There are a handful of great digital night vision devices in the $500 range but two standouts are the NVG30 and the NVG50. How do you decide on the NVG50 vs NVG30? Here's a video breaking them down more in depth!
For those that want a quick summary, here's a few highlights.
NVG50
The NVG50 is the newer model. It was released about a year after the NVG30 and features a smaller body and slightly more rugged housing design. In many ways it is superior to the NVG30 but the main downside to this device is lack of compatibility with Wilcox mounts which is dissapointng as there are limited options for mounts, though the included mount is still sufficient for most people. There's also a night vision bridge that works for the NVG50 if you want to run a bino setup! If you plan on running a single monocular on a helmet and don't want to spend more on mounting solutions, then the NVG50 would be the way to go.
Pros
- The NVG50 has a higher resolution viewing screen (2560 x 1440)
- Form factor and Build quality is better
- Slightly less latency / better for rapib movements
- External battery pack
- Rail mounting option
Cons
- Slightly less runtime due to smaller battery capacity (2x 18350s)
- Lack of compatibliltiy with Wilcox mounting sytems
- Slightly more expensive than the NVG30
NVG30
The NVG30 is one of the best selling digital night vision devices on the market. It significantly improves the users night time viewing experience and as long as there is some ambient lighting or moonlight available you wont need to rely on IR lighting to see in the dark and its much better than the human eye. The NVG30 is very similar to the NVG30 with the exception of a few minor weaknesses but the main upside of this device and why many people still choose it is wilcox mount capability. Being able to pair with wilcox mounts like the L4 G24 and various wilcox bridges give the user a lot of felixibility for those searching for superiour mounting options and if your set on these systems the NVG30 is the way to go!
Pros
- Slightly longer Runtime with 1x 18650
- The NVG30 is about $100 cheaper than the NVG50
- Wilcox mounting compatibility.
Cons
- Slightly less clear viewing screen - 1920x1080
- a little more latency ( though its still good)
- larger device footprint
Similarities of the NVG50 vs NVG30
Both devices have many of the same menu items and features. They both allow USB-C charging and have micro sd cards for video recording. Low light performance with and without ir lighting on is very comparable between the two units and so is their field of view. They both come with the same stock accessories and mount. Both offer 30/40 FPS. Both devices can be run as a single night vision monocular or bridged together for a binocular night vision setup.
At the end of the day, both devices are still highly capable and some of the best budget night vision devices available on the market so you really can't go wrong with NVG50 vs NVG30.