First off, the negative--the SiOnyx Aurora Sport does not come with an instruction manual or any type of quick start guide. I open the box. See the camera. See the battery. And I have no clue how to insert it. I'm also wondering at this point, "maybe this is an open box item that someone returned? everybody include a quick start guide". But, no. If you go to their website (link wasn't allowed by Amazon), you'll find their user guide online along with the note that the Sport doesn't include guide, neck strap, or microfiber bag. I question the wisdom of that and almost deducted a star.
But once I got the battery in the camera, charged it, and became familiar with the buttons and wheels, I began to warm up to the camera. I didn't buy it to take video. I bought it as a cheap monocular so that I can keep an eye on my property at night. I'm very rural by the way. No street lights or other light pollution. With just a sliver of the moon, it is dark enough that I can't see anything with the naked eye. Just a mix of dark shadows. But with the Aurora Sport, it gives me great a detailed view. I can comfortably walk around in the dark on my property. I can see deer grazing in my field about 150 yards away. They appear as very dark objects, almost black, and stand out against the surroundings which are much brighter and more colorful. You can clearly see when they lower their heads to graze and when they lift it to look around. The zoom is not very good though and I find it better to stay zoomed out.
Inside my house, it's pitch black. The Sport doesn't have an illuminator and you can't see squat. Depending on your use, you may not want an illuminator anyway. Or at the very least, you want control over it and the spectrum. I bought a $18 Fandyfire infrared flashlight to go with the Sport and it works extremely well. The Fandyfire is completely invisible to the naked eye. No red light giveaway. With the Sport and Fandyfire, I can pretty much read large print books in the dark. Close-up, everything is in fine detail.
Overall, this is a very good night vision camera (monocular), especially for the price. It's not military grade. It's probably not something you would use against other people that have true night vision. But if you're just wanting to check on things at night, and see a few hundred feet in the dark, then I absolutely recommend this.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 7.64 x 5 x 4.53 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.53 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 4.69 x 2.52 x 2.09 inches |
| Item Weight | 1 Pounds |
| Brand Name | SiOnyx |
| Model Name | Aurora Sport |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | SiOnyx |
| Part Number | C011000 |
| Model Year | 2020 |
| Style | Aurora Sport |
| Included Components | Camera Body Only |
| Sport Type | Hunting |
