The same technology as standard cameras is used in night vision devices, but at a higher magnification. These systems scan for visible light in nighttime settings and absorb it. This light is then magnified and depicted in images with a greenish tint. “Image intensifier” devices are also known as night vision devices. This is a better, more specific descriptor for them, because “night vision devices” encompasses both image intensifiers and thermal imaging or infrared cameras, as they all aid in night vision.

Night vision image intensifiers are a basic technology that works in the same way as a regular camera but amplifies any light available. Any ambient light, such as light from the moon, stars, or distant light sources, is magnified and visible as greenish images. The public is familiar with this technology from movies, video games, and television shows, but it is also used in real-life scenarios by the military, law enforcement, and hunters to detect wildlife such as deer in the woods at night.

The main disadvantage of night vision image intensifiers is that their efficacy decreases as the amount of nearby light decreases. This means that if the night is cloudy and overcast, blocking the light from the moon and stars, the clarity of the night vision image suffers dramatically. It’s the same if there’s fog, and heavy rain can reflect light off a variety of surfaces, making it difficult to see clearly.

Even though night vision image intensifiers are considered high-tech, they are no more advanced than a standard camera, and some people find it difficult to see clearly through the green-filtered image. They only work if there is enough light and clear weather, but they are generally less expensive than a thermal camera.