Dot Sights vs Prismatic Sights vs Holographic Sights
When it comes to 1x sights, there are a few games in town. The below table neatly summarizes the respective pros and cons of the three types of sight, but read on below for a more in-depth assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, and overall costs of each type.
So, 1x sights. Which one is the best? It depends on your needs and your budget. Lets take a look at the three basic types of 1x sights on the market.
Dot sights (red dot sights)
The most common 1x sight is the dot sight, which uses a battery-powered LED, fiber-optics, or a tritium element to project light onto a lens with a reflective coating to produce a reticle for the shooter (some sights use two or more of the above light sources together). A quality dot sight can usually be left on for years at a time, and some do not even have an "off" switch. However, these sights require that the lens have a reflective coating that makes the view faintly off-color, usually bluish, but high-quality models still have excellent clarity and minimal discoloration. The outer lens of the sights (the side facing the target) is brightly colored, usually red, so the Aimpoint dot sight pictured above has a honeycombed ARD (anti-reflection device) installed to conceal the brightly colored lens (most civilian sights do not bother with this extra part).
Dot sights are often enclosed in a tube a bit like a normal rifle scope, but some styles are "open" or "reflex" designs that incorporate only a single front window. The closed-tube styles are more rugged and provide a brighter reticle, but the open design allows better peripheral vision and lighter weight. Well-known and quality brands for dot sights include Aimpoint, Trijicon, and Meprolight.
Cheaper brands like Vortex and Primary Arms manufacture dot sights that offer accuracy and performance that is genuinely comparable to the premium brands, but these cheaper sights sacrifice battery life and durability. Battery life rarely exceeds a few weeks or months, and the housings (bodies) of the cheaper sights are generally cast aluminium, whereas premium brands use extruded or billet-machined housings, which are much stronger. Additionally, inexpensive sights often use glue or epoxy to fix their internal components (like LED emitters) in place. These compounds can break down over time or loosen up under repeated shock, whereas premium brands typically use screws or other more secure methods at the cost of additional labor and machining time, which is then passed on to you the customer as a higher MSRP.
One drawback of dot sights is that shooters with astigmatism in their shooting eye often cannot use these sights effectively - rather than seeing a crisp dot, shooters with astigmatism will see a sunburst, flare, or other jagged/uneven shape. This can be fixed by wearing corrective lenses, or by opting for a holographic or prismatic 1x sight. These other sights often (but not always) are usable by shooters with astigmatism.
The most common 1x sight is the dot sight, which uses a battery-powered LED, fiber-optics, or a tritium element to project light onto a lens with a reflective coating to produce a reticle for the shooter (some sights use two or more of the above light sources together). A quality dot sight can usually be left on for years at a time, and some do not even have an "off" switch. However, these sights require that the lens have a reflective coating that makes the view faintly off-color, usually bluish, but high-quality models still have excellent clarity and minimal discoloration. The outer lens of the sights (the side facing the target) is brightly colored, usually red, so the Aimpoint dot sight pictured above has a honeycombed ARD (anti-reflection device) installed to conceal the brightly colored lens (most civilian sights do not bother with this extra part).
Dot sights are often enclosed in a tube a bit like a normal rifle scope, but some styles are "open" or "reflex" designs that incorporate only a single front window. The closed-tube styles are more rugged and provide a brighter reticle, but the open design allows better peripheral vision and lighter weight. Well-known and quality brands for dot sights include Aimpoint, Trijicon, and Meprolight.
Cheaper brands like Vortex and Primary Arms manufacture dot sights that offer accuracy and performance that is genuinely comparable to the premium brands, but these cheaper sights sacrifice battery life and durability. Battery life rarely exceeds a few weeks or months, and the housings (bodies) of the cheaper sights are generally cast aluminium, whereas premium brands use extruded or billet-machined housings, which are much stronger. Additionally, inexpensive sights often use glue or epoxy to fix their internal components (like LED emitters) in place. These compounds can break down over time or loosen up under repeated shock, whereas premium brands typically use screws or other more secure methods at the cost of additional labor and machining time, which is then passed on to you the customer as a higher MSRP.
One drawback of dot sights is that shooters with astigmatism in their shooting eye often cannot use these sights effectively - rather than seeing a crisp dot, shooters with astigmatism will see a sunburst, flare, or other jagged/uneven shape. This can be fixed by wearing corrective lenses, or by opting for a holographic or prismatic 1x sight. These other sights often (but not always) are usable by shooters with astigmatism.
Holographic sights
The second most popular 1x sight is the holographic sight, with Eotech leading the industry. Holographic sights do away with the reflective coating of dot sights, instead using a laser emitter to illuminate a glassed-in reticle . The benefit of this arrangement is that the viewing window of the sights is not discolored in the way that dot sights are, and the laser allows a much brighter reticle, removing any need for a closed-tube configuration. All Eotechs are open or "reflex" style, with a vertical window that obscures less of your field-of-view than a closed-tube dot sight. However, the powerful laser emitter requires more power, so the battery life of holo sights is never more than a few hundred hours, versus the tens of thousands of hours for a quality dot sight. Nonetheless, holo sights are popular for their reasonable cost, open field-of-view, and clear, untinted lenses.
Additionally, the reticle of a holographic sight is often less blurry, or not blurry at all, for shooters with astigmatism in their shooting eye.
The second most popular 1x sight is the holographic sight, with Eotech leading the industry. Holographic sights do away with the reflective coating of dot sights, instead using a laser emitter to illuminate a glassed-in reticle . The benefit of this arrangement is that the viewing window of the sights is not discolored in the way that dot sights are, and the laser allows a much brighter reticle, removing any need for a closed-tube configuration. All Eotechs are open or "reflex" style, with a vertical window that obscures less of your field-of-view than a closed-tube dot sight. However, the powerful laser emitter requires more power, so the battery life of holo sights is never more than a few hundred hours, versus the tens of thousands of hours for a quality dot sight. Nonetheless, holo sights are popular for their reasonable cost, open field-of-view, and clear, untinted lenses.
Additionally, the reticle of a holographic sight is often less blurry, or not blurry at all, for shooters with astigmatism in their shooting eye.
Prismatic sights
The least common entry in the 1x sight market is the prismatic sight, essentially a very compact 1x scope. Like any other scope, prismatic sights have a clear, uncolored lens and a permanent black reticle. As a result, primsatic sights do not require any batteries to operate, although the black reticle can usually be illuminated by a battery-powered LED if the shooter desires. Also like a scope, eye relief is limited to a few inches and prismatic 1x sights cannot be co-witnessed with iron sights because they are true "scopes" and objects as near as the front sight will be out of focus, too blurry to be useful. However, 1x prismatic sights do not suffer from parallax at any price point (the same cannot be said of other sight types). Prismatic 1x sights like the Rakurs and PK-AS have been widely used in Russia for years, and prismatics are beginning to gain traction in the USA with models like the Leupold Prismatic, Vortex Spitfire, and Primary Arms Prismatic.
Additionally, the reticle of a pristmatic sight is rarely blurry to shooters with astigmatism in their shooting eye.
The least common entry in the 1x sight market is the prismatic sight, essentially a very compact 1x scope. Like any other scope, prismatic sights have a clear, uncolored lens and a permanent black reticle. As a result, primsatic sights do not require any batteries to operate, although the black reticle can usually be illuminated by a battery-powered LED if the shooter desires. Also like a scope, eye relief is limited to a few inches and prismatic 1x sights cannot be co-witnessed with iron sights because they are true "scopes" and objects as near as the front sight will be out of focus, too blurry to be useful. However, 1x prismatic sights do not suffer from parallax at any price point (the same cannot be said of other sight types). Prismatic 1x sights like the Rakurs and PK-AS have been widely used in Russia for years, and prismatics are beginning to gain traction in the USA with models like the Leupold Prismatic, Vortex Spitfire, and Primary Arms Prismatic.
Additionally, the reticle of a pristmatic sight is rarely blurry to shooters with astigmatism in their shooting eye.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, those are the big differences between the three types of 1x sight on the market. The sights may vary in size and shape, but they all come down to the same few technologies.
Happy shooting.
In a nutshell, those are the big differences between the three types of 1x sight on the market. The sights may vary in size and shape, but they all come down to the same few technologies.
Happy shooting.
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Spitfire Prismatic Photo courtesy of Vortex Optics (http://www.vortexoptics.com)
C-More Railway Photo courtesy of C-MORE Systems (http://www.cmore.com)
C-More Railway Photo courtesy of C-MORE Systems (http://www.cmore.com)