TacticalStore - Advice on Riflescopes, Tactical Flashlights, Prism Binoculars, Night Vision, Safety Goggles, & more!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Roof Prism Binoculars or Porro Prism Binoculars?
There is an ongoing debate between porro prism binoculars and roof prism binoculars: which one is better? Which binocular is more rugged? Are porro prism Bushnell binoculars better than roof prism Leica binoculars? What are the main functional differences? Everybody has their own preferences, and we can fill you in on how to decide which type of binocular is best for you.
First of all, it is necessary to know what a prism is. A prism is the glass component of a binocular that corrects the orientation of the image produced. If there were no prisms, then the image would be upside down. Most binos such as Steiner binoculars and Zeiss binoculars offer both porro and roof prisms.
Porro prism binoculars have the classic binocular shape: the eyepieces and front lenses are never in a straight line. They do not require phase correction for sharpness, and they are less expensive. Also, the light transmission of a porro prism binocular is better than that of roof prisms.
Roof prism binoculars, on the other hand, tend to have smaller, more slender bodies, similar to compact binoculars. It is more expensive to manufacture the straight tube design, but they are much more comfortable to hold. Compact binoculars with a hinge focus knob allow for one-handed operation. Due to the sturdy prism casing necessary in a roof prism binocular, they can be more rugged than your average porro prism.
With this information you should be able to comfortably choose which type of binocular is best for your goals and your budget. To find out more about how binoculars work, read our special how to buy binoculars guide! Always your information resource, stay connected with OpticsPlanet.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Common Questions about Night Vision
Night vision is one of the departments that brings up many questions from customers. With our large selection of Bushnell Night Vision, Yukon Night Vision, ATN Night Vision, and more, it is easy to get submerged into the world of night vision devices. Night vision is a very special technology that is also very fun and exciting, yet many cannot imagine what type of use is applicable to them. Do you need a night vision equipment device?
Many outdoor enthusiasts use nightvision such as night vision binoculars for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and nature viewing. Other uses include surveillance, search and rescue, and property management. The main science behind night vision is the image intensifier tube, which amplifies ambient light by accelerating electrons and striking a phosphor surface just like a television set. If there is no light, then the device will not work. As the generations graduate from Gen 1 night vision all the way up to Gen 3 night vision, the intensifier tube increases in quality, thus improving the amount of illumination. Gen 4 night vision devices only removes protective coatings from some surfaces.
Protecting your digital night vision investment means avoiding usage during the daytime. They may be used for short periods of time with day filters on them but this is also discouraged. Remember, 80% of the cost of the device is the intensifier tube. Even with the lens caps on, the tube may end up with burned images on it if left on. Night vision riflescopes are made to withstand the recoil up to .308 Winchester caliber. Any more than that and your eyes are in trouble.
To learn more about night vision and its applications, check out our extensive how-to pages about how night vision works and how to buy night vision. OpticsPlanet is the number one resource and retailer of night vision. Don’t be left out in the dark.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tactical Flashlight for On or Off Duty
The flashlight is a staple in any toolbox or tactical belt, and select companies place a heavy emphasis in the design and engineering of their tactical flashlights. SureFire, Streamlight, and Pelican all have produced extremely popular law enforcement flashlights that keep our streets and back alleys safe and secure. Regular flashlights won’t cut it in a dangerous scenario, so make sure you pay attention to these best buys.
Streamlight Stinger flashlights have been the standard for law enforcement nationwide. Their C4 LED technology almost triples the brightness of an LED and creates an intense beam that pierces through the darkness. Without taking up much room on your duty belt, the Stinger DS LED flashlight delivers maximum light and minimum battery consumption. The LED bulbs give you the clearest light possible, and even add a strobe function that helps officers in tight situations.
Pelican 7060 Flashlight was created from the minds of both public and private sectors. The City of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) partnered with Pelican Products to develop a flashlight for all its police officers. After replacing an older police flashlight, Pelican flashlights are now trusted by the force for its formidable light beam, ergonomic grip, and dependability.
The Surefire Defender has been called the best defensive flashlight in the business. Its best application is for quick on/off lights, and the Surefire flashlight is an impressive size for using as a weapon. Despite its compact body, it emits a brilliant light with no rings, hot spots, or shadows.
OpticsPanet carries Streamlight flashlights, as well as SureFire flashlights and Pelican flashlights, all at the lowest prices. These led flashlights are guaranteed to protect you from the dark, and continue to light the way for years to come. Never settle for a discount led flashlight from a no-name brand; stick with the brands that you trust to provide you with the best tactical flashlights and other optical equipment. All of this and more can be found on the pages of OpticsPlanet.net.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Nikon Binoculars: Featuring the 10x42 Monarch ATB
Nikon binoculars have always been binoculars that are built to last, and Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 binoculars are some of the finest of their line of sport optics. These Nikon 10x42 binoculars smash the competition with precision-aligned optics and ultra-rugged construction. Nikon has maintained an unwavering commitment to the study of light, and with binoculars like these, you can fully experience premium optics and imagery.
Time and time again Nikon binoculars are put to the test. Whether it endures long mornings in the stands, or tough, muddy nights in the trenches, a Nikon Monarch binocular will be there for the long haul. Customers are excited about the heightened resolution and great price of these binoculars. They also rave about the consistency and guaranteed performance as well. With a close focusing distance of 2.5 meters and a waterproof casing that protects up to 1m for 5 minutes, you’ll never meet a more sophisticated binocular in its class.
Keeping in stride with all of their products, Nikon binoculars contain unique and superior technologies that offer greater performance and functionality on all planes. Looking for more advice? Consult our Nikon Binocular Reviews and find out what other customers think about their binoculars. As always, you can turn to our helpful How-To guides and find out How to Buy Binoculars. OpticsPlanet.net is your one stop for Nikon gear, and tips on how to use it the best.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
My favorite holster, and why.
I'm not going to showcase a product, and tell you why it's good, or tell you about the latest and greatest thing. I'm going to tell you about a couple of holsters I bought back in the mid-80's at a shop in Bensenville, Illinois, a couple of blocks from where I worked at the time.
I had moved from Anderson, Indiana to Chicago during the summer of 1983, and wasn't exactly flush with extra income. A very close friend of mine back in Indiana and I had spent a number of years shooting together - he had a Ruger 10/22 and I used my Dad's 3rd generation Colt Woodsman .22. At some point, I let him know about a handgun that I had seen in a magazine that appeared to be within our means, and was getting pretty good press. It was a Taurus PT92. I shopped around for the best price I could find in the area, and purchased a blue model from a gun shop in Lincolnwood on Devon. My friend in Indiana purchased an identical model locally. We were both very proud of the fact that we paid in cash for our purchases.
Being one to accessorize - even back then - and in possession of my very first credit card, I bought a couple of black Bianchi UM84 holsters - one for for myself, and one for my friend. I picked up a couple of web belts at an army surplus store in Northlake, and on one of the many trips back home in my 1983 VW Rabbit known as "Moe", I presented my friend Tim Justice with the holster and belt.
Over the following years, we spent many camping trips together in Tennessee at my Grandparents farm, now my farm, and continued to shoot together and show off any new toys to each other. In every picture I have of him where we were out with our meager gun collections, he has on that belt and holster. He never saw any need to upgrade to anything else.
My PT92 was stolen in a burglary around 1990, along with my entire firearm collection, including the first and last firearm I ever financed, an H&K SP89 and a very special 10/22 that was a christmas gift from another close friend. That year for christmas I gave him a power strip for his Commodore 64 computer - and it turned out to be broken. He will never let me forget this. In my defense, I was just about broke, was on my way out of Chicago when I picked it up at Home Depot in Elmhurst, and gave him the power strip before he gave me the rifle.
I do still have the UM84 holster, even though the Taurus and the 10/22 are long gone. A Chicago Police Tac Team later recovered the PT92, stuffed in the pants of some kid selling drugs in Chicago. Because I lived in Oak Park, they were unable to return it to me, as handguns were (and remain) illegal in Oak Park. While over the years I have rebuilt and expanded my collection, I never bought another PT92 - it wouldn't have been the one that was my first handgun and had the memories attached to it.
I like to dig that holster and belt out of a box in my basement, full of things that I can't bear to get rid of, even though most of them serve no useful purpose any longer. I like to take out and turn it over in my hands, and open and close the flap, play with the clever little cleaning rod that was included with the holster, and feel the history - my history, and my friend's - that is in that holster. Occasionally I put it on with that web belt (let out a couple of inches, as one packs on "muscle" over the course of 25 years), tuck my thumbs in the belt and remember those times, and those trips.
If you're reading this, you probably have a piece of gear that reminds you of something similar. A holster that came with a gun you inherited when a father passed away, like my buddy Bob and the .25 Colt Automatic pistol his father owned and apparently carried most of his life - a surprised ambulace crew (in handgun-free Oak Park) handed it to his wife when Robert Sr. died of a heart attack a few years ago, safely tucked away in a wallet holster that had been restitched and reinforced using copper wire, of all things. Maybe it's something your Dad or Grandfather brought back from WWII, or a brother brought back from Viet Nam or Korea. Maybe it's a pair of binoculars that an Uncle used at your high school football games, or that you and your Mother used for birdwatching.
Maybe your treasured item is synthetic and will never look much different than it did when it was new, like my UM84, or maybe it's made of leather or metal and carries a memory or good story in almost every scratch and ding and dent.
Go and dig out your item and think about where it has come from, what it has gone through and where it has been. You might be reminded of where you have come from, what you have gone through and where you have been. Consider giving something that you treasure to a loved one - a son or daughter, or a favorite niece, or just someone you think will "get it". That way it won't end up in a rummage sale when you're no longer here and all those memories and history will be lost and forgotten as if they had never happened.
My very good friend Tim Justice passed away Sunday, May 31, 2009, at the age of 48, surrounded by his family.
He was born May 23, 1961, in Anderson, Indiana, where he lived well, laughed often and loved much throughout his life. I am going to miss my shootin' and camping buddy.
I'm also going to make sure his remarkable son Tyler gets my UM84 holster and belt.
Now, all you tough guys out there go and tell someone that you love them.