Best DVR for the Photon XT

Looking for a good DVR for my Photon XT. I know sightmark makes one but the reviews on them are not good.

I'm using the Ultimate Night Vision MDVR on my Photon XT and have been really happy with it. A bit on the pricey side, but it's a well thought out kit. $200 plus $30 for the cable.

The CVR640 works but theres gotta be better quality video, mine isnt near the image compared to the scope.

The MDVR is the best thing going right now. I own 5 or 6 of them for different scopes. I like that it has a remote switch to turn on and start the recording. I used it on the Photon until I gave the Photon away. I am all thermal now and use the same product for those.

The Angel Eyes recorders that are out there are not as nice and do not have sound unless you hack a mic in. You will see ads saying they have sound, but they don't unless you add it.

Again on the UNV MDVR! Works well, reliable. Good product.

dfw mentioned the Angel Eyes. They do not seem to hold up well to recoil as compared to the UNV MDVR. I went through a bunch of them, initially. Never mind that they don't have sound.

I must be the only person who received a DUD MDVR from Ultimate Night vision. Mine has been nothing but a steaming pile since the day I bought it. I have NEVER successfully gotten it to record ANYTHING.

It started with the fact that the instructions DO NOT INDICATE which SD cards will work with the unit. If you buy this DVR carry it with you to the store and try cards until you get one that will work. You will know whether it works or not when you try to format it. If it won't format-you will need a different card.

While messing with the settings it will lock up and is rendered useless. You can't even power it off when it locks up. It will literally just freeze, and stay frozen until the battery is dead. I have the VIBE function set to "ON" and when it locks up the silly thing just starts vibrating non-stop until melt-down. The plastic door that retains the battery has NEVER worked. Even when I first received it and I tried to get the battery door to remain on-it would not. They must have known that it would freeze up and that you would have to remove the door to remove the battery as the ONLY MEANS OF SHUTTING IT OFF. Nice of them for that option. Since I did not know this, I scotch taped the door on.. Then it froze. You can see why I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS UNIT.

It's very likely I just got a bad unit. I have that kind of luck. If you decide to get one I'd recommend you inspect it, and test it, very thoroughly the day you get it so that if there is a problem, you can return it right away.

There isn't a mass-produced product line out there that doesn't occasionally have bad units slip through, be it TVs, vehicles, cell phones, or what have you. It is just a simple matter of returning them. I am not sure why you decided to keep a defective unit.

Kawa - I know Tyler pretty well. He is all about customer service. If you had a problem, he would replace it in a heartbeat. Like DNS said, there will be a bad unit in mass produced products from time to time. I have owned maybe 10 of the units. They have been tossed and banged all over. I have had 1 die. That ain'the bad for outdoor gear.

I'll second ( or 3rd?) the vote for the MDVR. I have 2 Angel Eyes and they are OK but the MDVR is much better in my opinion. There are a few other places that sell the same dvr under a different name.

So all the above options, when recording, will they also show the cross hairs? I only ask because i see that some videos dont have them.

I don't recall there being an problems on the Photon or any other digital night vision. The problem does not appear to be with the recorders.

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. It isn't manufacturer specific. It seems to me like the crosshairs you don'the want to use show up fine. For now, it is just something we have to live with. The manufacturers haven't deemed it important. You can learn a lot by recording your hunts.

Note: You may be right about digital DNS. Been a long time since I used it.

[ So all the above options, when recording, will they also show the cross hairs? I only ask because i see that some videos dont have them.]

The Photon "XT", coupled to the UNV MDVR [/i]will [i]show the crosshairs. (On the original 5X Photon, it won't.)

That's because the original was a standard scope crosshairs and not part of the video signal...a different issue.

I've been using this one for over a year, and it works quite well especially for $115.

http://hobbywireless.com/recorders-stora...-use-p-772.html

DU, that will work, but doesn't have an internal microphone, does it?

Yes sir, it does and the mic picks up very well.

Hey Kawabuggy,
Sorry to hear about the DVR issues. Can you give me a call when you get a few minutes? The MDVR has a warranty that covers the issues you are describing. Give me a call and I will make sure you are taken care of. Thanks

Are there any DVRs out there that don't have the screen? It seems like I could get an app on my iPhone, connect the cable and record the hunt. Why do we need this expensive DVR device? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we just trying to get the hunt saved to an SD card?

I just bought a Sightmark Photon to and want to record my hunts but I'm on a budget. Thanks!

Have never thought about using my phone to record this. Would be interested in what you find out.

Okay remman, here is your app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.big8bits.big8bitsDvr

You won't get sound, only image, not unless you jack in a microphone somehow.

How do you propose to get video from the scope to this app?

For the Photon XT, male composite video to male composite video cable, Easy Cap device and an app or apps (there is a variety to choose from) You're set. This works for Android. Have not checked for iJunk. Not my favorite way to do things, but you will have it in your phone cheap.

Note: This is video. No audio from the Photon.

Hey man, I just found the app he was looking for. The hardwiring is up to somebody else. I figure you just output to a wifi or blue tooth router and then you can pick that up on the phone. No problem.

Or you just get a DVR

LMAO...

LMAO...