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Posted: 3/28/2006 8:03:27 PM EDT
| Looking at getting a TA50-4 don't know which color any advantage either way? Looking for opinions or experiences. |
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Scientifically speaking, amber is "easier" for your eyes to see than red. Amber "appears" to be brighter at the same intensity as red. Think of a red digital bedside clock vs. a green one. A green digital clock will light up the whole bedroom, while a red one doesn't cast any visible light. There MAY be an issue with washout in certain situations though, which is why a lot of guys choose red. I had a TR21 in red, and it was GREAT in the daytime, but I did notice that at night, it was difficult to see at first. If I get another, it will most likely be amber because it would go on a rifle that gets used for shooting armadillos, not "SHTF". In the daytime, if I can't see the amber reticle, I'll use the black pointer. It is personal preference since our eyes do see color differently from one person to the next. |
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I have owned both the amber and the red models, and I prefer the red. I actually swapped out the amber one I had for a red one in the same model. The problem I have with amber, is that it tends to blend in with alot of the natural coloring outside. That was my experience anyway. Trijicon states that scientifically the human eye picks up the amber color better than red, but it was the exact opposite for me. I seem to recall them also stating that the amber is better suited to night vision. |
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The human eye does pick up amber better than red; unfortunately our world is also lit by a large orb of amber light (imagine using a red dot in a red-lit photography studio for a comparison). This means there are a lot of things reflecting yellow light or that appear to be the same color as your reticle. If you get a background that is lit to the same intensity as your reticle, your reticle disappears (i.e. any TA01NSN reticle around dusk or dawn). This happens with red ACOGs as well but the absence of red lit backgrounds generally makes it less of an issue. However, you already have the correct answer which is "Try both and see which your eyes like better". Vision is remarkably specific to an individual in a lot of ways. To use just one example, people who are red colorlblind are going to find amber a lot easier to use. |
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I prefer red. Like Mr Roberts said, you have to try it but you need to take into consideration what the scenery will be like. For instance, one of my buddies kept talking up his green red dot. He had only shot it at the range and he loved it. Long story short, when he shot it outside he wasn't so fond of it anymore. |
I could not have said it better. BR is right on the money. I usually simplify it for my customers: Red for tactical use and amber for hunting,  TalonArms.com |
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I find red to be far more useful overall. I can't understand how amber is supposed to be better when the daytime environment (99% of my shooting time) does NOT contrast enough with amber because the colors are so similar. Now with red, there is a definite contrast there, therefore an instant pickup for me. Nightime, either could work I'll admit. |
Because not everywhere looks like Arizona desert or Midwestern CRP grass... |
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