Nitesite NS50 and NS200 by Zoe Baker

A cheaper approach to seeing in the dark is now available in the form of Nitesite’s NS50 (£399) and NS200 (£599) night vision systems. The numerical part of the model number indicates the effective detection range but both models have the same general configuration.

Starting with a rifle that is already scoped and zeroed, you connect the scope’s eye bell to a compact video camera via a thick rubber sleeve. The camera unit has no display screen, but it does have three sockets: the first carries the signal to a secondary module which is mounted above the main tube of the scope; the second enables you to record the output on an external device; and the third connects the camera to a 12V battery carried in a green nylon belt pouch. The secondary module houses a rearward-facing display screen and a forward-facing 4LED IR illuminator controlled by a switch located on top of the module. And that’s it, just shoulder the rifle as usual and look over the top of the eye bell to see the cross hairs and the target image on the screen.

An ABS carry case and a mains battery charger are supplied with the kit, but there’s currently no option to run the system off a vehicle socket. In any case, as the system has a run time of over four hours, this isn’t a problem. I’ve been aware of home-made set-ups on this principle for a year or so, but all credit to Nitesite founders Dave and Philip Craven for bringing such a practical version to market at an affordable price.