Holographic weapon sight
A holographic weapon sight or holographic diffraction sight is a non-
History
The first-generation holographic sight was introduced by
EOTech was the only company that manufactured holographic sights until early 2017, when Vortex introduced the Razor AMG UH-1 into the market as a competing product.[3] As Vortex introduced the Gen II model on mid July, 2020 which later replaced the original UH-1.
Design
Holographic weapon sights use a laser transmission hologram of a reticle image that is recorded in
The optical window in a holographic weapon sight looks like a piece of clear glass with an illuminated reticle in the middle. The aiming reticle can be an infinitely small dot whose perceived size is given by the acuity of the eye. For someone with
Holographic sights can be paired with "
Parallax error
Like the reflector sight, the holographic sight is not "parallax free", having an aim-point that can move with eye position. This can be compensated for by having a holographic image that is set at a finite distance with parallax due to eye movement being the size of the optical window at close range and diminishing to zero at the set distance, usually around the target range of 100 yards.[5]
Compared to reflector sights
Light transmission
Since the reticle is a transmission hologram, illuminated by a laser shining through hologram presenting a reconstructed image, there is no need for the sight "window" to be partially blocked by a semi-
Manufacturing costs
Holographic sights are considerably more expensive than red dot sights, due to their complexity as well as there being only two manufacturers of holographic sights.
Size
Holographic sights are generally bulkier than reflex sights and require a rifle to mount, while red dot sights have been made small enough to fit handguns.[6]
Battery life
Holographic sights have shorter battery life when compared to reflex sights that use LEDs, such as red dot sights. The laser diode in a holographic sight uses more power and has more complex driving electronics than a standard LED of an equivalent brightness, reducing the amount of time a holographic sight can run on a single set of batteries compared to a red dot sight,[7] around 600 hours for typical holographic sights, compared to sometimes up to tens of thousands of hours for red dot sights.[8] For example, the Vortex Razor AMG UH-1 holographic sight has been quoted as having an expected battery life of 1,000 to 1,500 hours (1½ to 2 months) on medium setting.[9] The Aimpoint CompM5s red dot sight has an expected battery life of around 8,000 to 50000 hours (1 to 5 years) depending on the setting.[8]
See also
- Fire-control system
- Collimator sight
- Reflex sight
- Laser sight (firearms)
- Prism sight, a type of telescopic sight
- Glossary of firearms terminology
- Glossary of military abbreviations
- List of laser articles
References
- ^ Red Dot Sights / Reflex Sights & Holosights Explained -Electronic Sights; A look at why they exist, how they work, and how you use them.
- ^ a b Jane's international defence review: IDR.: Volume 34, page 76
- ^ "Vortex Razor AMG UH-1 Red Dot on the Range". The Firearm Blog. 2017-01-16.
- ^ “Compact Holographic Sight” - EOTech company Patent #5,483,362 issued January 9, 1996
- ^ "Red dot sight". 16 February 2019. Wednesday, 13 March 2019
- ^ "Red Dots vs Holographic Sights: What's Best For You? - Pew Pew Tactical". 30 October 2021.
- ^ "Full Buyer's Guide To Modern Tactical Optic". Rifle Optics World. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ a b Aimpoint - CompM5s
- ^ Vortex Razor AMG UH-1 | Holographic Greatness | SOFREP