Polarized Sunglasses...

dcabarle · Feb 25, 2005

I recently purchased a new pair of polarized sunglasses. I used to swear by REVO', but now I swear they suck. The polarization is coated on the outside of the lense rather than on the inside like Maui Jim's or Costa Del Mar's. When the polarization is on the outside, your glasses will scratch extremely easy if you don't take really great care of them. Even then, you're asking for trouble.

Anyhow, my most recent pair of polarized sunglasses were Costa Del Mar's. I believe there's a slight issue with the polarization on them though. I was outside this afternoon and noticed that if I tilted my head slightly, it reduced the glare quite a bit more than if my head were straight. This leads me to believe that the lenses are defective. I shouldn't have to tilt my head for full polarization. Has anyone ever run into an issue like this one before? I'm not 100% sure, but are they made like this for a reason? I doubt it, but your opinions would be appreciated.

By the way, I prefer a glass lense over plastic, anyday! I believe you get a much crisper view + they are more resistant to scratches. The difference in price is more pricey, but I believe you get what you pay for.

Thanks

BEAMOC · Feb 25, 2005

I've used Bolle glasses for a number of years and have always been satisfied. I recently bought a pair of Action Optics but have not had the opportunity to try them. Tilting your head may reduce the ability of any polorized sunglasses to function properly because of the polorization. Try this for an illustration: take two pairs of polorized glasses and place them one in front of the other, looks kind of normal. Now rotate one pair 90 degrees and almost all light will be blocked. The polorization runs parallel (temple to temple) so maybe the tilting head has something to do with it. Just a thought. BTW, it's true that glass lenses are MUCH more scratch resistant, but in my opinion the extra weight isn't worth the little bit of extra care polycarbonate lenses require.

Keith

cingras53 · Feb 25, 2005

Keith is right. When you turn your head off of vertical the polarization decreases because of the angle. There is nothing wrong with your glasses. I have Action optics and a pair of Lefty Kreh's and they both do the same thing when I tilt my head. Dennis, stop tilting your head.

dcabarle · Feb 26, 2005

Guys!!!!

Read my post again. "if I tilted my head slightly, it reduced the glare quite a bit more than if my head were straight"

The idea of polarization is to 'reduce glare'. While my head was tilted, the polarization was enhanced, not reduced. However, keeping my head in a normal manner actually did reduce the polarization. Anyhow, I think my question was answered... I should return my defective glasses for replacements.

cingras53 · Feb 26, 2005

Dennis I know what your problem is...one of your ears is lower than the other so you "think" the glasses are level but when you tilt your head you're actually compensating for your lower ear. I'm glad we can joke around without going after one another.

dcabarle · Feb 26, 2005

So what you're saying is that one of my ears is defective and plastic surgery is needed?

Chris, you're probably right about that though. I'm going to have to let someone else try these shades on to check them out. I need a second opinion.

cingras53 said:
Dennis I know what your problem is...one of your ears is lower than the other so you "think" the glasses are level but when you tilt your head you're actually compensating for your lower ear. I'm glad we can joke around without going after one another.

BEAMOC · Feb 26, 2005

It's true, most peoples ears are not level. Just talk to whoever cuts your hair.

Keith

fcch · Feb 26, 2005

Dennis,

I'm not sure, but I think your glasses are probably OK. The polarization (or filter) should be lined up (oriented) 90 degresonthe lens. The light reflecting off of the water "usually" isn't oriented exactly normal, so a bit of tilting "could" be expected.

To check it yourself, put your glasses on a level surface and find another polarized lens. Look through yours and turn the other lens. The lenses will black out at one point. Check the angle. Shoulf be 90 degres from one another. (does this make sense ??)

Pete · Feb 26, 2005

fcch said:
Dennis,

I'm not sure, but I think your glasses are probably OK. The polarization (or filter) should be lined up (oriented) 90 degresonthe lens. The light reflecting off of the water "usually" isn't oriented exactly normal, so a bit of tilting "could" be expected.

To check it yourself, put your glasses on a level surface and find another polarized lens. Look through yours and turn the other lens. The lenses will black out at one point. Check the angle. Shoulf be 90 degres from one another. (does this make sense ??)

I agree, unless you were looking exactly inline with the direction of the light source, some tilting would be needed to get the best results. The 90 degree "crossed polaroid" test should be an adequate confirmation.

dcabarle · Feb 26, 2005

Happy Endings...

Ok, I ran the 90 degree angle test. Before I tell you the results, let me just say that I was aware of the sunglass trick. I use it quite often when testing polarized glasses. I've caught a few people trying to pawn off non-polarized lenses as polarized. Busted!!!

Now for the part I didn't know. I didn't realize that full polarization should occur at 90 degrees. I ran the test today, and full polarization happened at 90 degrees. I guess my glasses are just fine.

Now I'm going to get a hair cut because it's out of control. I'll have my stylist give me the readings on my ears before and after the cut (who knows... maybe this guy will cut me?). Should I have him measure from the center of my scalp to the top of my ear, then the center of my scalp to the bottom or from my shoulders to the bottom of the ear then from my shoulders to the top of the ear. Maybe that's not good either? Suppose my shoulders are crooked too? I got it... I'll have him measure from the floor to the top of my ears, then from the floor to the bottom. From here, I'll send out the final results to all of you then I'll get custom shades made.

Am I looking too far into this; yah think?

Future Fanatic · Feb 26, 2005

Something else you need to think about is this, which way you need to tilt depends upon which direction that you are facing. For instance, if you are looking west, your left ear will be facing south. Rivers run south, thus, south is down hill and your left ear would be lower than your right. SO, "face west, tilt right; face east, tilt left. You also have to keep in mind high and low pressure systems and where you are in relation to them as well as the gravitational pull of the moon...

fcch · Feb 26, 2005

FF,

And don't forget about the relative humidity

Dennis, for the hair cut, as with the glasses, if you don't stand straight, would you prefer the stylist to cut your hair in relation to YOU or the GROUND ??

Everything in this world is relative.

Scott · Feb 28, 2005

dcabarle said:
I was outside this afternoon and noticed that if I tilted my head slightly, it reduced the glare quite a bit more than if my head were straight. This leads me to believe that the lenses are defective. I shouldn't have to tilt my head for full polarization. Has anyone ever run into an issue like this one before? I'm not 100% sure, but are they made like this for a reason? I doubt it, but your opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Well, I could explain it but not as well as it is done here:

http://www.polarization.com/water/water.html

I picked up a pair of Maui Jim's (MJ Sport model) last January while on vacation. Awesome! Very light weight & comfortable. In fact, I just bought another pair over the weekend, as I'd left my other ones at home, and it was intensely bright & sunny. I highly recommend the Maui Jim shades - although I don't recommend buying them in the touristy places I did, I probably paid too much.

C&R · May 16, 2005

I just returned a pair of Bolle Piraja's that I wasn't too crazy about. They didn't seem to reduce the glare as much as I thought they would. It seems that a lot of users in this forum favor Maui Jim's. Is there a particular model that works better than others? I know that they are very comfortable b/c I used to wear the Diamond model until my brother-in-law rightfully repossessed them. Are there any other shades that are great for fishing?

dcabarle · May 16, 2005

I really like my Costa DelMar's. They're very comfortable and remove glare pretty damn good. They aren't too dark like the Maui Jims, therefore I can use them until dusk. Maui Jim's are supposed to be excellent sun glasses, but if it's overcast, I can't see how they would be effective for this sport. Now, if you're fishing in the ocean, I think they would be very effective even on overcast days.

C&R · May 16, 2005

Which model do you have?

dcabarle · May 16, 2005

HR11 Harpoon

C&R said:
Which model do you have?

C&R · May 16, 2005

Where in Northern NJ can I go to check out Costa Del Mars?

bka62281 · May 16, 2005

Ive read many posts about polarized sunglasses and I have never heard anyone say anything about Wiley-X glasses! I bought a pair last year and I think theyre great. No problems, and Ive dropped them in the water, mud, rocks and everything else. Theyre not too bad in price compared to names like Costa Delmar etc.. I paid $115 for mine. Anyone looking for a pair of good polarized glasses but not wanting to pay $300 should check them out. Only thing is not a lot of places carry them.

C&R · May 18, 2005

dcabarle,

What type of lens material (glass, resin or polycarb), and lens color did you select? And for what reasons? Did you get a chance to try on the Brine, Stringer, or Fathom models?

dcabarle · May 18, 2005

C&R said:
dcabarle,

What type of lens material (glass, resin or polycarb), and lens color did you select? And for what reasons? Did you get a chance to try on the Brine, Stringer, or Fathom models?

I tried on a few models. I have glass lenses because I believe you will get less distortion. I think plastic would probably scratch easier too. I tried a few various models but don't recall which ones. My lense color is green. I believe the green was a bit less dark than the other colors I've tried (with the exception of yellow or amber, which were very bright).

I'm not sure where you could pick these up in NJ, I purchased them at the Somerset fly show. I think the guy selling them said that he was from South Jersey. Sorry I can't be of mor assistance in this department.

C&R · May 31, 2005

I went to a Costa Del Mar dealer last week (Cedar Grove Divers Supply) but the guy only had three very old models to try on, none of which I liked. He said he doesn't stock them because of the price tag. Where else can I go (in Northern NJ) that stocks a good selection?I don't want to order a pair without trying them on first.

dcabarle · May 31, 2005

C&R said:
I went to a Costa Del Mar dealer last week (Cedar Grove Divers Supply) but the guy only had three very old models to try on, none of which I liked. He said he doesn't stock them because of the price tag. Where else can I go (in Northern NJ) that stocks a good selection?I don't want to order a pair without trying them on first.

Here yah go...

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1. Worthy Eyes

40 Worth St
New York, NY 10013
2122332203
14.10 miles from the center

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http://clients.mapquest.com/costade...&city=Point Pleasant Beach&state=NJ&zip=08742