Bond’s best gadget in the Monaco sequence is a monocular that doubles as a camera. From a vantage point at Theatre Fort Antoine he watches Xenia Onatopp and Admiral Chuck Farrel arrive at the Yacht Club de Monaco, and the Pysis night vision digital monocular lets him take their picture. It is a Q-Branch idea in a real object, and the Pysis night vision monocular is the kind of period piece collectors still look for.
In the film
Pierce Brosnan’s Bond uses the MI6-issued digital camera and monocular to photograph Xenia and Admiral Farrel as they reach the Yacht Club de Monaco. Sources describe it as a Pysis night vision digital monocular, and the auction house Ewbank’s sold one described as seen in GoldenEye in October 2021. The identification comes from a secondary source but is rated high confidence.
The details
A camera as well as a monocular. In the film it takes photographs of the arrivals, which is what makes it more than a pair of binoculars.
Not made today. We found no maker page or current listing for the Pysis in our research, so we treat it as out of production. It reaches the market through auctions and collectors’ sales.
The modern equivalent. Digital night vision has moved on. A 2026 buying guide describes a current digital monocular with a 320×320 display, true 1x magnification, an infrared illuminator and photo and video recording for US$249.95. That is a different product, but it shows how far the idea has come.
Owning it now
As a collector’s object, a Pysis monocular sits on a desk or shelf as a small piece of the film’s technology. Because it is an old electronic device, ask any seller whether it works, whether the batteries or power arrangement are intact and whether the lens is clear. Do not assume a display unit functions.
If what you want is the capability, a current digital night vision monocular will do more. Check local rules on where night vision equipment can be used, and choose one with true 1x magnification if you plan to walk with it.
We would keep the original as an object and buy a modern unit for use.
Specifications
| Maker | Pysis |
|---|---|
| Type | Digital night vision monocular with camera function (as shown in the film) |
| Film use | Photographing Xenia Onatopp and Admiral Farrel in Monaco |
| Auction record | Ewbank’s, October 2021, lot 1109 |
| Status | Out of production; found second-hand |
Questions
What does Bond use to take photographs in Monaco in GoldenEye?
A Pysis night vision digital monocular, issued by MI6, which also acts as a camera.
Can you still buy a Pysis monocular?
Not new, as far as our research shows. Examples appear at auction and on second-hand sites.
Is there a modern equivalent?
Yes. Digital night vision monoculars with photo and video recording are widely sold, starting at a few hundred dollars.
See more of the film on the GoldenEye page, Brosnan’s era in Pierce Brosnan’s Bond, or browse gadgets and electronics.
