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DMJ 
Group: Members
Posts: 135
Joined: Oct. 2010
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Posted on: Aug. 25 2012,00:02 |
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Hello forum,
Sunglasses are a topic that's discussed fairly frequent and I think the basic conclusion is that most decent brands offer shades that works fine as long as they're polarised.
However, I noticed some time ago that there are differences. If they are only really comming through in "lab tests" or it it's true in real life, I cannot say.
Basically the polarising filter blocks out light that isn't straight (or in phase), I'm no expert, but it blocks out some lightwaves. So to test how well they do that we need a lightsource that emits consistant light that are all straight or in phase. Luckily most of us have one such thing, actually you're looking at it right now. Your monitor, if its an LCD/TFT monitor of any kind it's equipped with a filter making the emitted light be straight.
So basically the test is to put up your sunglasses in front of your screen (making a full screen notepad window to make the screen go all white helps here). The start rotating them, you will see that your polarised lenses will switch from blocking nothing, to some to almost it all.
What I've come across is that there are lenses that blocks it very consistent, with an even amount of light all over the lens. Some are like "smeared" where some parts of the lens blocks more than others. Let me illustrate with photos, first one has the even filter over the whole lens and the secnd one is "smeared".
So, all this was just to sum up the difference I've seen in lenses.
I then recently bought a pair of backup shades on fleebay, it's a set of Maui Jims with the Maui Jim Evolution HCL Bronze lenses. I expected to find lenses with the even filter rather than the smeared one, but I didn't, the polrizing filter are of the smeared kind. I know a few people here on the forum have recommended Maui Jim shades before, can any of you check your glasses and confim that you see the same. Before I bash Maui Jim I'd like to make sure I haven't been fooled by a cheap copy on Ebay.... not that they were that cheap...
The picture showing the even polarized lenses are of a pair of Costa Del Mar 580 Bronze lenses, in case anyone's interested.
Cheers.
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| Post Number: 2
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kiwitroutbum
Simon
Group: Members
Posts: 640
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Aug. 25 2012,02:03 |
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Thanks for posting
Thats very interesting
I'll try that in the morning... 
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| Post Number: 3
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fraser hocks
Group: Members
Posts: 562
Joined: Nov. 2010
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Posted on: Aug. 25 2012,11:20 |
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Very interesting DJM. Thanks for posting.
I only ever wear the glass lensed Spotters (got a few pairs). Have to say they went through that test perfectly. Iv been told that high end plastic lenses can be very good, but iv tried them on and feel i can see a difference between them and glass. Il always buy glass lenses.
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The best things in life, arnt things.
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| Post Number: 4
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| Post Number: 5
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DMJ
Group: Members
Posts: 135
Joined: Oct. 2010
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Posted on: Aug. 25 2012,21:05 |
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Any of you guys with the spotter glasses that can check how the polarization looks when holding them in front of a screen as described in the original post?
If they look like the Costa del Mars I'll just grab a pair when stopping by at Steve this January
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| Post Number: 6
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fraser hocks
Group: Members
Posts: 562
Joined: Nov. 2010
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Posted on: Aug. 26 2012,09:57 |
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I tested three pairs of Spotters and they all came up perfect. If i can figure out how to put pictures up again, il do that for you later today.
On that note, iv got a pair with the yellow lenses, and i have to say i find myself wearing those the most. You can wear them a fair way into dusk and still be spotting fish and its only really bright days where i find i really need to go to darker lenses.
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The best things in life, arnt things.
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| Post Number: 7
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| Post Number: 8
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kiwitroutbum
Simon
Group: Members
Posts: 640
Joined: Nov. 2006
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Posted on: Aug. 26 2012,22:41 |
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DMJ - Not sure if the edges would affect your vision that much. I think "time at the crease" or on the river bank would be of more crucial.
Are your Maui Jims plastic?
My plastic MJs also show the type of "smearing" your pic shows but my glass ones are sweet as.
Interesting.
A pair of Smiths and a pair of Serengetis - both glass match your Costas. Are the costas glass?
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| Post Number: 9
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DMJ
Group: Members
Posts: 135
Joined: Oct. 2010
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Posted on: Aug. 26 2012,23:24 |
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(kiwitroutbum @ Aug. 26 2012,22:41)
QUOTE DMJ - Not sure if the edges would affect your vision that much. I think "time at the crease" or on the river bank would be of more crucial. Are your Maui Jims plastic? My plastic MJs also show the type of "smearing" your pic shows but my glass ones are sweet as. Interesting. A pair of Smiths and a pair of Serengetis - both glass match your Costas. Are the costas glass?
I'm actually not sure abut the Maui Jims, I havent been able to find any documentation as to what the lenses are made from. It's the HCL bronze lenses.
However, I agree with your findings. All glasses I've owned with glass lenses look like the example of the Costas. I've only owned one pair of plastic lenses, the ones I posted as an exmple. They're a pair of loops shades, been working fine for me to be honest. So I think the difference between glass and plastics are very pronounced in the test, but might not be of any matter in practical use.
However, I'll swear to the glass lenses as I believe it can't hurt to have a consistent a polarization as possible.
I've been using costas for some time now, but my daughter just smashed my backup set and figured I might as well try something new 
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| Post Number: 10
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Tore
Group: Members
Posts: 885
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Aug. 27 2012,22:33 |
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To be honest I actually think your MJ's are cheap China fakes. I've done that test before and the only ones that have looked that bad are the cheapest Flying Fisherman series. I think they retail at US$ 9.99.
I just tested glasses from Maui Jim (Volcano), Habervision (Bellagio), Action Optics (Vector), Kaenon (Kore) and three Flying Fisherrman models from their mid and top range (Santa Fe, Maui). They all came up very clean indeed.
These are a mix of polycarbonate and glass.
The other thing you can test with this method is that the angle of the polarising filter. Some times it is different on the left and right lens. Sometimes they're both wrong, causing anglers to tilt their heads when they're fishing.
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