New Class of Scope Invented (This Changes Everything)

[ProPilot]

http://www.physorg.com/news192299313.html

"The MicroSight, a disc smaller than a dime, brings both the target and the iron sight into simultaneous focus..."

"...whereas lenses focus light using refraction — essentially, changing the direction of light waves by changing their speed — zone plates use diffraction."

"The MicroSight gives you much of the performance you'd get out of a holographic or telescopic sight," says INL engineer David Crandall, who developed the technology. "But it's more reliable, much lighter-weight and much cheaper."

"The MicroSight... is tiny — its zone plate is thin and only about a quarter-inch in diameter — and relatively cheap. ...[T]he sight should cost significantly less than red-dot and telescopic sights when Apollo Optical Systems, which licensed the technology, takes it to market."

Incredible!

[Irish]

Interesting. Company website: https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/ser...jID=255&mode=2

[ProPilot]

Game over.

[ProPilot]

Full story from Idaho National Labs' website:

https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/ser...tory=DA_549448

[halo2304]

Very interesting. I'm very curious about the price.

[HowardCohodas]

I've done several projects with Battelle (INL is operated by Battelle) in my career and have always been very impressed by them.

The company that licensed the technology for production also has a good reputation.

Another neat technology to intrigue the early adopters among us. (Definition: Early Adopters - those of us with drawers full of stuff that we bought when they were expensive, before they were perfected and most of which were junk. But oh how sweet when we discover something that exceeds our expectations.)

[JHC]

A fountain of youth! Thanks for posting this.

[Jerm]

So practically speaking what is this going to be used for?

A kickass aperture on a rear BUIS?Rear sight on a handgun?

If so...That's great and all (I'm interested).

But unless I'm missing something(very possible) it'll still have numerous disadvantages to any of the current popular choices in optics.It seems more like a rear sight option...Rather than a replacement for current optics like they seem to be suggesting.

[HowardCohodas]

So practically speaking what is this going to be used for?

A kickass aperture on a rear BUIS?Rear sight on a handgun?

If so...That's great and all (I'm interested).

But unless I'm missing something(very possible) it'll still have numerous disadvantages to any of the current popular choices in optics.It seems more like a rear sight option...Rather than a replacement for current optics like they seem to be suggesting.

Perhaps this transcript from a demonstration by the inventor may offer some insight.

[Jerm]

Didn't help.

Maybe I just need some sleep.

Bear with me and tell me where I'm going wrong...

We're talking about non-magnified sighting correct(otherwise my mind may indeed be blown)?This isn't going to allow you to focus on your front sight and a magnified target is it?

So I'm assuming...

It would still require a near perfect cheek weld and sight alignment if you're using your front sight?

There would be no illumination short of possibly a tritium front sight?


If I'm correct it would still have some obvious advantages over standard iron sights.I just don't see how it would trump a quality red-dot...Other than maybe price and reliability.