Color Lens for Scope?

[chkunz]

I have read where folks report an improvement in resolution by using a color lens in their shooting glasses when shooting a scope (Ref Precision Shooting Magazine, July 1997, Shooting in Monochrome. Leupold also offers color filters that go in front of the objective lens. I would like to hear from folks who have tired this.

 

[BoydAllen]

White light's component wavelengths focus in slightly different planes in your eye. Blocking blue light removes the circles of confusion that slightly blur the images that we see. That is why "blue blockers" could claim that their lenses improved sharpness. You can see a similar effect if you wear yellow or light orange shooting glasses. The down side is that images are darkened slightly, depending on the density of the filter.

 

[FatBoy]

Clyde,

I settled on a medium target orange in my Decots. I tried a shade darker and a shade lighter and like the medium. The orange darkens the black of the target and doesn't affect the white much at all so the contrast is better. I generally shoot a clear lens (or no lens) with a scope but I found the last couple times out the colored lens helps with a scope.

Chris

 

[chkunz]

White light's component wavelengths focus in slightly different planes in your eye. Blocking blue light removes the circles of confusion that slightly blur the images that we see. That is why "blue blockers" could claim that their lenses improved sharpness. You can see a similar effect if you wear yellow or light orange shooting glasses. The down side is that images are darkened slightly, depending on the density of the filter.

Boyd, thanks for the response. The Precision Shooting magazine article explains how filtering out the blue (as you state) and the red improve resolution. it does not mention the down side of darkening the images as you state but there is no doubt that it does reduce the amount of light entering the eye and that is a trade off that may be worthwhile for some folks in some light conditions. Have you tried using color filters with a scope?

 

[chkunz]

Clyde,

I settled on a medium target orange in my Decots. I tried a shade darker and a shade lighter and like the medium. The orange darkens the black of the target and doesn't affect the white much at all so the contrast is better. I generally shoot a clear lens (or no lens) with a scope but I found the last couple times out the colored lens helps with a scope.

Chris

Good input, that is what I am looking for actual experience. I would be interested in what you learn as you get more experience. When I talked to Decot many years ago about the use of color for iron sights they recommended the medium gold color and that is what I am working with. I have been using the medium gold with the M14 iron sights for a long time now and think that it helps some in most conditions. It did not occur to me that there would be an advantage with the scope until I read the Precision Shooting magazine article recently so I am now trying the medium gold with the scope and it seems to help some, noting dramatic but I am looking for the experience of others. Thanks again for your input.

 

[JohnKielly]

If you are getting on a tad, you might find, as I did, that your eyes don't manage the diffraction of light from true parallel that dust & the like in the air cause. Mostly, I used to say that there was a lot of glare until I happened to shoot my iron sights while still wearing my polarized sunglasses. The difference was amazing.

The downside is that it becomes more difficult to spot mirage through a scope (spotting or rifle), but that was fine when I was shooting Palma style, as I had a non-polarised lens in my off eye, but it is an issue if you spot through your rifle scope shooting F class, as I do.

 

[chkunz]

If you are getting on a tad, you might find, as I did, that your eyes don't manage the diffraction of light from true parallel that dust & the like in the air cause. Mostly, I used to say that there was a lot of glare until I happened to shoot my iron sights while still wearing my polarized sunglasses. The difference was amazing.

The downside is that it becomes more difficult to spot mirage through a scope (spotting or rifle), but that was fine when I was shooting Palma style, as I had a non-polarised lens in my off eye, but it is an issue if you spot through your rifle scope shooting F class, as I do.

Well I am definitely "getting on a tad" and more so your comment is very helpful. Notice the name T-REX. Thanks for the response.

 

[BoydAllen]

Yes I have, as glasses and by holding up camera filters. With a 36x scope there is not much brightness to spare. I played with a red filter that was too dark, a circular polarizing filter that had the same problem, and a medium orange filter that was also darker than I liked. My judgement was probably heavily influenced by the fact that I was wearing self darkening prescription lenses, Photogray, not the darkest, but dark enough that in effect I was doubling up. If I had wanted to do the test without them, and take the time to adjust my scope, I could have removed my glasses (since I would only be looking and not shooting) and readjusted the scope so that the image was sharp.

The last time that I got some new glasses, I had plastic lenses made for the old frames (gold frames with large lenses), that had some life left in them. When I picked them up, they were very high contrast yellow. I did not want something that would make me squint on a bright day, so she took them in the back room and briefly dipped the lenses in red dye, producing a gold tint when combined with the yellow.That is very good. It is light enough that I can wear them at night, and during those low contrast winter days, when the sky is completely overcast, with intermittent fog, the improvement in contrast, sharpness, and depth perception is remarkable. The same things apply whether driving or shooting. Generally, my vision is sharp enough (20/15 corrected) and my scopes of high enough quality that I do not go looking for ways to sharpen things up. If I was, I would probably just wear my gold tinted glasses, which probably approximate the old blue blockers.

 

[chkunz]

Yes I have, as glasses and by holding up camera filters. With a 36x scope there is not much brightness to spare. I played with a red filter that was too dark, a circular polarizing filter that had the same problem, and a medium orange filter that was also darker than I liked. My judgement was probably heavily influenced by the fact that I was wearing self darkening prescription lenses, Photogray, not the darkest, but dark enough that in effect I was doubling up. If I had wanted to do the test without them, and take the time to adjust my scope, I could have removed my glasses (since I would only be looking and not shooting) and readjusted the scope so that the image was sharp.

The last time that I got some new glasses, I had plastic lenses made for the old frames (gold frames with large lenses), that had some life left in them. When I picked them up, they were very high contrast yellow. I did not want something that would make me squint on a bright day, so she took them in the back room and briefly dipped the lenses in red dye, producing a gold tint when combined with the yellow.That is very good. It is light enough that I can wear them at night, and during those low contrast winter days, when the sky is completely overcast, with intermittent fog, the improvement in contrast, sharpness, and depth perception is remarkable. The same things apply whether driving or shooting. Generally, my vision is sharp enough (20/15 corrected) and my scopes of high enough quality that I do not go looking for ways to sharpen things up. If I was, I would probably just wear my gold tinted glasses, which probably approximate the old blue blockers.

Great information, thanks Boyd.

 

[Outrider27]

I had an adventurous optometrist (she was not a shooter, but had a very good sense of what I was trying to accomplish) who made me a pair of continuously variable lenses (I essentially needed trifocals for iron sites) colored as Boyd described, with the same results as he had. To this day, they are the most versatile general use glasses and shooting glasses I have ever had; time to get the lenses replaced to update to my current prescription.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

You can get filters in any color you want from any camera shop of E-tailer such as Amazon. I have used filters in my camera work for decades and they can produce some dramatic effects in B&W photography. Yellow filters, red filters, etc. Polarized filters will change any scene with blue sky and clouds into something coming from a travel magazine.

That said, I have been playing with a few color filters on my riflescope. The brand is irrelevant, all you need to know is the filter size of the rifle scope and you can go online or stop by the local store and get one. I will put out this warning though; filters can be had for very little money but beware the cheap stuff. I have heard of people having a cheap filter break while mounted of a rifle scope. Get one that's solid and make sure you tighten it well on the riflescope. Use the old photographer trick of wrapping the camera strap around the filter to tighten/loosen.

Filters are another piece of glass on the scope and they will have an effect on the light transmission, reducing it anywhere from a fraction of a stop to 2 stops or more, depending on the tint. You also should look for fully multi-coated filters to reduce light transmission loss.

Look for brands like Tiffen, Nikon, Hoya, Vivitar. There are others.

Filters also have the additional benefit of preserving the objective lens against mishaps. I have a UV filter on all my camera lenses as well as my Kowa and Nikon spotters. I would rather replace a $20 to $100 filter than the objective lens. My riflescope all wear their sunshades at all times.

So far my experience has been that a yellow filter makes the mirage more discernible to my eye. There are various shades of yellow and I was using a #11. I have been meaning to try out other shades and tints, I just haven't got to it yet.

 

[chkunz]

You can get filters in any color you want from any camera shop of E-tailer such as Amazon. I have used filters in my camera work for decades and they can produce some dramatic effects in B&W photography. Yellow filters, red filters, etc. Polarized filters will change any scene with blue sky and clouds into something coming from a travel magazine.

That said, I have been playing with a few color filters on my riflescope. The brand is irrelevant, all you need to know is the filter size of the rifle scope and you can go online or stop by the local store and get one. I will put out this warning though; filters can be had for very little money but beware the cheap stuff. I have heard of people having a cheap filter break while mounted of a rifle scope. Get one that's solid and make sure you tighten it well on the riflescope. Use the old photographer trick of wrapping the camera strap around the filter to tighten/loosen.

Filters are another piece of glass on the scope and they will have an effect on the light transmission, reducing it anywhere from a fraction of a stop to 2 stops or more, depending on the tint. You also should look for fully multi-coated filters to reduce light transmission loss.

Look for brands like Tiffen, Nikon, Hoya, Vivitar. There are others.

Filters also have the additional benefit of preserving the objective lens against mishaps. I have a UV filter on all my camera lenses as well as my Kowa and Nikon spotters. I would rather replace a $20 to $100 filter than the objective lens. My riflescope all wear their sunshades at all times.

So far my experience has been that a yellow filter makes the mirage more discernible to my eye. There are various shades of yellow and I was using a #11. I have been meaning to try out other shades and tints, I just haven't got to it yet.

Great info, thanks.

 

[FatBoy]

Got my new lens today. Now i'm thinking or ordering a gold lens to see if it helps at ORSA in the morning. This thread is going to cost me money.....

 

[chkunz]

Got my new lens today. Now i'm thinking or ordering a gold lens to see if it helps at ORSA in the morning. This thread is going to cost me money.....

I have a pair of Decot glasses with medium gold with no correction if you would like to look thru them. I will be at AEDC Sunday July 26.

 

[FatBoy]

I'M on call this weekend but i'll take you up on it when I can make it out.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

There is a laser filter for Leupold scopes for military use that creates some interesting effects. I will say it degrades slightly on the image despite their best efforts for it not to. However for some reason the image is much less intense on vision when looking through the scope all day at a training event, at least for me, and it made movement stand out for whatever reason.