Anyone have recommendations for a Gen 1 or digital camera good for star viewing?

[Alaskan]

Anyone ever use a gen 1, or digital “night vision” camera for viewing the heavans? I’ve been considering buying one of the following:

1. Luna Optics Gen 1, 5X monocular: http://www.lunaoptics.com/nvm5hr.html.

2. Luna Optics Digital 6-30x monocular: http://www.lunaoptics.com/dm60hd.html.

3. A Nikon P900 digital camera with 83X optical zoom, 166x Dynamic Fine Zoom, 332x Digital Zoom: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1280868-REG/nikon_26499b_coolpix_p900_digital_camera.html.

I cannot find any Gen 1 light amplification tubed units which record yet, that would probably be my choice if I could find one.

Recording with a amplified or star light gen 1 night vision unit would probably require a tube dedicated to feed its output into a digital recording camera, I could easily hook one up to a gen 1 output, but was hoping someone made a more compact unit meant for such use. Best of both worlds for me would be a three tube unit, two for biocular and one in the middle feeding a digital camera but my bet is they don’t exist on the market.

I understand what I'm calling "good for star viewing" is low resolution when using gen 1, my need or desire doesn't require hi resoltion, I just want something which can show me points of light normally invisible to the naked eye without being a large tripod mounted telescope. I'm not against using a tripod, just don't want a large unit.

i.e.

 

[diachi]

Obviously you're already aware of the limitations of gen 1 IITs when it comes to image quality. However, I don't think you'll find a gen 1 IIT that anyone would consider "compact" in this day and age. Any that I've ever found require additional optics, and if you want to take pictures/record through them you'd need to come up with some sort of adapter to attach the camera with. Gen 2 would be far more compact if that's what you're looking for primarily.

 

[Alaskan]

Gen 2 is of interest too, just not the price tag. I could eventually move up to gen 2, but want to start out lower end.

Edit: Example of gen 1 resolution, not great, but for the money, not too terrible. However, blurry at the edges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KliDh0WtqCs

 

[paul1598419]

Looks like you're getting a new hobby, Chris. If you are using this for star gazing, I would resist the impulse to cheap out. You will only become dissatisified and be back on the market for something better.

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi
I think RB Astro is a photographer and very good app it
Rich)

 

[Alaskan]

Anyone know how to check on him?

 

[paul1598419]

I wish I knew. He gave me GSS's phone number when he went MIA. If anyone has Andrew's phone number, I will call it for you. He has been MIA for a couple weeks now.

 

[Lifetime17]

Hi,
I just sent Andrew an email waiting for a response. I said no Crock hunting poor choice of excitement .

Rich

 

[paul1598419]

I have a feeling, if he was able to get to a computer, we would have heard from him by now. That was the only reason I didn't send him an email.

 

[Alaskan]

Agreed, concerned.