Night vision and thermal scope technology have long fascinated me as a tool to elevate my airsoft gameplay. In recent years, I’ve experimented with various setups to capture nighttime footage for my channel, but success had always eluded me — until now. This year, everything changed when I discovered the Sionyx Opsin and the latest commercially available thermal scopes. Here’s a breakdown of my current setup and why it’s been a game-changer.
Sionyx Opsin: Next Generation Digital Head-Mounted Monocle
The Sionyx Opsin has garnered mixed reviews, particularly from American gun-tubers. Many critiques focus on the frame rate, claiming it hampers passive aiming while moving quickly in pitch-black conditions. Let’s address this upfront: no, it doesn’t quite match the performance of the latest Gen 3 analog devices in total darkness. However, it comes remarkably close and, in many situations, outperforms my Gen 2+ white phosphorus unit.
Why the Opsin Works for Me
1. Reliable Recording:
One of the standout features of the Opsin is its dependable recording capability. Simply press record, and it captures footage onto an SD card, ready for editing. While the recorded footage isn’t quite as sharp as what you see through the device, it’s still impressive and very reliable.
2. Lightweight Design:
The Opsin is light and ergonomic. It requires an external proprietary battery pack, which doubles as a counterweight. Some have criticised the battery life (6–8 hours) and the inability to quickly swap batteries in the field like users of analogue devices will be used to. But let’s be honest — we’re playing airsoft, not preparing for WW3. For my needs, the setup works brilliantly.
3. Durability:
Unlike analog devices, the Opsin isn’t vulnerable to bright light damage. I can safely use it during daylight training or in situations where bright lights might be present, a significant advantage in airsoft games.
Criticism of The Opsin
- Power Cable
Although the cable are high quality the connectors should have been right angled, as they protrude slightly which may cause them to get caught and prevent full adjustment of the camera over the eye when using an after market J-arm
2. Recoding Quality
Although the recorded footage is ok at 720 resolution it is not as good as the image that is viewed through the Opsin itself. Why it does not record in the same high definition and clarity that the user sees, I do not know. It’s not terrible, it’s pretty good in fact, but it does leave me wondering whether the Opsin is capable of capturing much better footage, and if it is, why can’t we?
Custom Adjustments
• Mounting: I’ve customised the Opsin’s mounting system with my own J-arm for better eye alignment, although the mounting solution it comes with does work well, it is not as good as an after market J-arm.
• Lens Protection: I’ve added a sacrificial lens protector from Lion’s Gear to prevent damage from BB hits.
A Secret Weapon: The 1050nm IR Illuminator
Here’s a little-known trick: I use a 1050nm out-of-bounds IR illuminator, which the Opsin can detect but analog devices, including Gen 3, cannot. This gives me a massive advantage, as I can flood the area with light invisible to most opponents. While acquiring this illuminator outside the U.S. can be tricky due to ITAR regulations, it’s an invaluable addition to my kit.
Eye Protection: Clear Vision at Night
Traditional mesh eye protection has always been my go-to, as it prevents fogging during daytime games. However, at night, mesh goggles significantly reduce visibility, like wearing sunglasses in the dark. Enter Trittech’s clear-lens goggles. These goggles feature built-in fans to prevent fogging, making them perfect for nighttime use alongside the Opsin.
Thermal Scope: The Hik Micro Panther 2
The Hik Micro Panther 2 is an exceptional thermal scope, offering features far beyond what I need as an airsofter, such as a laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator. Here’s what makes it a standout for me:
1. Recording Capability:
It reliably captures high-definition footage of my shots and stores them internally. I simply press record, and it performs flawlessly able to store hours of footage. I am unsure of the total storage space inside but I have been able to record 6 hours of footage without it running out of memory.
2. Stunning Thermal Detection:
The Panther 2 detects even the slightest temperature differences with incredible clarity. This makes it invaluable for spotting concealed opponents whether that is during the day or night. I find the ‘hot spots dark’ setting is the easiest to spot enemies, but it does have other visuals, including a multi coloured spectrum which looks just like Predator vision.
3. Versatility:
Lightweight and compact, it works well on bolt-action replicas, SMGs, and ARs. Its ability to function in both day and night conditions elevates its practicality as a piece of kit I can use on a normal gameday as well as during night time events.
Power and Performance
The Panther 2 runs on rechargeable batteries, offering 5–6 hours of usage per charge, although it does advertise as running for longer than that, it is not my experience. When recording constantly, battery life slightly reduces to around 4–5 hours.
Investment Worth the Price
At around £3,000, the Panther 2 isn’t cheap, but its capabilities are worth every penny. For me, it’s like having Predator vision during a game — an unparalleled advantage, especially for counter-sniping. I have seen recent listings of it for sale in the UK at around £3,000 but the shops do not have stock.
Secondary Gear: Pistol Torch
On my pistol, I’ve added an Olight torch with a built-in laser, adjustable for precise zeroing. This simple yet effective addition rounds out my night vision setup.
Conclusion
This is my current night vision and thermal setup for airsoft games. From the Sionyx Opsin’s reliable recording and advanced features to the game-changing thermal detection of the Hik Micro Panther 2, they have enhanced both gameplay and content creation.
Thanks for reading! If you’ve got questions or suggestions for future setups, drop them in the comments. See you on the field — or maybe not, thanks to my night vision edge!