Lens color for contrast enhancement?

[RickT]

Our practice bay has a very challenging background during our morning practices: bright sandy (tan) background with no direct sunlight on the targets.  I've been experimenting with different lens colors (Rudy Project) and see some improvement in contrast with different colors, but I wonder what others might be using with this sort of background.  The color "tan" has a large red component which would point to green as a preferred lens color.  All comments and observations are welcome.   Unpainted targets tend to be more visible under these challenging conditions.

 

Our late afternoon 4 stage matches are even tougher with the bays arranged somewhat in a spoke at several different angles with very different target/background illumination.

 

I'll just also note that when I'm shooting PCCO the color shift in the optic doesn't necessary help, but the left eye is unobstructed which helps a bit. 

 

[nso123]

I went from Oakley Prizm lenses to Hunters HD Gold and will never look back. The Hunters lenses provide excellent contrast in every shooting situation I have experienced, including fog, sun, rain, snow, shadows, and combinations of those.  The price of admission can appear high, but they are well worth it in my opinion. 

[EarlKeese]

I wear Hunter's HD Gold as well. I demoed a pair at the Alabama state match last year. They worked so well, I was halfway to my truck after the match before I remembered I still had them on. Very sharp contrast, and lighting conditions look the same all day while wearing them. Great company to deal with, worth the price of admission. 

[Tampa-XD45]

Another vote for Hunter's Gold.  Brian is a top supporter of USPSA & Steel matches.  You can demo a pair if you stop by one of the many matches he goes to:

https://huntershdgold.com/scheduled-events

[conditionone]

Rudy Laser Red

[Nimitz]

yep, Hunters Gold.  They are photocromatic and change with conditions.  no more changing glasses as conditions change

[Hammer002]

HuntersHDGold

[RickT]

The Hunters HD Gold is intriguing and I'll keep that in mind, but changing platforms (with prescription needs) away from Rudy Project get's pretty pricey.  I've ordered different inserts (iron sights and distance) and Laser Red photochromic for a try.  Yes, the inserts are a bit of a pain, but I've been using them for years and don't find a real performance impact.  I shot with a neutral photochromic in-lens for 2-3 years; the photochromic feature works fine, but the neutral transmission isn't right for steel challenge in general.

[Hammer002]

2 minutes ago, RickT said:

The Hunters HD Gold is intriguing and I'll keep that in mind, but changing platforms (with prescription needs) away from Rudy Project get's pretty pricey.  I've ordered different inserts (iron sights and distance) and Laser Red photochromic for a try.  Yes, the inserts are a bit of a pain, but I've been using them for years and don't find a real performance impact.  I shot with a neutral photochromic in-lens for 2-3 years; the photochromic feature works fine, but the neutral transmission isn't right for steel challenge in general.

 

Rick, give Brian a call at HuntersHD.  Hes a fantastic guy to deal with and he will make lenses for other glasses now.  He does a great job, maybe the best, with prescription.

[EarlKeese]

10 hours ago, RickT said:

The Hunters HD Gold is intriguing and I'll keep that in mind, but changing platforms (with prescription needs) away from Rudy Project get's pretty pricey.  I've ordered different inserts (iron sights and distance) and Laser Red photochromic for a try.  Yes, the inserts are a bit of a pain, but I've been using them for years and don't find a real performance impact.  I shot with a neutral photochromic in-lens for 2-3 years; the photochromic feature works fine, but the neutral transmission isn't right for steel challenge in general.

Whatever you do, don't demo a pair of HHDG's at a match then.

[RickT]

12 hours ago, EarlKeese said:

Whatever you do, don't demo a pair of HHDG's at a match then.

Little chance of that unfortunately.  Wife and I only shoot Tier 1 matches in Idaho

[Hammer002]

1 hour ago, RickT said:

Little chance of that unfortunately.  Wife and I only shoot Tier 1 matches in Idaho

 

If you call or email Brian, he will usually send you frames to try on.  It really is the best one out there. 

[RickT]

On 6/30/2020 at 8:34 AM, Hammer002 said:

 

If you call or email Brian, he will usually send you frames to try on.  It really is the best one out there. 

I have three frames on the way for trial.  Very impressed with their responsiveness. 

[terrapin]

I prefer amber for all my shooting Idaho. I tried a pair of light purple and my kids told me the glasses made me look like a seventies porn star... so that’s what I wear now.

How the heck do teenagers know what 70’s porn stars look like?


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[rooster mcbee]

Right now I'm using Oakley Prizm Field.  Enhances the white targets for me.  Also tried Oakley T22 and T45 prizm.  They work well too.

[George16]

Oakley Prizm. I also use an Oakley Photochromic lenses. It goes to max clear when it cloudy and darkens when it’s too bright and sunny.
 

I I just have make sure I flip my hat so the visor is on the back of my head or else it’ll clear up because it’s under the shade of my visor.

[EarlKeese]

14 hours ago, RickT said:

I have three frames on the way for trial.  Very impressed with their responsiveness. 

Unless there's been a change, the frames he sends for trial fit don't have the gold/photochromic lenses installed. Maybe that was because I'd already tried a pair at a match.

[RickT]

58 minutes ago, EarlKeese said:

Unless there's been a change, the frames he sends for trial fit don't have the gold/photochromic lenses installed. Maybe that was because I'd already tried a pair at a match.

That's fine either way.  The price is very reasonable and as much as I like Rudy Project I can't find a lens that does much of anything.  I can use my Rudy Project insert with clear lenses for indoors where even the best photochromic technologies won't get close to 100% transmission.

[Hammer002]

On ‎7‎/‎3‎/‎2020 at 3:19 PM, RickT said:

I have three frames on the way for trial.  Very impressed with their responsiveness. 

 

That's awesome.  Brian and his team are amazing to deal with.  I don't know which ones you got coming, but a couple things to consider - The more the lens is curved, the more it may take some getting used to if you have a script.  I usually just put them on when I drive to the match.  They will tell you this, but whichever you pick, they will ask you to mark where your pupils are with a permanent marker.  Though this can be done alone or with another person, I would highly suggest having an eye doctor or the person who fits glasses do this.  I have the gauge and like them very much.  The velocity are very nice too.  Get what you like.  As said above, the frames wont have the actual HD lens, but when you get them, you will love them. 

[RickT]

I do have IPD values on my prescriptions which should be more accurate than the "dot" method.  Since I've had cataract surgery on my dominant eye I shoot with (now) a 2.25 diopter monovision (right eye) prescription and distance monovision (left eye).  I can run my PCC with the right eye magnification or use my Rudy Project frames with distance inserts for that platform.  I'm also going to suggest that when Brian sends out sample frames he include a sample of the lens so buyers can evaluate the performance.

 

[Hammer002]

28 minutes ago, RickT said:

I do have IPD values on my prescriptions which should be more accurate than the "dot" method.  Since I've had cataract surgery on my dominant eye I shoot with (now) a 2.25 diopter monovision (right eye) prescription and distance monovision (left eye).  I can run my PCC with the right eye magnification or use my Rudy Project frames with distance inserts for that platform.  I'm also going to suggest that when Brian sends out sample frames he include a sample of the lens so buyers can evaluate the performance.

 

 

Well, hes been doing it a while and kinda has it figured out.  Thinking he pretty generous sending the frames.  The lens is the expensive part.  Let me know how that suggestion works out for ya.

[Texaspaul]

I have a question - does the Hunter gold create contrast or just highlight everything.  I have many different color of lenses from my sporting clays background that bring out the target color and dull the background. I have been having a discussion with Decot on Steel Challenge target white color and brown or green background. He suggested v-lite Rose color to highlight the white and dull the background, creating a contrast between the white and background thus making the target standout more. Going to give it a try.

[Hammer002]

9 minutes ago, Texaspaul said:

I have a question - does the Hunter gold create contrast or just highlight everything.  I have many different color of lenses from my sporting clays background that bring out the target color and dull the background. I have been having a discussion with Decot on Steel Challenge target white color and brown or green background. He suggested v-lite Rose color to highlight the white and dull the background, creating a contrast between the white and background thus making the target standout more. Going to give it a try.

wow. That’s a lot. Well, I can say my first impression was a feels like I could see around the plates. I dunno how to explain it.  There’s nothing like them. I don’t recall seeing much background when I shoot.

[Texaspaul]

What do you mean you could see around plates? So in other words it enhanced and intensified all you were looking at. You must have great focus.  The Gold LM 15 lens I have do the same thing.  When I am in the indoor range the Gold lens intensifies all the picture.  Which is Ok when you are not trying to pick out a specific white target on a range. What if you had glasses' tint to bring out the white target and dull what is around or behind the target. You would find the target faster and your sharp focus would be heightened. You want as much contrast between the white target and it's background and you want a lens color that bring out the white color not the greens or browns of the range berms.  The glasses I use for sporting clays actually intensifies the orange so you can see the moving target better against the sky and trees.  You can do the same for SC were the white becomes brighter against a dulled background. I do not want everything brighter just the white plates. I am old so I need as much help as I can get - LOL 

[Hammer002]

3 hours ago, Texaspaul said:

What do you mean you could see around plates? So in other words it enhanced and intensified all you were looking at. You must have great focus.  The Gold LM 15 lens I have do the same thing.  When I am in the indoor range the Gold lens intensifies all the picture.  Which is Ok when you are not trying to pick out a specific white target on a range. What if you had glasses' tint to bring out the white target and dull what is around or behind the target. You would find the target faster and your sharp focus would be heightened. You want as much contrast between the white target and it's background and you want a lens color that bring out the white color not the greens or browns of the range berms.  The glasses I use for sporting clays actually intensifies the orange so you can see the moving target better against the sky and trees.  You can do the same for SC were the white becomes brighter against a dulled background. I do not want everything brighter just the white plates. I am old so I need as much help as I can get - LOL 

 

It was just a cute way of saying detail is enhanced.  You are putting a ton more technical/engineering type thinking on it that I.  I would say the plates are definitely enhanced.