks good to the eye, but captures less brightly than native green tube display) and you're not getting all the PVS14 is capable of. It's still an honest take and approach here: This is what you'd get trying to take a video with a PVS14... which doesn't have video out capabilities. Obviously a digital camera capturing straight to an internal memory card is going to have a less adulterated image than a sandwich of optics trying to do what they weren't made to do.

It's looking like a GEN 1 or Grade b GEN 2

@@jjohnston6645 not even close, dude.

It was the very first generation prior to the Pro or White models even coming out.

There's always going to be light loss using a cameraphone through an adapter vs. what the eye sees through the viewfinder. But, you should try to video your PVS-14 and see if the results are similar.

Also, was black/white better than color?

Straight up, the PVS blows it away in complete darkness. But like you said: add a little Illuminator and the Sionyx is very interesting. That artifacting is what it looks like in high darkness. The crisp, defined video ten seconds later has some IR illumination.

You have to give opinions to who? If you're advising someone, then it would behoove you to have actual experience with the comparison products! :) But, you asked: "which one will perform better for military use" - Military use for what? Recording training or operations? Or as an alternative to head-or-weapon mounted NV? I think it's important to note that - no matter how cool it may be - the Aurora ISN'T a military grade NVD. It's a civilian use action camera with really impressive low light abilities. "Military Grade" equipment from L3, BAE, ITT, etc., is drop tested, water tested, and all those other things that are needed when sending goodguys parachuting out hatches of airplanes and into cold oceans, being shot at, falling down cliffs, you know... things like that. So, if we establish that it's for recording things that happen in low light environments, then that's what it excels at. If it's to be mounted on a helmet or weapon - NO - the military would be best served with the hardened gear that they're issued. Rather than comparing it to military NV, it might be worthwhile to compare this to, say, the MOHOC action camera. Those two items might be a little more apples-to-apples... They both are video and still cameras that military might use to record training and operations. They have pros and cons at that point, with the obvious pro for the Aurora being its light capabilities. The obvious con of the Aurora would be in relation to the MOHOC's lead on durability, dedicated helmet mounting solution, and simple interface to use wearing gloves while under stress. I'm not aware of too many other solutions used by military with the sole purpose to video record other than the Wilcox MHRS, which is issued to some coolkid units and interfaces with existing NV. Like many civilian products that have found their way into the military toolbox (Family Mobile Radios, etc.), this could certainly find creative uses augmenting military operations, but isn't a hardened product that one should try to call "military grade".

I wouldn't recommend the Aurora in modern combat. It's radio emissions are easy to intercept. So by using it, you might end up spying for the enemy.

@@heyarno Another good reason! A lot of people are excited about the Aurora, but again - it's important to remember that it's a cool action camera, not a FLIR T90 or something! :)

Blackford Oakes Thank you so much for your reply! It is exactly just what I need. I’m actually doing the review for a company who want to establish connection(and business) between SiOnyx and foreign military, due to the circumstances they have to let me give them an in depth review so they can decide if the product is worthy for them to begin business with. Since they are just a random small supplier for military, they do not know what the military will use it for, but they do need to present the product with all the details that they want me to find out. The small supplier company doesn’t want to fly to Washington unless the camera is worth it so that’s why I’m here : / Again, thank you so much for your in depth reply!

Arno nümuss Thank you Arno, I will mark this down

You're correct. This was one of the very first footage videos of the Sionyx when it first came out, I had access to one before they were sold, and didn't have suggested settings. I just apples-to-apples with the iPhone video settings.

omer turkic send one over and I will. :)

One of my PVS14s says "ANVS, INC SLC, UT USA" Model ANVS1347, from 11/06. The other is more recent, but I didn't feel like cracking it open and getting dust in it. Both whine on startup, so Autogated is assumed.

boosting frame rate makes the video grainier because each frame then gets less light. ;-)

You can do all of this yourself. It goes to 60hz, and if you want to helmet mount it, you can. Even dual mount.

It's very dependent on ambient light. In dark spots without a lot of background light, it'll look super noisy.

@000 000 not necessarily, IR light I only needed when its pitch black, which mind you evebbn the PVS14 needs help when it's that dark hence why soldiers have IR flashlights.

@000 000 I'm not sure what's more ignorant, the fact that you think the Aurora is the best Digiral has to offer or that Analog will remain the king for the foreseeable future. Take a look at the x27 and get back to me.

@000 000the Sony cip are almost gen3 quality and have the ability to distinguish IR light from ambient light which Photocathode cannot do, not only that but Digitial has the ability to see in color instead of one palette of monotone green or blue. Also on top of that digital doesnt have a tube life. Also Sony is about to release their newest chip which is supposed to be even more sensitive to ambient light than their current chip. So as the years go on Digital is only going to get better where as Photocathode has literally hit a development wall in terms of performance and how far they can take Photocathode tubes.

@000 000 000 000 you're a douchebag, nick Graham thanks for the video

@000 000 I stand corrected. Thank you blackford oaks for the video, thanks Nick for your input, 000 000... you're still a douchebag.

The PVS-14 is a US government (Navy) issued one. Probably not a knockoff.

It's a US military issued one.

@@ScapegoatIndustries lol soooo? Is it gen 2 or gen 3? Take the amber filter off? Its not focused? Your camera isnt bad by any means but compare it to good nvgs, not that.