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7/29/2016 7:58:14 PM EDT
I have several Vortex products and have found them good if not exceptional values.  So when I noticed the new Sparc AR red dot was coming out this month and saw AMD advertising it with one of their mounts for $199.. I figured I'd get one as a loaner sight.



Today it came in.  I mounted the sight on the mount and felt it was nice enough.  It was heavy, mount and sight is 9.4oz.  In comparison an MRO and Larue mount or a T-2 and Larue mount is 6.4oz.  Built like a brick house would be a good description.  However.. holding it in my hand and looking at the dot, I noticed something strange as I panned left/right up/down.  It was like an optical illusion.. almost pulsating.. but it was hard to say for sure.



I soon discovered that if you keep both eyes open and rotate the sight so the dot draws a small circle, what you'll see is a complete circle made up of dots.  This is very easy to do.   No other sight does this.  Not even a $22 air soft red dot I got off ebay..not the T-2's, not the MRO's, not the Bushnell TRS-25's..



Can anyone else replicate the same issue?  I doubt I have a bad one. this is more of a design issue.  Curious what the rest of you are experiencing?
7/30/2016 12:33:00 AM EDT
[#1]
I have a Sparc II, a Holosun HS503GU and a Bushnell TRS-25. Trying this with each of the three (and my brain/eye which is where the illusion is formed), the Sparc shows up as a circle of dots while both of the others show up as solid circles.

I'm going to hazard a guess that the difference in the illusion is due to the diode drivers using different methods to vary the dot intensity.
7/30/2016 12:48:04 AM EDT
[#2]
Does this bother you in actual use?  I first noticed this when panning left/right where it looked like it was jittering (if that's a word) so I mounted it on an AR and it did the same.  To my eyes it's really obvious, I guess I'll need to try it at the range and see..



The Spark AR other than being 3oz heavier than the others otherwise seems really nice and built like a proverbial brick house.



Thanks..
7/30/2016 12:31:58 PM EDT
[#3]
I hadn't noticed it until you posted.

I only see the illusion (dots, trail, whatever) when my focus stays on the target and I rapidly move the sight around. In the real world, when I move the sight rapidly to get on target, I am moving my focus with the dot so there is no illusion. While on target, I am trying to hold the sight still so there is no rapid and large movement to cause the illusion.

Also, when you actually mount the sight on a rifle, It is much more difficult to make the movement needed to create the illusion due to the increased weight.

It's a non issue.
7/31/2016 3:35:58 AM EDT
[#4]
Cool. Thank you.  I'll take it to the range tomorrow and we'll see.
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