Why is the topic of optics and light so confusing?????

[msinc]

Reading threads that discuss these topics all seem to have the same problem...everyone wants to contradict everyone else by saying the same thing better or just differently. There is always this big play of words {or lack of using the "best" ones}. It really seems like there is more of a problem with the English language than there is with debating an optical or light related question. The subject of light is confusing enough, but we always have to complicate it further by seeing how many different ways we can describe what is happening.
In example; While discussing camouflage and how animals visually perceive things I was asked what color my house was...when I said it's gray the person, a former professor at UMD said, "no, your house is not gray, the light that you see reflected off your house is seen as gray by your eyes!!!, You believe it is gray because that is the way your eyes perceive the light that is being reflected."
I am sure he is correct, but no one references it this "most correct of ways" any other time...I mean, when was the last time you heard somebody walk in to a paint store and say, "I need paint that will cause the light reflecting off my house to trick my eyes into believing and seeing it as gray....." Doesn't every one of us just say "gimme some gray paint"??? Nobody has to correct this guy for asking....
The only thing I can figure is that it made him feel better to "inform" me how wrong I have been all these years!!! I think he is correct and it can be an interesting way to look at it, but again, at the end of the day who really cares???
I see the same thing in these threads...I guess my question is, if the end result is the same and we all agree for example that when you look thru high quality optics and see way better than you ever could without them, does it really matter if it "gathers" or "delivers" or wait, still another way to say it is "transmits" how about "main lines" or "funnels" or any other way you can say "lets you see better"???

 

[swd]

Subjectivity, brand loyalty and ego seem to make as much difference as the glass itself.

 

[pacificman]

Different strokes for different folks....LOL
or I should say different "scopes" for different folks!!!....

 

[Mozella]

With all due respect, your problem is not one of color vision or optics. Your main problem seems to be that you engaged a college professor in polite conversation. Don't do that again and you will lead a more pleasant life.

 

[Bart B.]

With all do respect, your problem is not one of color vision or optics. Your main problem seems to be that you engaged a college professor in polite conversation. Don't do that again and you will lead a more pleasant life.

Surely, you jest. Learn how to pick the right one to converse with and you'll be smarter and more appreciative of their easily understood information. Ask them what they think of the masses that cannot ask good questions nor understand the simplest answers.

Meanwhile, the hitch in the optical get-along for many is we cannot see the light ray's paths through lenses and therefore hard to comprehend. Some diagrams trying to show how light rays go through lenses are backwards. The inverse square laws of image brightness falloff for a given lens diameter as focal length increases always applies but is not universally understood. Most know how to calculate scope exit pupil size, few how to calculate magnification and light falloff. Then there's the issue of reality versus beliefs that if different are hard to resolve to facts due to several reasons.

 

[msinc]

Subjectivity, brand loyalty and ego seem to make as much difference as the glass itself.

This seems like it is never more true than with optics, especially scopes. What makes it so bad is that the prices of "best" quality optics really raises the levels of brand loyalty. Nobody would care what others said/thought about their scope if they hadn't paid so dearly for it....
I have come to believe that, optics being as complicated as they are, the simplest way to do it is just to accept the fact that "if it's heavy and high priced it must be good and that's the one you want."

Different strokes for different folks....LOL
or I should say different "scopes" for different folks!!!....

I used to hunt with a guy back in the early 80's that saved his money and bought his "dream rifle" a Weatherby Mark 5 in 270WHM...after that purchase, he couldn't afford the scope he wanted, so in order to hunt with the rifle he put a Tasco 3-9X40 on it.
Not only did it get him in the woods, it held zero perfectly and he got his deer and bear every year. He hunted with it for 20 some odd years and finally sold the thing. Has regretted it ever since. If it works...whatever gets you thru the night.

Surely, you jest. Learn how to pick the right one to converse with and you'll be smarter and more appreciative of their easily understood information. Ask them what they think of the masses that cannot ask good questions nor understand the simplest answers.

Meanwhile, the hitch in the optical get-along for many is we cannot see the light ray's paths through lenses and therefore hard to comprehend. Some diagrams trying to show how light rays go through lenses are backwards. The inverse square laws of image brightness falloff for a given lens diameter as focal length increases always applies but is not universally understood. Most know how to calculate scope exit pupil size, few how to calculate magnification and light falloff. Then there's the issue of reality versus beliefs that if different are hard to resolve to facts due to several reasons.

I agree, I want to learn as much as I can. I think mozella might be referring to a character that has been barred from every forum on the web...we all lead a more pleasant life now that that jerk is gone.
I also believe that light and optics are tough to comprehend and resolve. Industry terms don't always help either...one of my "favorites" is twilight factor....which is supposed to help us understand the optics performance or ability in low light conditions. My 10X42 binos have a twilight factor of 20.5, while my 8X42's are 18.3. There is zero issue that I can see better at dusk/dawn times {image delivery to my eyes??? is it safe to go ahead and call it that???} and with more resolution {i.e., ability to count points on antlers}using the 8X42's hands down.
Why do they have to complicate things further???

 

[Sniper338]

OP, You got way too much time on your hands to let that bother you and make a post about it lol!

 

[msinc]

OP, You got way too much time on your hands to let that bother you and make a post about it lol!

I think you have me confused with someone else....please don't be confused, the arguing that goes on here over optics word games and such absolutely does not bother me at all....even if they meet someplace and kill each other. I am more amazed that there is no better "common ground" when this topic of the "handling of light by glass" comes up. I mean, don't dare use the word "gather"...scopes cannot do that {how many times have we read that???} but they sure don't disperse light to cause me to see better either!!!!

 

[Bart B.]

There's three standards for twilight in the USA; pick one you like or make up your own:

https://www.weather.gov/fsd/twilight