Night Vision NVG Focus Covers: Phokus Hoplite vs Matbock Tastier Eclipse

[Cold_Bore_88]

I would like to get a pair of focus covers for my RNVGs. Anyone have experience with either of these? I like the Phokus Hoplit because it’s a full protective cover. However, I see that the Matbock are better for enhancing the focus.

Thoughts?

 

[Dogtown]

Phokus is nice because you can go from no aperture restriction to restricted with the flip of a cap. The old model had different sized aperture inserts, while the new model had preset sizes that can be dialed into place. Mattock charges an arm and a leg for the Tarsier, and while they’re well made, they annoyed me right off the bat because more often than not my gloved hand struggled to open/close the iris without also rotating focus. A lot of guys buy inexpensive camera irises off of Amazon that work well too.

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

Phokus is nice because you can go from no aperture restriction to restricted with the flip of a cap. The old model had different sized aperture inserts, while the new model had preset sizes that can be dialed into place. Mattock charges an arm and a leg for the Tarsier, and while they’re well made, they annoyed me right off the bat because more often than not my gloved hand struggled to open/close the iris without also rotating focus. A lot of guys buy inexpensive camera irises off of Amazon that work well too.

Thanks for the feedback. This is kinda what I was thinking. I have seen the DIY options but I just wanna buy something that fits.

 

[freedom71]

I tried the Amazon route and was not satisfied.

The best thing about Phokus is that you can move the aperture completely out of the way and not have any restrictions on your view. With the fixed aperture approach in some models, you can have the aperture wide open and still have your view restricted by the cap around the aperture.

I especially like the new model Phokus with the apertures dialed in place. I typically will set mine on my preferred aperture and either go on or off, rather than doing a lot of aperture rotations. But it's nice to have it when I need it.

The one advantage of the cheaper Amazon aperture models is that they have no glass, as opposed to the Phokus and Matbock Tarsiers. In humid environments, the in-between layers of extra glass can easily fog. I had this happen recently with my Phokus. Just had to remove them, wipe, and quickly re-install. That's why I don't otherwise use sacrificial lenses on my NODS.

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

I appreciate the feedback here. Sounds like Phokus is the way to go.

 

[Magsz18]

The Matbock Tarsier is a giant piece of shit.

It requires two hands to adjust so as to not disturb your focus. The entire point of the thing is to allow you to change your depth of field by operating an external device.

You end up having to adjust your focus AND the diopter with two damn hands. Id rather just adjust my focus with one hand without any external device at that point.

It's also absurdly priced. I've been trying to sell the one I had on my PVS14 for almost two years. I'm about to give it away.

 

[vanrichten]

I use the cold harbor chad. They are out of Canada but it’s a fairly good product for a reasonable price.

Although you do look like Johny 5 with duals.

Cold harbor Chad

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

I use the cold harbor chad. They are out of Canada but it’s a fairly good product for a reasonable price.

Although you do look like Johny 5 with duals.

Cold harbor Chad

View attachment 8712740

I am going to take a look at these.

 

[Dogtown]

“Minion sounds intensify…”​

 

[Conqueror]

Fuck Matbock. They charge pants-on-head stupid prices and sue anyone else that makes a similar product as if they invented the idea of a narrow aperture having a better depth of focus.

 

[Dogtown]

^ he’s right….lots of shitty behavior for a company making a meh product

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

The Gen 2 Hoplite worth the extra cash? I like the rotating plate over the inserts.

 

[freedom71]

The Gen 2 Hoplite worth the extra cash? I like the rotating plate over the inserts.

Yes. Rotating apertures are a big improvement over the inserts.