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Do you want to know where the batteries go in the night owl night vision 3×42 monoculars?
Let’s find out.
Night Owl Night Vision 3×42 Monocular Where Do Batteries Go?
To open the camera, press down and away from the camera body, on the ribbed section of the back of the camera you will find the battery compartment.
Night Owl Optics NOXM42-AL Night Vision Monocular Review
Night Owl Optics has just released its latest product, the NOXM42 AL night vision monocular. After over a month of testing, here’s a full review.
Main Features & Highlights
- High-Quality Generation-1 Intensifier Tube
- 3x Magnification
- Angular Field of View: 19°
- 42mm Objective Lens
- Compact and lightweight design
- Built-in IR illuminator
- All-glass optics
- Resolution: 35 lp/mm on center
- Minimum close Focus: 4.9ft (1.5m)
This first-gen device is clearly aimed at the lower price point of the NV market and has been designed to be similar to Night Owls’ popular NOMN3X-G and NOXM50 monoculars.
The new NOXM43-AL monocular features a 43mm objective lens, has 3x zoom power, and an onboard infrared light source for use in complete darkness.
The Body
The overall look and design of the NOXM42-AL are very close to the other Night Owl monoculars, and if you’ve ever used a gen 1-night vision monocular before then, you should be able to get up and running quickly with this one.
It holds it in one arm, in a similar fashion to most camcorders, but it has a strap that goes around your forearm to keep it in position when pressing a button or loosening your grasp.
Buttons
On the device, there are two buttons; the one closest to the eyepiece is for turning the light on and off, whereas the second button turns the IR illuminator on and off.
Exterior
The exterior housing is made out of a hard plastic-like substance that has been coated with a thin layer of rubber.
While this coating is far too thin to be called “armor” intended for protecting against damage, it certainly improves grip and makes the material very reflective, which for those wanting to stay hidden is an important feature to consider.
Lens
The lens barrel is made from a material called machined aluminum. It has an objective lens at one end, which protects the lens when the cap isn’t used.
Dimensions
With dimensions of 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.8 inches or 15.7 x 10.2 x 4.3 cm this device can easily be carried with one arm, making it easy to hold with just one arm. It’s also easier to carry when attached to an accessory belt.
They’re small enough to fit into a pocket or bag, making them an ideal “carry everywhere” night vision device.
Weight
Not only can you carry the Night Owl Optics NOMX42-AL in the palms of your hands, it only weighs 380 grams (13.4 ounces).
Waterproof
Night Owl Optics doesn’t say anything about weatherproofing or waterproofing, so we’ll assume that it isn’t either.
However, the monocular looks as if it could withstand some light rain and a little water.
If you need a fully waterproof night vision binocular, check out the NONM4X-MS, which is designed for marine applications.
Built-in IR illuminator
On the back of the device is an infrared (IR) illuminant, which when activated, allows you to use the device even if there aren’t any external light sources.
Battery
The single CR-12A battery is housed inside the IR illuminator (IR), which is easily accessible by unscrewing and pulling off the spring-loaded IR cover.
Focusing
Once you’ve adjusted the focus ring on the NOXM42-A1, just rotate the objective lens to adjust its focal length.
To move from the closest focusing distance of 1.3 meters (4.2 feet) to infinity requires about one and a half rotations of the lens making locking on to objects a fairly quick process.
Eyepiece & Ocular Focusing
The main eyepieces look to be constructed out of the same material as the remainder of the telescope, whereas the eyecups have a thicker rubber coating on them to improve their feel.
The eyecups have an external diameter of 3.8 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) with a 2.1-centimeter opening. The ocular lenses look to be about 1.6 centimeters (about 0.6 inches) wide.
How to Focus?
For you to see an accurate picture, you must focus the eyepiece on the screen for your particular vision.
To adjust the diopter setting, just turn the eyecups until they feel right. You don’t need to adjust them every time you use the monoculars.
Night Owl Night Vision 3×42 Monocular Where Do Batteries Go?
The Optics
42mm Objective Lens
Larger objective lenses have the capability to gather more photons than smaller ones, but the larger the objective lens, the bigger, heavier, and more expensive the camera becomes.
So it is a question of finding the right balance between the desired image quality and the cost.
The lens is large and has a wide field of view so that it can capture a decent picture even when there isn’t much ambient light available. However, it’s still small enough to be carried around comfortably and fits into your coat pockets.
Optical Stats
Field Of View (FOV)
A field of view on these binoculars is advertised as 19° and night owl optics are also expressed as being 67 degrees wide at a range of 200 yards, which is pretty good compared to other similar devices with three times magnification.
Minimum Focal Distance
You can see objects clearly when they’re no further than 4.9 feet away from you.
Range
Night Owl advertises that you can see up to 700 feet away from its location, but this depends on the environment. Fog or rain will obviously affect this distance.
Image Detail & Sharpness
Night-time binoculars don’t provide an even image across their entire fields of view.
In the middle of the screen, the highest-quality image is displayed as you move toward the edges of the screen, the quality of the image decreases.
These lenses offer an advertised maximum magnification of 35 lp/mm (at the center) which compares well with other similarly priced zoom lenses. Once correctly focused, they look very sharp to me.
Other Features
Carry Bag
It fits very easily into its own carrying case, but there isn’t any padding for comfort. To get into the case, you pull to open a large zipper.
It doesn’t have any extra internal or exterior pockets, nor does it include a carrying strap, but it does feature a hook at the back for attaching to your belt.
Objective Lens Cap
The objective lens cap appears to be made from hard material. It has threads at one end and a screw thread at the other. You must remove the cap before using the camera. After removing the cap, place it somewhere safe and easy for you to find in the dark.
It also has a tiny pinhole in it so that you can use it at night or when there isn’t enough ambient lighting to see by, to set up the camera, and for demo purposes.
Conclusion
With the NOXM 42 AL, Night Owl has produced an affordable and compact monocular that performs well enough for most people.
These are among the best monocular night vision devices available at this level of quality and cost. They’re comparable to some of the most expensive models out there.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions.
