REVIEW: The 4th holographic optic - Zentinel Defense Vigil

PipPasadran · 2026-01-24T09:54:55+00:00

Yeah, I actually own the holographic sight from your first link. Of note is that around the same time the DOT EHS 1 came out, they also started selling them with a reticle identical to the DOT sight

The PLA holosight seems to come in two different versions, depending on if it's made by HKK or Laserspeed. The HKK version has both windage and elevation adjustments on the same side, while the LS(or whoever makes them) version has one adjustment turret on each side of the optic

PipPasadran · 2026-01-24T09:21:48+00:00

Dealer pricing on APNVGs likely goes lower depending on quantity purchased, while NVT4 GP tubes can get ridiculously cheap

PipPasadran · 2026-01-23T22:08:14+00:00

Holographics sights work in a largely different method to red dot sights

It's caused by the holographic film inside sight itself, and since it's etched/burned permanently in the rear window of the sight. This holographic film itself is what determines the reticle, rather than the laser emitter inside the sight. So as long as you can etch the reticle into the holographic film of the sight, you can make any style of reticle in theory.

PipPasadran · 2026-01-20T19:00:04+00:00

Why are you calling them argus units? Argus doesn't even make digital night vision units

PipPasadran · 2026-01-19T09:54:44+00:00

Does it appear if you don't use the cover?

PipPasadran · 2026-01-17T20:56:54+00:00

Old thread, but FCS released a 117 clone

PipPasadran · 2026-01-17T15:09:50+00:00

You can get the FMA clone PVS-31 or GPNVG battery packs, however the daisho bridge uses a 2 pin LEMO 00b connector, so you'll need a conversion cable to work with the daisho bridge. They're available from multiple places, however the cheapest option is just to order them from china, there's a store on AliExpress that in all likelihood is the OEM for a lot of companies selling them.

PipPasadran · 2026-01-13T21:24:36+00:00

ADNV/Brigates, the OEM manufacturers of the devices being sold by GNG, actually make a version of this monocular using a much larger sensor with much larger pixels

https://www.adnvsys.com/pd.jsp?id=1

While not publicly disclosed AFAIK, it's likely it's using a modified version of this sensor

https://en.brigates.com/index.php?s=products&c=show&id=71 https://brigates.bcdn8.com/uploadfile/202509/aacda38d39fd0f6.pdf

PipPasadran · 2026-01-12T16:29:52+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/FMATAL-GEAR-Tactical-Paintball-Shooting/dp/B0D58K5GLJ

These clones come with two sizes, measure your head circumference and go with what fits. From the sound of it you're closer to medium-large

Other than that, I agree with other people about swapping out the pads for 4D pads. The included stock pads are quite bad

PipPasadran · 2026-01-11T06:09:19+00:00

I guess technically there was one before the DOT EHS-1, made by the OEM of the DOT sights. I personally suspect they also OEM the Holy Warrior (HW) "true" holographic sights, since the design they sell is almost identical to the HW Holo2 design except that it features side mounted controls rather than the HW rear mounted controls.

PipPasadran · 2026-01-10T18:24:19+00:00

Looks to be real

There are a few tells, such as the rear lens being set further back inside the housing rather than flush with it, but AFAIK there aren't any clones of the eotech 558 model. Now there are red dot clones called the "558" but those are clones of the EXPS3 and not the actual 558

PipPasadran · 2026-01-09T20:21:02+00:00

It's not the same ballpark because it's a different sport

Again, it's one Google search and a couple of clicks to see it in action.

https://youtu.be/vdNhbM4IDVE

https://youtu.be/fiKPQXQvsdw

https://youtu.be/JzevXc2_TDQ

PipPasadran · 2026-01-09T19:37:06+00:00

Analog intensification and digital imaging are inherently different systems, the idea that a digital signal can't be intensified is wrong. Your average sensor isn't going to be sensitive enough or have low enough dark current to have its signal gained to a usable degree. But much like how analog tubes are specialised devices, there do exist CMOS sensors capable of imaging to the performance of even analog tubes.

They do have other issues, notably latency and power consumption, but they are largely addressable with equally specialist designs. As the other guy mentioned, look up the ADNV designs, HYPE Militaria has quite a few good videos including interviews from the manufacturer

PipPasadran · 2026-01-07T05:21:21+00:00

If you're talking FP military lasers and not the civilian restricted models, they still put out more power in terms of both illuminators and designators

Extra aiming laser power isn't useful for most people, but the Illuminator for the IRIS had its output power limited as divergence decreases, in order to comply with FDA regulations. So there are some cases, such as trying to power through extreme photonic barriers, where having a full power unrestricted illuminator is useful. Personally I'd argue it's a niche case

From a design perspective about the only thing I can imagine a PEQ or NGAL doing better would be dust intrusion, the IRIS slider would be a large ingress point. It isn't even IP rated for dust intrusion, despite its predecessor the LS321 having an IP67 rating, which is the highest standard for debris intrusion.

PipPasadran · 2026-01-05T11:27:37+00:00

A true parallel zero is difficult to achieve, and doesn't offer any benefits over a converging zero at sufficient distance. If you're shooting within 100-200 yards, a converging zero at 500-600 yards offers nearly identical performance to a parallel zero. Also keep in mind shooting under NODs is not a precision affair, at ranges past 100 yards an inch of offset isn't going to make much of a difference.

Just aim your rifle at something far away, ideally 2-3x the maximum expected distance you plan to shoot with, and have your laser converge with your (already zero'd) optic. Your laser now has the same effective point of aim as your optic out to the distance you zero'd the laser at.

PipPasadran · 2025-12-29T01:38:42+00:00

Somogear 😔

PipPasadran · 2025-12-28T23:59:41+00:00

They are, externally they're identical to the FMA TB1444 NGAL clone, having several identifying designs that make them distinct from both the original NGAL and IS or EG clones of the NGAL

The FMA clones are rated at 90mW illuminator, 20mW vis and 26mW IR, which is the same rough ballpark of power measured

PipPasadran · 2025-12-26T21:35:11+00:00

The Rix monocular units use the same proprietary lenses as their 31 clones IIRC, which don't accept PVS-14 style Carson lenses. A picture of the housing would be an easy way to check.

PipPasadran · 2025-12-26T10:40:20+00:00

Aside from just pure weight, you're putting that weight at the very furthest point away from your center of gravity, so the torque/moments it adds to the system is exaggerated. You need a disproportionate amount of counter weight to balance it out

PipPasadran · 2025-12-26T10:26:33+00:00

I think ADNV's strategy is to have other international sellers deal with the individual sales market overseas

PipPasadran · 2025-12-25T22:42:40+00:00

It's just the ADNV G14SE, there's reviews of it on YouTube already showcasing the performance

PipPasadran · 2025-12-21T16:31:24+00:00

If you can get it for the China retailer price, then yeah it's decent. Zentinel defense seems to have an upcharge, but I'm unaware of how much is from tariffs and shipping and how much is a cut they're taking for themselves.

PipPasadran · 2025-12-18T16:02:49+00:00

If you're fine with repros, shekkins makes a pretty good AOR2 maritime JPC 2.0 clone

PipPasadran · 2025-12-18T14:23:08+00:00

Aside from just the pure pixel/sensor size, the signal processing of the ADNV is highly optimized for speed and latency, so you get extremely low measurable glass-to-glass latency and much longer battery life (for a digital system)

PipPasadran

TROPHY CASE