Digital has advanced to the point that the military is putting it on all new Apache copters, not thermal or Gen4.
The digital night vision in the Apache might be sky high for the consumer market but you don’t need that level of digital to hunt.
So you 2nd statement here pretty well renders your first statement pretty darned pointless. That the military is using digital in some areas really doesn't matter - especially given that we don't have access to that sort of quality yet.
1. High contrast black and white night vision, not green
Well the military likes green. So do many hunters. So if we go by the military standard, it sort of ruins your argument again.
2. Better image detail than more expensive intensifier tube or thermal devices
Not necessarily and I would argue that for hunting technology, NOT.
3. Better location awareness than thermal because of image detail
Not necessarily.
4. Good quality at a lower cost
"Good" is subjective here. Take the blurry furry hamster in the image you promote in your signature.
5. Bright thermal requires eyes to re-adjust to darkness after viewing, digital does not
BULL
6. Better identification of people and animals with digital IR than heat imaging thermal
Not necessarily.
7. IR causes less eye fatigue than thermal
NOPE, not in my experience.
8. Digital IR night vision is perfectly silent
And that is why it is on Apache helicopters.
With that said, I can't say that I have heard noise loud enough from my NV or thermal gear that has been loud enough to cause me any problems.
9. Digital night vision does not have sensitivity to bright light like I2 tube technology
Thermal doesn't either. However, you can still white out digital with too much light. We have lots of vids here posted that prove this. Mostly the problem comes from reflectivity of the IR illuminators that are currently necessary for most all night hunting situations, something higher end NV usually does not need and something thermal does not need.
10. Digital night vision can be adjust for brightness according to your need
So can thermal and some regular NV.
11. Digital systems offer various ways to record what you see.
Not all do. Plus, you can do this with some regular NV and with a lot of thermal as well.
12. Digital night vision can see through glass windows, thermal can’t
Regular NV can as well. Thermal can see into the brush where digital and regular NV can't. Thermal does not require contrast of the target to see the target well.
13. No white out from warm building in cold climate conditions like thermal
True enough, but hunting digital often requires IR illumination to work and whites out from over illumination (see above)
14. Digital is generally lighter because it does not need tubes
Really depends on the specific products you are comparing. I notice your lightweight units require a hefty IR illuminator to make them work, which adds weight, bulk, and complexity to the product.
15. Digital is an “instant on” product, no boot-up time required for many products.
Most NV doesn't require boot-up time either. Big deal.
My design has a patent pending rail mounted LCD monitor for targeting. In some pictures I mount my scope forward on the gun just to show that this is an option with my system.
My digital NV, traditional NV, and thermal doesn't require or need a monster LCD monitor for targeting or to illuminate me and give up my position.