The growing popularity of modern NVDs has led to the fact that dozens of companies have begun to manufacture them. This gave rise to high competition in the market and the desire of some manufacturers to attract the attention of representatives of the target audience by any means. To achieve this goal, they began to produce mid-range and premium devices and budget models. The advent of the latter has given most buyers access to night vision and all its benefits. The happiness of being able to use NVDs has overshadowed common sense, so many people don't even think about how dangerous or safe such optics are. To give an accurate answer to this question, you need to pay a little attention to it.

When do people buy cheap NVDs?

People neglect expensive NVDs and prefer cheap devices for many obvious and hidden reasons. Each has a specific justification, which all buyers who purchase inexpensive optics need to familiarize themselves with.

Reasons for purchasing inexpensive NVDs:

1. Lack of money. Not all people are financially secure. Therefore, often the main reason for buying cheap NVDs is the banal need for more money. Optics manufacturers are aware of this situation and are trying to offer models from different price categories. The latter cannot become a full-fledged alternative to expensive devices, but it is better to have at least something than to keep saving up for costly NVDs for years.
2. Reluctance to overpay for unnecessary features and functions. In some cases, inexpensive models are bought by people who do not have financial problems. This is due to their unwillingness to pay money for improved performance and additional options that a person will not use. Especially for these cases, manufacturers include models with limited functionality and essential characteristics in their product lines. They are inexpensive, so they always find their buyer.
3. Minimum optics requirements to perform the required tasks. Often people buy NVDs for one specific job (for example, they take it with them for night hunting or use it to monitor the area around the house around the clock). In this case, it is advisable to choose the simplest inexpensive models, the capabilities of which will be sufficient to solve the tasks. Such optics are in the assortment of almost all manufacturers, so there will be no problems with its purchase.
4. Occasional use of NVDs. Purchasing expensive models will be the wrong decision if a person needs night optics only 1-2 times a year. In such situations, getting by with budget devices is quite possible. Even if they do not work perfectly, only a few times a year can you withstand the discomfort during the operation.

Factors affecting the cost of NVDs

The price of all NVDs depends on dozens of factors. Each has a specific effect on the figure indicated in the price tag. This is considered by manufacturers of such optics, which contain full-fledged departments of economists. The latter calculates the cost at which the company will not incur losses, after which the desired profit percentage is added to the resulting figure.

Main factors:

1. The degree of complexity of production. In the manufacture of NVDs, specific actions are carried out, the complexity of which directly affects the cost of the device. Cheap models are created as quickly and simply as possible. Often this is done by hand, which reduces all charges for the manufacturer. At the same time, expensive optics are produced mainly on robotic lines, requiring high-precision equipment and hiring specialists to monitor it. The manufacturer sets a higher price for their products to recoup all costs. Also, the final cost is influenced by the quality of the materials used. For budget models, standard materials that are easy to mine and process are used. At the same time, the best alloys are used in producing premium devices, which requires expensive raw materials and the labor of highly skilled workers.
2. Modern developments. Various current effects are being introduced into expensive models. These can be individual structural elements or entire working units of the device. Money is spent on the process of their creation or modernization, because of which the cost of new models increases significantly. Cheap optics is devoid of modern developments, which is why its price remains at a reasonably low level.
3. Economic component. Today's expensive NVDs are made to order. Most often, customers are the military or various government services. They enter into long-term contracts with the manufacturer to supply the latest optics, which usually do not consider different vital points (for example, a gradual rise in the cost of materials, an increase in employee salaries, etc.). This causes the manufacturer to incur additional contingency costs, which it covers by increasing the cost of NVDs issued to the civilian population. Such contracts are not concluded for cheap models, so their price remains at the same level for a long time.
4. Demand. Each manufacturer has NVDs that are in order and are actively sold out immediately after they hit the stores. At the same time, there are models in the interest of buyers which is relatively small. In this case, manufacturers significantly reduce the price to increase demand. Devices that are in demand among buyers do not require such manipulations, so their cost remains at a higher level. In this case, the price drop may be due solely to the obsolescence of optics and the imminent release of newer equipment.
5. Restrictions. In some countries, restrictions on the sale of NVDs have been introduced at the legislative level. This is due to the frequent use of such devices by criminals who commit various crimes with their help. The submitted restrictions led to a decrease in the profits of optics manufacturers. To cover costs, they increase the cost of their products, which will still be actively bought up due to an artificially created shortage. If there are no such restrictions in the country, then the price must not be changed.
6. Logistics. Manufacturers of NVDs locate their factories in countries with a cheap labor layer (mainly the countries of the Asian continent). Certain financial costs will be required to deliver finished products from their territory to the USA and Europe. The farther away the destination is, the more expensive shipping becomes. All these costs are included in the total price, which may cause it to vary from country to country. Most often, optics on the American continent will be the most expensive. This figure will increase by a relatively small amount in Europe and the developed countries of Asia.
7. Durability. Frequent breakdowns of NVDs force their owners to purchase new devices. In this case, the products are sold quickly and cost relatively low. At the same time, high-quality modern optics can work without breakdowns for many years. Because of this, the frequency of buying new devices drops sharply. This feature entails a price increase, a natural process for high-quality equipment.
8. Functionality. The more the manufacturer can offer, the higher the price becomes. This rule applies to all NVDs models. In the least expensive devices, you can see only the basic set of functions, and you can’t even dream of additional features. As the price increases, so does the functionality. In the most expensive models, manufacturers collect all the best available today. Such devices open up unlimited possibilities and hundreds of operating options for users.
9. Rules and regulations. For each category of goods, specific production rules and norms have been introduced, according to which the controlling authorities check the quality of products. All this applies to NVDs as well. Their manufacturers are forced to adapt to changing rules, incurring additional costs. This negatively affects the cost of manufactured optics. If various rules and regulations do not apply in the country, then there are no prerequisites for increasing prices.
10. Brand popularity. The popularity of the manufacturer also has an impact on the price of products. When releasing various NVDs, unknown brands cannot set a very high price. Otherwise, such products will lie on store shelves for a long time. At the same time, goods of famous brands are sold out as quickly as possible. This phenomenon is explained by the desire of people to have NVDs, which, by their manufacturer's name alone, will indicate a high status of the user. In this regard, well-known brands can increase the price of their products indefinitely, knowing that there will be a buyer for them.

The danger of using cheap NVDs

Buying and operating low-cost NVDs comes with specific hazards and risks. They must be studied beforehand to know exactly what to expect after purchasing an inexpensive device.

Potential risks:

1. Premature failure. The main problem with any cheap NVDs is their fragility, due to which they can break within a few weeks after the start of operation. It is explained by the low cost and insufficiently good quality of components made mainly from inexpensive materials. Also, premature failures occur as a result of the weak protection of the device from the influence of various external factors (for example, due to water ingress into a leaky optics housing). It should be noted that repairing such NVDs is much easier than expensive ones. Everything you need for this is sold publicly and not made to order.
2. Damage to health. Recently, a study was conducted on low-cost NVDs, which revealed their negative impact on human health. It manifests itself without a special protective coating on the display that can eliminate glare. The latter is detrimental to vision, so looking at the screen with them for a long time is not recommended. Also, the danger lies in the use of inexpensive materials. Under certain circumstances, they can emit harmful substances that hurt human health. All of the above are deprived of expensive models.
3. Negative impact on the environment. When using inexpensive NVDs, people harm their health and the environment. The main danger lies in the same materials that can release toxins. When released in large quantities into the water, they can destroy the ecosystem and create unfavorable conditions for the development of all living things. People also do much harm to the environment when they throw away cheap NVDs that have failed. In this regard, manufacturers often indicate in the recommendations of the instructions for the proper disposal of such optics.
4. Extra financial costs. Buying cheap NVDs is only sometimes financially beneficial. In any situation, there are risks of a quick breakdown of the optics with the need to repair or completely replace it. All this leads to additional costs, often exceeding the financial losses when buying an expensive but durable device. Other than that, inexpensive NVDs don't come with any add-ons. Therefore, their owners will have to buy a case for carrying and transporting optics, a bag or boxes for storage at home, and various care products (napkins, brushes, unique cleaning solutions, and much more). All of the above is almost always included with expensive NVDs, so additional costs will be minimized when buying them.

Inexpensive NVDs appeared when their manufacturers began to look for new markets for their products. They were found in countries where most of the population cannot afford the purchase of expensive devices. This led to the need to reduce the cost due to the deterioration of the quality of the optics. The danger to humans and nature has also increased slightly. Comparing the financial benefits with the quality and capabilities of budget models, everyone draws certain conclusions for themselves, based on which they decide whether to buy cheap optics or refuse them.