Ruggedized digital low-light viewing device

A handheld digital low-light viewing device comprising:

• a protective housing having a first end and an opposing second end, said first end defining an optical input aperture and said second end defining an optical output aperture;
• said protective housing contoured to a user's hand, said housing containing:
• an infra-red camera assembly responsive to low intensity light and infra red energy received via said input aperture for generating an output image;
• a signal processor coupled to said camera assembly for processing said output image;
• a display assembly coupled to said camera assembly for displaying the processed image via said output aperture to a viewer;
• a zoom lens assembly coupled to said camera assembly for electronically variably focusing said output image;
• and
• control electronics responsive to a plurality of user-activatable switches disposed on a top surface of said housing and co-located within a region of said housing accessible via a single digit of a user during viewing via said device for controlling operating functions of said digital low-light viewing device.