Sionyx Aurora Night Vision Camera

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

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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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.

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

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

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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.
 
.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.
 
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
 
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?
 
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
 
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.
 
This one.
IR illuminator Flashlight, UltraFire 850nm Focus Adjustable IR Led Flashlight Infrared Light Torch on Amazon.

It doesn’t come with batteries, so ordered them separately.

I will be working on what mount might work best with maybe a ram clamp mount to my anchor light pole perhaps best. I’m considering a go pro mounted to this same spot for day time video recording of special occurrences & then switched to the night vision if needed.

Jay
 
I'm thinking making a small platform out of starboard to mount the Sionyx and an IR flashlight parallel to each other.
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You might consider an IR floodlight, you can get 850 nm 18 watts, 11" light bar with 18 LEDs for about $70 from "SuperBrightLED.com. The light bar would go under the bow rail and the Scope would go on the top--

This would give you a brighter LED pattern than a flashlight. Most likely a further Imaging distance.

But Dead Heads are often just below the surface--and might not be seen, any way--I assume you would be going slowly.
 
thataway":3g1k02pn said:
But Dead Heads are often just below the surface--and might not be seen, any way--I assume you would be going slowly.
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Absolutely I would be going slowly! After reading your mention of the Sionyx a few months ago I purchased one thinking it would be a good item to have if ever forced to operate at night such as moving to a different anchorage if the wind changes, etc.
After looking up the term deadhead, I now realized I use the term wrong, other than being a Grateful Dead fan, in that it is a description of tree just below the water surface which is more specific than just the common floating logs that seem to be all over in the PNW. Either way, I want to watch out for all of them!
 
I just watched the impressive video and picked up this threat. My immediate reaction is 'I need one'. But, my second thought is how do I sell my frugal wife on one. I did buy a cheaper thermal night vision scope a few years ago on a bargain table and after taking out a couple of nights it went back as I could not see it as being very useful. This one looks much, much better. So I am letting a few of you other brats try it out and report back. I have never boated in the dark, as I am mostly in northern waters where the days are very long, but there are always emergency situations where it would be useful. Another use that would add versatility to the scope would be to have a rear facing mount to be used as a rearview camera when boating in daylight. I have on a few occasions had boats sneak up behind me because they were in a blind spot. Now if I can determine if the scope could be used at home for security or checking bison in the dark, I might be able to sell Judy on it.
 
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