AB RVM14 vs. Nocturn Talon - Which Modern Night Vision Monocular for You?

As always, the following article was written by a human subject matter expert. We will never use AI to produce educational content here.

The year is 2026, and the PVS-14 is finally dead. Once we sell our remaining stock of PVS14 monoculars here at Apollo Gear, we won't be purposefully putting more of them up on our website for sale. Why? Because there are now multiple night vision monoculars that are better in every measurable way, without requiring a cost premium, and are fully made in the United States. The decision to not get a PVS14 has never been easier. 

Here at Apollo Gear, there are two specific night vision monoculars which we now have field tested and approved for build and sale to our customers. These are the RVM-14 made by AB Night Vision, and the UNVM Talon (or just "Talon") made by Nocturn Industries. For many buyers, it might not be clear the relevant differences between these two or why you might opt for one versus the other. So in this article, we're giving our opinion for you to consider. 

Below, we'll detail how each of these options is different from the PVS-14 - the most well known night vision monocular in the world - as well as how each are different from one another.

The RVM-14

Launched in late 2024, the "Ruggedized Night vision Monocular" takes what AB Night VIsion does best - machined 7075 aluminum night vision housings - and applies it to a monocular for the first time. Unlike the PVS14, the RVM-14 is, naturally, made of all 7075 aluminum. It does use the same "PVS-14 format" optical lenses, however, which are not aluminum, so we can't say a complete device is entirely aluminum. Still, the aluminum upper housing and lower battery compartment add significant impact resistance to the overall system. 

Of course, this means the RVM-14 has to be heavier than a PVS-14 right (since it's metal)? Amazingly, no, the RVM-14 is actually 2 ounces lighter than a PVS-14, even though the RVM is aluminum and the PVS14 is made of reinforced polymer. The RVM-14 will weigh about 10.5oz completed, while a PVS-14 will weigh about 12.5oz. 

Ok, so to be lighter than a PVS-14, it must not have all the same features and capabilities then right? Wrong again. The RVM-14 still features an onboard infrared illuminator (activated by a shrouded push button) and also manual gain control with standard 11769 format intensifiers.

Unlike the PVS-14, though, the RVM-14 utilizes a CR123 battery which extends its useful battery life to 'up to 50 hours.' We don't really like to emphasize this too much since battery life is always overstated, plus the PVS-14 AA power already lasts plenty long so adding more battery life isn't that big of a difference maker. 

Finally, the RVM-14 features two different attachment points for connecting arms to mount it to a helmet. It has the standard PVS-14 J-arm interface allowing compatibility with typical aftermarket J-arms, but it also has a second machined-in interface reminiscent of a micro-ARCA style attachment, which allows a more consistent mechanical lockup, as well as orienting the battery compartment straight down when utilized instead of pushing the battery to one side. 

To summarize the RVM-14, it's like a tougher, lighter PVS-14 that uses a CR123 battery instead of AA. But not only that, the RVM-14 is made entirely in the U.S.A. and also has a lifetime warranty.

The Talon

The Talon is the replacement for Nocturn's Tanto monocular platform, and offers major improvements by comparison. The Talon was released earlier in 2026 and is made in the United States by Nocturn Industries. 

The Talon is slightly more directly comparable to a classic PVS-14, because it is also is a reinforced molded polymer constructed mono device that uses 11769 format intensifier tubes. However, that's where the similarities end. The Talon is arguably the most advanced night vision monocular platform in the world, and the first polymer aftermarket monocular we have ever offered at Apollo Gear. 

Like the RVM-14, the Talon switches power to a CR123 battery, and also cuts out a lot of weight compared to a PVS-14. The Talon is the lightest "fully featured" monocular we're aware of, weighing just 9.7oz as a complete device using milspec PVS-14 style lenses. 

The Talon is controlled entirely from one knob which also acts as a button. 

Besides it's much lighter weight, the Talon really starts to differentiate itself from a PVS-14 when it comes to integrated technology. Perhaps most significantly, the Talon allows for an automatic shutoff feature when using an articulating J-arm such as the Noisefighters MAX-14. Using an arm with an articulating joint allows you to rotate the device up out of your field of view without actually using the night vision mount to stow the device all the way up. Articulating binocular devices famously use this same feature and most systems will cut power to the intensifier tube when they sense they are in this position - the Talon now is able to do the same. 

In addition to this auto-off feature that makes your articulating J-arm even more useful, the Talon features more advanced onboard IR illumination with adjustable brightness output. When the illuminator is on, you can actually rotate the control knob to adjust how bright or dim the illumination is. 

The Talon also notably will allow the use of European (Photonis) 3-pin format adjustable gain tubes, as well as standard 11769. Although this probably isn't super relevant for most, more 3-pin tubes have come into the U.S market over the last two years than ever before, and may continue to grow in availability as Photonis increasingly engages the U.S. market.

In summary, the Talon is much lighter than a PVS-14 while still retaining manual gain control and an onboard IR illuminator, but it also advances the monocular platform by adding additional features like auto shutoff and adjustable illuminator brightness. It does all this while also switching to a longer lasting CR123 battery. The Talon is made in the USA, uses standard PVS-14 format optical lenses, and has a lifetime warranty.

RVM14 or Talon: Which is the Right Choice for You?

Regardless of whether you get a Talon or an RVM-14, rest assured that either one of these new monocular offerings is a far better use of your money than just a PVS-14. And speaking of money, we've already mentioned all the benefits both have over the classic 14, but it's important to stress again that these improvements are available to you in the Talon and RVM-14 for no meaningful cost increase. Incredibly, both Nocturn and AB Night Vision have engineered these monoculars for what amounts to ~$100 or less difference against the standard Noctis milspec PVS-14 parts kit. 

Still, choosing one can be difficult. So here's some thoughts from us that might help. It comes down to what type of night vision user you are:

The user just shopping for a monocular device, and not treating the monocular as a possible part of a dual-bridged night vision system, is going to want to give the Talon serious consideration for its advanced end-user features that no other monocular offers. It might seem silly putting something like an auto shut-off feature on such a pedastal, but as serious users of night vision, we know just how handy this actually can be.

Most importantly, I think that this better enables a user of a monocular to effectively and safely drive some kind of vehicle. Binos are always going to be better for vehicle use, but if you're stuck having to use a monocular to drive a vehicle, in the event of rapidly changing lighting conditions while you're driving, you can always rely on your unaided eye. But with the Talon and an articulating arm, you can quickly flip your night vision mono out of view and know it's powered off, rather than all of the less than ideal alternatives.

Some of you may also be considering a monocular just as a standalone system to supplement your binoculars already. In this regard, the Talon might also be ideal because its physical footprint and weight, especially when combined with RPO lightweight lenses, is insanely easy to pack into your on-body kit. 

The user shopping for a monocular to be integrated into a bridged setup, the decision isn't super straightforward either, as both have benefits.

The RVM14 maintains its ruggedness advantage, but also the secondary dovetail system is a real winner in bridged systems, too. Allowing the battery compartments of one (or two) RVM14s to be oriented vertically instead of to one side or the other gives you greater IPD adjustability when used next to various thermal monoculars on either the left or right eye. In addition, using the device-specific bridge for dual RVM14s called the PanoBino from Noisefighters gives you an even lighter weight combination due to the proprietary mounting interface allowing for tiny mount arms. This mounting setup is why we choose the RVM-14 specifically for hybrid thermal/NV bridged setups.

The Talon might be worth considering for a dual-night vision monocular system for some users, however, because it will be the lightest possible when built with RPO 4.0 and it also gives the user the traditional articulating binocular benefit of an auto shutoff system. In this way, dual Talons on something like the Noisefighters PanoBridge M1 gives you gain control, wider field of view on demand, and auto shut off to each optic, much like traditional binos - but while remaining just as lightweight as the lightest binos, and giving you redundancy of two individual systems. 

In Closing

Both the RVM-14 and Talon represent the future of night vision monocular systems. The PVS-14 is no longer relevant, though it will surely live on thanks to the slow moving military industrial complex. Once again, companies like AB Night Vision and Nocturn Industries prove that private sector, commercial providers are the basis for innovation in the night vision world. No matter if you want a ruggedized monocular for hybrid use, or the lightest, most advanced monocular to pack with you for surveillance, these two options will take you significantly further than a traditional PVS-14.