Old Eyes and Iron sights Series - Part 2

“Iron sight Optics”

By Jim Evenson

Iron sight Optics

This morning I talked to Allen Elliot, and had him order me a .3 diopter for my
30mm Right Sight. Allen said that the new diopters came mounted in a little
carrier that screwed into the front of the sight instead of sliding in and being held
in by the nylon o-ring as the older ones are held in.
This immediately made me think that moving the diopter forward one inch might
have consequences, such as in changing the focal distance to the front
Aperture. Of course, I was incorrectly assuming that the diopters are designed to
focus the image at the front ap plane. Then I brought this up with Bill Luth and he
said that a diopter is the reciprocal of the Focal length so that a .3 dio has a focal
length of 30.03", and a .5 has a focal length of 26.24".

from Bill Luth

"focal Length = 1/diopter . The lenses that we call 0.3 and 0.5 are really 1.3 and
1.5diopter with corresponding focal lengths of 30" and 26" (about), so you are
correct that the focal length and sight radius are directly related. Now should we
think about the image formed at > the rear sight or at the front surface of the
eyeball?
1/1.3 =.7692m .7629 X 39.36 in/m = 30.03 in focal length
1/1.5 =.6667m .6667 X 39.36 in/m = 26.24 in
The diopter values refer to the reciprocal of the focal length in meters. Although
we call them .3 and .5 diopter they are really 1.3 and 1.5. A problem with
shooters shorthand." --Thanks Bill

If this is the case, then should we not be adjusting our sight radius to the focal
length of the diopter so as to have the image as sharp and focused as
possible?? It is always evident that the bullseye seen through a .3 diopter appears
to be much sharper, and blacker than a bullseye seen through a .5 diopter. ( Size
of image being irrelevant). This seems to bear out the fact that a .3 diopter
focuses at 30 in and that is somewhat closer to our sight radius on most guns
these days.
Maybe this whole business is irrelevant because what we really want is to
examine the image (exit pupil) that is larger because we are examining it forward
(or aft) of the focal point, and thus, of course, it is out of focus. Maybe the image
through a .3 diopter examined at 30 in. would apprear the same as one examined
through a .5 diopter at it's focal point of 26 in ?????
None of the above brings in to play the effect of two apertures placed into the
line of sight between the diopter and the eye. Now-- as far as optics go, the
"diopters" that we use are " convex-concave positive" lenses. The optics rule that
applies is that "when the distance to the image (target) is more than two focal
lengths, then the focused image distance behind the lens will be less than 2 focal
lengths. Formula: B=FxA/A-F so F( 30" .3 dio) x A(200yds)/A(200yds) minusF
(30in) = 2.5ftx 600ft/ 600ft-2.5ft =2.51ft == 30.12". Therefore if we examine
this image (with our eye through a .3 diopter) at any other distance than 30.12
inches it will be out of focus.
I am meeting with Bill Luth this afternoon to discuss setting up an optical bench
to further examine this issue. Stay tuned.
If there are any opticians out there than can shed some light on this problem--- let
me know.