The human eye as a reference
Low light level imaging - Fundamentals

The human eye connected to the brain is an astonishing sensor which, in many respects, has not yet been completely superseded by the technological devices discussed in the article [E 6 571] . Its miniaturization and association with the human brain are remarkable. Nevertheless, optical and sensor technologies have made it possible to surpass the performance of our eyes in several respects. We propose here to summarize its essential features, and compare them with the characteristics of the components proposed for night vision, in order to appreciate the benefits and handicaps to vision that they bring. And let's not forget that, with night vision devices, it's our eyes that will appreciate the image rendered on a screen.

Firstly, the pupil is variable in size (figure