As the title says, are sun shades on scopes needed? I've tried with the sun shade on and off and it doesn't make much of a difference, though I shoot at a roofed range a lot. More or less, it just seems to make your scope about 3 inches longer.
Rifle Scopes Are sun shades needed?
- Thread starter Frapiscide
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Re: Are sun shades needed?
On a hot day with a hot barrel it can cut down on mirage. The also help when the scope is point in the general direction of the sun, kind of like a ball cap.
On a hot day with a hot barrel it can cut down on mirage. The also help when the scope is point in the general direction of the sun, kind of like a ball cap.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
If you hunt early mornings and late evenings it helps if you are looking close to the low angle sun. Most other times, not so much.
If you hunt early mornings and late evenings it helps if you are looking close to the low angle sun. Most other times, not so much.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you hunt early mornings and late evenings it helps if you are looking close to the low angle sun. Most other times, not so much. </div></div>
+1 Hit the nail on the head.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: XTR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you hunt early mornings and late evenings it helps if you are looking close to the low angle sun. Most other times, not so much. </div></div>
+1 Hit the nail on the head.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
They also shield the lense so that they do not flash if the sun catches them just right.
This is probably more true on scopes with larger objectives but it can alert your target and give your position away when it happens.
Same is true with shiny rifles, eye glasses or other gear with the right surface and is something to be aware of when hunting open country.
They also shield the lense so that they do not flash if the sun catches them just right.
This is probably more true on scopes with larger objectives but it can alert your target and give your position away when it happens.
Same is true with shiny rifles, eye glasses or other gear with the right surface and is something to be aware of when hunting open country.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
I like the additional protection a sunshade provides for the objective lens, sort of like a brush guard on a vehicle. Not the intended use, but my lenses seem to stay cleaner.
Mark H.
I like the additional protection a sunshade provides for the objective lens, sort of like a brush guard on a vehicle. Not the intended use, but my lenses seem to stay cleaner.
Mark H.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
here in Washington, the sunshade helps keeping the rain of the lense, those pesky rain drop are really annoying when trying to shoot long range and spot the inpacts, and they look cool.
here in Washington, the sunshade helps keeping the rain of the lense, those pesky rain drop are really annoying when trying to shoot long range and spot the inpacts, and they look cool.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Optics Planet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like the additional protection a sunshade provides for the objective lens, sort of like a brush guard on a vehicle. Not the intended use, but my lenses seem to stay cleaner.
Mark H. </div></div>
+1, this is the main reason I run mine.
I shoot in a pretty dusty environment and it seems to help keep the lense cleaner, I also live in an area that has very little cloud cover in the Summers.
SScott
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Optics Planet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like the additional protection a sunshade provides for the objective lens, sort of like a brush guard on a vehicle. Not the intended use, but my lenses seem to stay cleaner.
Mark H. </div></div>
+1, this is the main reason I run mine.
I shoot in a pretty dusty environment and it seems to help keep the lense cleaner, I also live in an area that has very little cloud cover in the Summers.
SScott
Re: Are sun shades needed?
+2 on this post. My lens stays cleaner as well. At the range I do development at the sun is quartering in from about 1:00 pm till sunset. It really keeps the glare off the objective for a cleaner sight picture.
+2 on this post. My lens stays cleaner as well. At the range I do development at the sun is quartering in from about 1:00 pm till sunset. It really keeps the glare off the objective for a cleaner sight picture.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
I've been using an ARD instead, since it seems to work just as well for reducing glare. However, the comments about dust & moisture have me re-thinking this.
I've been using an ARD instead, since it seems to work just as well for reducing glare. However, the comments about dust & moisture have me re-thinking this.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
I've used sunshades and like they said above on hot days they do help to cut down mirage. But TBH for the most part I've gone without one.
I've used sunshades and like they said above on hot days they do help to cut down mirage. But TBH for the most part I've gone without one.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
only if you shoot in the day time
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic...
only if you shoot in the day time
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic...
Re: Are sun shades needed?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic... </div></div>
If only someone could come up with something that would do the opposite! Oh yeah, CS...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic... </div></div>
If only someone could come up with something that would do the opposite! Oh yeah, CS...
Re: Are sun shades needed?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">only if you shoot in the day time
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic... </div></div>
They really make it look that bad?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">only if you shoot in the day time
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic... </div></div>
They really make it look that bad?
Re: Are sun shades needed?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Km22</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">only if you shoot in the day time
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic... </div></div>
They really make it look that bad?</div></div>
Not in my opinion. The change is subtle, and does not affect edge to edge illumination. But if you go back and forth, you can see a small difference.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Km22</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ring</div><div class="ubbcode-body">only if you shoot in the day time
ARD's are a nice way to make your 2000$ optics look like you are looking threw a 200$ optic... </div></div>
They really make it look that bad?</div></div>
Not in my opinion. The change is subtle, and does not affect edge to edge illumination. But if you go back and forth, you can see a small difference.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
On lower magnification the effect the ARD has on light transmission/image clarity is pretty dramatic.
On lower magnification the effect the ARD has on light transmission/image clarity is pretty dramatic.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
I hate ARDs. I can really tell the difference when I take one off - so much brighter! There are lots of good reasons in this thread to use a sunshade, though.
I can appreciate an ARD on a 1x in theory, but in practice it is too distracting for me.
I hate ARDs. I can really tell the difference when I take one off - so much brighter! There are lots of good reasons in this thread to use a sunshade, though.
I can appreciate an ARD on a 1x in theory, but in practice it is too distracting for me.
Re: Are sun shades needed?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Powder Burns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On lower magnification the effect the ARD has on light transmission/image clarity is pretty dramatic. </div></div>
This is a good point. I'm usually not at the lower magnifications so I don't notice it.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Powder Burns</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On lower magnification the effect the ARD has on light transmission/image clarity is pretty dramatic. </div></div>
This is a good point. I'm usually not at the lower magnifications so I don't notice it.
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