Red Dot Sights - if Green is so good...

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Originally Posted by payj

Don't know all of the details on the pics, but here ya go. Hope it helps a little?


http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=295811

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very interesting. I noticed that the green, while certainly bright enough, seemed to wash out on the woman's white shirt.

I am starting to understand that light and color perception probably has as much or more to do with the individual than any particular color.

I don't believe I'm getting the full benefit of the green fiber optic on my M&P Pro handgun in most any light and I want to give red a chance. this may or may not be peculiar to me as an individual, and it may not be a same/same comparison with a lit reticle in a magnified optic.

thanks for all the replies...

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Originally Posted by Failure2Stop

It isn't that the human eye can "see" more colors of green (there is no "infra-green" outside the human visible color spectrum), it can differentiate many more shades of green than any other color.

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I thought that I specified "shades" but agreed. If you can't differentiate a shade it will still appear as green. If the closest shade of green that you can identify is similar to the surrounding environment it will be harder to distinguish than something that contrasts. Assuming green is more prevalent in a daylight environment, red will provide better contrast against all shades of green. If you're shooting against a red background than the opposite will be true.

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Maybe it has been my observation since my experience is based on tritium illuminated sights and reticles. In my experience, with equally "powered" vials (I cannot recall what measurement they use to denote the levels of tritium) green is the brightest, followed by yellow, orange, red, and finally blue. I do not remember looking at other colors, but I don't think purple/violet would be much of a difference than red or blue.

It could be that the bright green is more obvious with dark-adjusted vision, simply a function of the tritium illumination, or some combination of the two.

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I'm not qualified to speak to tritium vials, but based on my understanding of color vision, all things being equal, in night/low-light conditions, green should be the brightest (easiest to see) compared to all other colors.

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I believe that the FO preponderance for reds and oranges because they stand out more from the blue/white sky as well as most ground level environments than other colors, especially when illuminated. I don't know why, but it seems to me that red is more susceptable than green to blurring/blooming, requiring a finer illumination adjustment capability to properly resolve the reticle.

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If we're talking optics with FO than all the ones I've tried (red, amber or green) bloom pretty significantly, covering the FO works for all. I've never tried a side-by-side comparison but in bright daylight I prefer a black/dark brown reticle.

If we're talking pistol sights, red to me is more distinct than the others. That said I'm not really a fan of FO sights in pistols...or even night-sights for that matter.

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I am not being argumentative, simply clarifying my points and observation. There isn't much that is more subjective and variable than vision, and individual experience and preference is going to influence perception further still. I do my best to be objective, but we are all results of our past experiences.

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I didn't take it as argumentative as I agree about subjectivity. We all need to think about what we're saying and if helps having someone to bounce ideas off of so that they can be refined.

You guys are on the right track. The human eye is most sensitive to 555nm light, which in the color spectrum falls in the realm of green. This is during "photopic" or daylight conditions, where the cones of the eyes handle most of the eye's vision.

During "scotopic" or low-light situations, the eye is actually most sensitive to lower wavelength light around 500nm which is a blue-green. At this light level, the rods of the eyes typically handle most of the vision and are relatively incapable of seeing higher wavelength (such as red) light. However, red light can be visible at certain brightness intensities. The advantage of using red light is that it does not affect your night adaptation. Hence the reason why some lights are red for .mil when intended for night-time use.

I'm not sure if this is the reason why red-dots are indeed red, but it makes sense to me, anyway!

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Originally Posted by WEC

You guys are on the right track. The human eye is most sensitive to 555nm light, which in the color spectrum falls in the realm of green. This is during "photopic" or daylight conditions, where the cones of the eyes handle most of the eye's vision.

During "scotopic" or low-light situations, the eye is actually most sensitive to lower wavelength light around 500nm which is a blue-green. At this light level, the rods of the eyes typically handle most of the vision and are relatively incapable of seeing higher wavelength (such as red) light. However, red light can be visible at certain brightness intensities. The advantage of using red light is that it does not affect your night adaptation. Hence the reason why some lights are red for .mil when intended for night-time use.

I'm not sure if this is the reason why red-dots are indeed red, but it makes sense to me, anyway!

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so, green is good for low light, red is good for bright light if its intensity can be modulated, correct?

except we are talking about something that is illuminated. I don't know if this makes a difference but given that tritium is used to illuminate the reticle in the dark, I'd probably want the one that responds best in that situation.

I'm sure either will work well in full sunlight but now I'm wondering about how they will stand out when the target is illuminated by a weapon light - will the green be enough contrast with a white background? will the red tritium be bright enough?

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Originally Posted by ra2bach

so, green is good for low light, red is good for bright light if its intensity can be modulated, correct?

except we are talking about something that is illuminated. I don't know if this makes a difference but given that tritium is used to illuminate the reticle in the dark, I'd probably want the one that responds best in that situation.

I'm sure either will work well in full sunlight but now I'm wondering about how they will stand out when the target is illuminated by a weapon light - will the green be enough contrast with a white background? will the red tritium be bright enough?

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I second that thought. Anyone try it.

I imagine green would suck when using night vision too.

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Originally Posted by gotm4

I imagine green would suck when using night vision too.

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wouldn't it just glow white (ish)?

While I have no real life experience with green, I have experience with red. In bright day light it is actually really good! I was very surprised, it did not bloom as much as I thought it would. At night I was able to see the red just fine, can't compare to green though.

I heard green just sucks when used with night vision in the little research I have done about it.

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Originally Posted by payj

While I have no real life experience with green, I have experience with red. In bright day light it is actually really good! I was very surprised, it did not bloom as much as I thought it would. At night I was able to see the red just fine, can't compare to green though.

I heard green just sucks when used with night vision in the little research I have done about it.

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are you talking about the TR24? is that the red one that you have experience with, or just an aimpoint?

This thread has gone straight MIND PONDERER:D

Wow, there is a sick amt. of scientific and even physiological discussion over 3 colors in accupoints rets.