Sionyx Aurora Night Vision Camera

jkidd · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 5:32 pm Post subject: Sionyx Aurora Night Vision Camera

Has anyone here been trying one of these cameras. Seems like they have some potential at lower price point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2-cGj1yb5E

srbaum · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 6:17 pm Post subject:

Jody,
I looked at the youtube and reviews and like it. It's amazing how the cost of technology has come down.

Knipet · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 6:31 pm Post subject:

Yes, a few weeks ago Dr. Bob mentioned these in a thread that was discussing boating a night, so I read and watched reviews and recently bought one on Amazon. I bought it primarily for using it to see logs at night, but it should also come in handy when backing the boat down my somewhat circuitous driveway with the camera pointing to the back and using my truck's front hitch.

Since I'm currently boatless, I haven't tried it out on the water, but walking around with it at night it is really something, especially with a phone or tablet screen. I'm certain that on a night that has some moonlight it could really be useful for looking out for logs. Might even be able to use a decent IF light on a moonless night. I plan on mounting it with a ram mount just under the brow to the left of the center window and casting the image to my tablet. This way I can run a micro USB cable to keep it charged as the lithium batter will only run it for a little more than an hour.

It seems to be a pretty nice bit of kit.

hardee · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:11 am Post subject:

WOW, That is impressive. Way different/better(?) than the FLIR which has been the "Go To" for years. Impressive.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

jkidd · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 11:55 am Post subject:

I took these pictures a couple of years ago using just a $150 security camera in black and white mode with infrared on. This one at the dock with extra light is pretty good.

This one of the tree line it was dark with only the ir leds on the front of the camera good for 90 feet.

This one is going under the bridge back to the marina has some noise because it is looking straight into the lights.

thataway · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 12:15 pm Post subject:

The other alternatives are the FLIR Scopes or cameras. The cheapest scope is in the $400 FLIR Scout TK. Have had the more expensive Scout III, which is FLIR--but these do not work thru glass.

The cheapest SiOnyx Sport Camera works in very low light, and can work thru wiindo glass. For the C Dory needs it is as good as the more expensive models. For the darkest night: Nite Track is very good (and expensive) using a 0.0005 LUX sensor. There is a IR illuminator. but that range will be limited. (About $4200 for mounted version.

the cheaper Sport ($400) is being phased out). is similar to the Auroa Black ($700) which can be weapon mounted.

Jody, do you know how many "lux" that camera is rated at? (I fully understand that "Lux" is a very imprecise measurement and varies from manufacture by measurement technique. Your phots are clear and appear to be free of grain, with good resolution.

jkidd · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:12 pm Post subject:

.009 in color mode and 0 lux with the IR on in black and white mode. Just ordered an 850nm IR flash light to see how that helps with the images should make a big difference. I'll post some images when I get it.

Hunkydory · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:34 pm Post subject:

I just ordered the SiOnyx Scout & a 1R flashlight on Amazon.

jkidd · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:48 pm Post subject:

Your going to get me in trouble with Jolee.

Hunkydory · Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:58 pm Post subject:

Yep, it has gone past get. I told her I’d never have bought it, if not for Jody.

jkidd · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 8:59 am Post subject:

With just a little ambient light the Sionyx works pretty well.

Hunkydory · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 12:17 pm Post subject:

Yes, it does well, especially with the addition of a IR flashlight when totally dark. I really like the no back glare that normally comes off the boat surface when using a spotlight.

I also purchased two extra batteries with a auxiliary charger. The battery only last a couple hours & you can’t charge them in the camera & use it at the same time.

Jay

starcrafttom · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:52 pm Post subject:

Watching that video I could not stop thinking that just maybe if you turned off the 200 multiple colored and flashing lights you just might be able to see some thing. Why did they have aft facing blinking lights?

The camera look very impressive and I have been looking at them for some time. I spend a lot of mornings in my jet boat at 5 am headed out to duck hunt and this would be very helpful. I use a spot light now but I get a bit of blow back from the boat even thu its camouflaged. How is the performance hand held?

Hunkydory · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 4:07 pm Post subject:

Tom, the camera is very small & easy to hold & the view good, but just how it would work holding it up for eye viewing, while actually operating the boat, I can’t say yet. Will let you know after trying it.

Jay

Knipet · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2021 4:22 pm Post subject:

The unit has a 1/4-20 thread mount that I plan to put a ram mount ball and mount it on the dash in front of the port or center window, and then view from the helm on my tablet mounted next to the chartplotter. If the windows cause too much glare, then I may mount it on the roof brow. My primary intended use is keeping an eye out for dead-heads in the dark so maybe the higher up at a steeper angle might be best. Need to experiment. That is the beauty of using a ram mount and viewing remotely on the tablet.

Jay; what IR light did you get? I'm thinking making a small platform out of starboard to mount the Sionyx and an IR flashlight parallel to each other.