|
|
Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I am looking at getting new sunglasses for fishing. There are apparently four or five polarized lense colors available, from amber to dark gray and blue. What lenses do you use and how do you think that each color performs compared to the others.
I don't remember ever seeing any studies on which lense would be better muskie fishing for seeing into the water. |
|
| |
|
| i like being able to change lens color based on light conditions: dark for bright sun, light for overcast, amber for low light, rose for driving, clear for safety at night.
some people swear by one color for everything, but i like the different amounts of contrast depending on conditions. the polarization means they all penetrate the water well, but the right color does make a difference for me on eyestrain.
i've been satisfied with the lenses in the H3Os the past 5 years, but i've been looking for something with a better frame and nosepads that still has the ability to switch out lenses.
to that end i just ordered a pair of Velocity glasses from HaberVision - changeable lenses with high quality frames, and i was happy with the reasonable price for high-end glasses.
the company was started by the guy who created Bolle glasses, so that hopefully suggests something about quality. they even offer certain frame styles in prescription sunglasses, which can be hard to find.
they've got a contingency rewards program going for the FLW and PWT walleye tournaments, hopefully they can see the light and add the major muskie trails too...
http://www.habervision.com/
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 431
| I do quite a bit of trout fishing (primarily sight fishing) and would recommend amber lenses if you're only going to get one pair. When trout fishing, my sunglasses are more important to me than any other piece of equipment. I need to be able to see the fish move an inch or open its mouth. As previously posted, different lenses are better for different light conditions. The amber lenses provide better contrast during normal light conditions than any other color. I wear a pair of Action Optics with prescription lenses made by a guy in St. Louis that is really good. |
|
| |
|
Location: Twin Cities | I've had green, gray, amber, and yellow. I love amber and green, usually have 1 of each depending on the lighting conditions. I don't think I fished 1 day last year without something on my eyes! I highly recommend something with polycarbonate lenses that are scratch resistant.
Edited by JRedig 2/24/2008 10:13 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 457
| Copper photochromic from Action optics, followed by a brown. I fish amber (yellow) because they are a light gathering lens. Only when it is bluebird/high sun day will I change over to a Deep grey lens.
I've got H30, Action, Smith, Oakley, Maui JIm, and Costa. Might even have a couple others thrown in. More and more I wear the Oakley lenses, because they are easier to change out, and weigh much less. Follow that by two different pairs of Actions, in copper and amber(yellow) as the most worn. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | I just ordered some copper photochromic Action Optics from Cabelas. Although I have generally worn gray lenses in the past, the write up they had for each lens color indicated that copper, amber, and brown, provided the best contrast for fisherman. If you go to the site you will see a description of each lens type.
jed v.
Edited by RiverMan 2/25/2008 12:17 AM
|
|
| |
|
| amber is not yellow...amber is amber, and yellow is yellow...
for all around use you are best off with an amber lense like costa del mars amber.
but imo it is highly recommended you have a yellow pair for those dark/dreary/cloudy days and sunrise/sunset..you WILL see more follows/fish...
Action optics does make a yellow and costa makes one too called the sunrise lense..i have both and both are nice..the action optics I got on ebay ...very nice...there are a pair on there now in yellow for $30
I'd go with 2 pairs ...one amber from costa and the yellow from action optics and you will be set... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 457
| I beg do differ. There are several manufacturers that have an amber that is yellow, hence the amber(yellow). In my experience, that's the way it is, and I prefer the amber(yellow) over amber(light brown). |
|
| |
|
| there are differences..
yellow is a much better low light lense..that is, the yellow of Smith and Costa's sunrise
the amber of costa and most other manufacturers is a way better all around lense...
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 457
| I use amber as a low light lense, and replace it with Copper/deep brown. We're saying the same thing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Best all around glasses I use are the Ocean Wave's with Backwater Green lenses.
These are great all around glasses and I have no issues with them in low light or during conditions of bright sun. I have tried a lot of glasses and these are by far the best I have used. |
|
| |
|
| some people spell it "lens", some people spell it "lense".
both are technically correct, but either way become "lenses" when it's plural.
crazy.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Thanks for the input. I bought a pair of $50 Cabela's polarized glasses with amber lenses. The glasses also have removable side shields which should be a nice feature.
I have amber lenses for my shooting glasses and especially like the contrast through them in low light conditions.
Thanks for the help. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 139
| I see you already bought a pair, but the Ocean Waves Backwater Green are THE best fishing lenses on the market. They have an Amber base with a green mirror. When I bought mine, I compared them to Costa's and the Ocean Waves were hands down better. I'll never buy another brand of sunglasses again! |
|
| |
|
| just some more information on the lenses mentioned above...the backwater green lense allows app. 25% light penetration, the Action Optics Yellow that I have allow 31% light penetration, there by being a better low light lense.
I'm sure the backwaters are great, but for low light, you will be able to wear teh lense with a higher pecentage of light penetration in darker conditions.
food for thought when buying lenses.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 512
| Hey Steve,
Another consideration is the quality of polarization and light filtering.
For example, I recently purchased a pair of sunglasses from Orvis:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=82T1&feature_id...
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/images/but_readmore.gif
Costa del Mar has what's called the 580 lense which is similar.
http://www.costadelmar.com/ourJourney/technology.cfm
I will include some pics which show how the light is filtered by these high-end lenses. One of them also has 2 different lense colors which should help to elaborate on the difference in brightness.
Costa also has the 3-lense interchangeable system but it is not available with the 580 lense because the 580 is glass while the 400's are polycarbonate.
The above said, if I were doing it again today, I would look at Tifosi because their lenses actually lighten and darken according to the brightness. Certainly, the base color of the lense can have impact but that changing lense color is definitely something that sounds interesting.
http://www.tifosioptics.com/
Of course, price point can become an issue as well with some high-end glasses in the $175-$225 range. I guess one would have to ask if they bought a $200 pair of polarized sunglasses vs. the $100 pair, all things being equal (i.e. single lense vs. single lense or interchangeable vs. interchangeable), would they actually get $100 worth of improvement? Would you get twice the performance?
My guess is probably no but I do have to admit that the difference in color vibrancy and contrast is substantial with my Orvis sunglasses vs. the $25 plastic pair I had before.
Best,
Todd
Attachments
----------------
 Tri-Spectrum.gif (11KB - 180 downloads)
Wave 580.gif (10KB - 180 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | From all these graphs and technical data, we almost have Superman x-ray vision!
My how things have changed from the days of picking up a pair of sunglasses from Walmart or better yet a gas station/convenience store!
Obviously, I should have asked for input a few weeks ago.
I think I just got hit by a 621 nanometer ray right behind my ear.......I should have been more careful! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | I just got my new Smith Action Optics with the amber lenses in the mail today. The lenses are very clear and bright but for me personally I wish they were a bit darker. My eyes are a sensitive to bright light and I'm wondering how well these lenses will work for me on a sunny day. Construction overall seems satisfactory.
Jed V. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 654
Location: MPLS, MN | MikeHulbert - 2/25/2008 4:14 PM
Best all around glasses I use are the Ocean Wave's with Backwater Green lenses.
.
Agreed |
|
| |
|
Posts: 91
| For those of us not willing to part with $200 for a pair of sunglasses that
will break as easily as the the Captin Morgan's you got with your last bottle
of rum
Check out
www.sierratradingpost.com
Great deals in some pretty good stuff I've bough my last 3 pairs from there
and they are not much differnt than my Costas that i spent way too much for
If you can wait and check in often, they add new brands and types all the time.
If your out your not out 200 bones.
Karl |
|
| |
