Scope shade,should I use it or not

[Johnboy]

Hey guys its just as the title says,I ask for I have never used one before.My setup is a Vortex Viper 6-24x50mm ( illuminated ) and its a dual purpose scope.I put a lot of thought into buying the scope and it fits the bill really well I might say.The question in hand is should I use the sun shade or not while hunting.The land I hunt is a really large open place,and I am in the south end of the field with a 1000 yards of open space in front of me.I mostly hunt in the afternoon,but when I can make myself get up I'll hunt in the morning.The range I use is pretty much the same as my hunting area with the table in the south end of the field.So if you all would so kindly help me out I would love to hear what you offer me to do.

 

[Centerfire]

Does the sun cause you a problem?
If so use the shade.
Another choice is the black plastic piece with the hex holes from Sinclair that helps with the sun.
Centerfire

 

[timeout]

If you aren't dragging the rifle through the brush, there is no reason to not use it. Pretty hard to screw it on when the quarry is on the move and you all of a sudden need it. Another thing is they will protect the glass from rain to some extent. Now if deer drives through a jungle are your thing, forget the sunshade.

 

[CatShooter]

Another choice is the black plastic piece with the hex holes from Sinclair that helps with the sun.
Centerfire

Those will degrade the image so much, you will turn a $800 scope, into a $29.95 BSA. I have three that I would love to sell.

 

[Johnboy]

Hey thanks for the post guys I will looking into the honey cone looking things but not sure about them.The area again is a really wide open space and the sun is either from my right or left just depends on the time of day.When entering the field its just a nice little walk to the ground blind,so I see nothing keeping me from using it.I really hate walking through the woods spiders like to hang webs and I always find them.( I hate spiders ) This too is said for I know that my bigger bucks live in the woods that I hate to walk through.Any more hunters/shooters with advice for me.

thanks,John

 

[artbosco]

Hey guys its just as the title says, I ask for I have never used one before.

Not recommended. It traps heat inside and may add to any Mirage already present. They're a thing of the past.

 

[BoydAllen]

If the sun is shining into the front of your scope, then you can use the shortest one that will shade the objective to good effect. If the sun is not hitting the front lens, there will be nothing to be gained.

 

[Johnboy]

Well put Mr.BoydAlleno to this is what I was thinking,but as said I have never had as nice of scope that came with one to use if needed.I will even add that after reading your post and thinking about my situation I don't think I'll need it.In the afternoons the sun doesn't bother me and in the morning it doesn't bother me.The only thing that bothers me is that its always getting to dark for me or already to dark for me to shoot.I know I have the illumination part of the scope but I can say you still have to be able to see what its needed for.

thanks again,John

 

[timeout]

Hey guys its just as the title says, I ask for I have never used one before.

Not recommended. It traps heat inside and may add to any Mirage already present. They're a thing of the past.

I guess I am just "so yesterday". I use them as needed and like them.

 

[GSPV]

Remember that if you are in an event with a weight limit, that anything attached to your rifle, mirage shade, sun glare shade, etc. is part of the rifle for the purposes of the weight limit.

Anything that is not attached to your rifle, like a small umbrella or whatever on the bench, does not count toward the weight limit.

FWIW

 

[dickn52]

Another choice is the black plastic piece with the hex holes from Sinclair that helps with the sun.
Centerfire

Those will degrade the image so much, you will turn a $800 scope, into a $29.95 BSA. I have three that I would love to sell.

They were designed to stop reflections for countersniper shooting. Nothing else.

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi Johnboy hi all

John,your question would be better answered by a photographer mate...He'd tell you that whenever possible,with any kind of lenses,and especially if you intend to get the best out of your optics,parasite light has to be avoided if you want your images crisp,sharp,contrasted and clear.So,as an exphotographer myself,I'll advise for the use of it,anytime,the extra weight of the shade being negligible,so take my word,screw it in and leave it there. Make sure when you have to clean your lenses(front and back)to apply the good procedure and good tools(check Nikon site for this),don't use your handkerchief...Hope it helps.

 

[Raythemanroe]

You could always carry a Camera filter (screw in lens). I tried one on my Sightron because the 62mm filters fit perfectly! There cheap and protect your lens and you can just trash them if you scratch them.

 

[K22]

Another choice is the black plastic piece with the hex holes from Sinclair that helps with the sun.
Centerfire

Those will degrade the image so much, you will turn a $800 scope, into a $29.95 BSA. I have three that I would love to sell.

I've had the same experience with those - the one I have is sitting in the closet.

I'm a serious varmint hunter and I have sun shades on all my varmint rifles to help mitigate sun glare on the objective lens of the scope.

 

[jimbires]

I take mine off in low light conditions . this seems to help the scope gather light .

 

[Yetiman]

Hi Johnboy hi all

John,your question would be better answered by a photographer mate...He'd tell you that whenever possible,with any kind of lenses,and especially if you intend to get the best out of your optics,parasite light has to be avoided if you want your images crisp,sharp,contrasted and clear. So,as a photographer myself,I'll advise for the use of it, anytime the extra weight of the shade being negligible,so take my word,screw it in and leave it there. Make sure when you have to clean your lenses(front and back)to apply the good procedure and good tools(check Nikon site for this),don't use your handkerchief...Hope it helps.

This is pretty much Exactly what I was going to write.
As far as image quality There is no real reason NOT to use one, only good reasons to leave it on.
And if your dragging your rifle through heavy brush, it is more likely to add protection for the expensive and crucial front element.
It also will only improve image quality (which it does more than most people realize), unlike a UV filter which will only degrade image quality.

There are many aberrations that will effect image quality caused by stray light, reflections and glare getting into a scope. 'Lens Flare' is the most obvious of these, but there are many other less obvious effects also.
These light sources are not just the sun, but bright backgrounds, reflected light from a pond or other surfaces.

A good hood will eliminate most of this. You only want the light from your image field of view to enter the scope. Everything else is just 'noise' and will bounce around inside the scope and degrade the image.

There is a reason Canon, Nikon and other top quality camera lens (and scope) makers include the hoods with their most expensive lenses. They, and the people who buy these products know to use them and demand them.

 

[expiper]

welllll naturally I would have a bak-woods answer,,,,,most Benchrest shooters would say ,,,the picture clarity is not near as important as NOT jerking the guts out of the front end of the scope when recoil/inertia yanks that "weight" foreward ,,,that shuld not be attatched to the front lens,,,Roger

 

[people]

Another choice is the black plastic piece with the hex holes from Sinclair that helps with the sun.
Centerfire

Those will degrade the image so much, you will turn a $800 scope, into a $29.95 BSA. I have three that I would love to sell.

Those Anti-Reflection Devices ARD’s are nice when using your scope on higher powers. When set at 15 and above I can tell they are there but it does not have enough of an affect for me. Most of my shooting is done when the sun is next to or touching the horizon.

They are the equivalent of a 7inch sun shade or so depending on model.

The drawbacks.

At low power you can see the honey comb pattern.
They block light.
In low light (read at the end of the ½ hour after sundown) they block so much light you might not be able to see a target.

CatShooter if you are looking to get rid of your extra ARD’s I have some scopes that could use them and I also have a couple friends who might want them.

 

[Johnboy]

Guys I really thank ya'll for all of your answer.I'll be out this Friday and Saturday hunting,so I'll be sure to have it on to see what happens.As said before I hunt open fields not the woods,so using it should be the way to go from most of your answers.I'll keep checking for more post but till then I am using it to see for myself first hand if I want to use it all the time.Plus I'll let you guys know to what I think.I thank each and everyone who replied to my post.A site like this no this site has pointed me too many times in the right direction I owe to many debts back........thanks John

 

[BoydAllen]

I suggest that when you go hunting, that you try it both ways, under a variety of conditions, and report back as to your findings.