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Sporasub Star Elite Mask w/mirrored lenses?

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J

jfmagana

New Member
Dec 18, 2007
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I got a Sporasub Star Elite Mask w/mirrored lenses for Christmas:t. While I'm jazzed that this is a quality item compared to my tired mask (it also fits me just perfect and seems to be very low volume), I'm on the fence about the mirror coating. I hunt here in Northern California where our viz sucks on a good day. I also do a lot of abalone diving and the waters are often crappy/limited visibility. My thinking is that the mirrored lenses look super cool and might actually help me bag an otherwise spooky fish, but the lenses are also cutting out some visible light which is not a good thing.

Anybody have experience with mirrored lenses in crappy viz like NorCal? Should I exchange them for the clear version?
 
I have used the Omer Abyss Exclusive mask with mirrored lenses and replaced the lenses with clear ones fast. The truth is that mirrored lenses block out a lot of light and, hence, they very unsuitable for hunting in limited visibility water conditions.

Additionally, I serously doubt they have any merit other than for marketing purposes. Actually, it appears to me that the reflection from mirrored lenses deters wary fish from getting closer. :rcard

Cheers
 
Last edited:
Ulysses,

Thanks very much for the advice. I guess I'm a sucker for good marketing. I'm going to exchange the mirrored lenses for the clear ones.
 
I have both the elite and clear lens spora star and it ain't a gimmick. I get much closer to fish with the mirrors. The clear ones are better in poor light and very bad vis but its a trade off... fish bolt when you fix your gaze on them.
If I had to choose just one then the elite would be my choice but it is very much personal preference. I like that they eliminate strong sunlight and glare from the shallows, especially on white sand.
Your eyes will always adjust to the light conditions with the mirrored lenses on but they can't hide themselves without the mirror. That said they do drive some people mental so best try both and see what you prefer.

here is a shot thru both side by side...
 

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How do you find them in strong sunlight in poorish vis? I wasn't convinced the one time I tried one, it just looked like a darker version of the same thing. I preferred the amber lenses for enhanced contrast but still use clear lenses.
 
Pastor said:
How do you find them in strong sunlight in poorish vis? I wasn't convinced the one time I tried one, it just looked like a darker version of the same thing. I preferred the amber lenses for enhanced contrast but still use clear lenses.
Click to expand...

I find them pretty helpful in those conditions where sunlight is bouncing back off particulate. I think strong light and poor vis is probably the worst combination.
The shaded lens helps me to see past the particulate and focus on my target or where I'm going where my eyes would automatically focus in on the particulate and it gets a bit disorientating... know what I mean?

Always good to have something different in your bag to cope with the various tricks of the light n conditions... i can see me collecting a few more shades of lens yet.

Happy new year!
 
I use a cressi matrix and a technisub micro/marina without mirrored lenses and I am able to consistently get extremely close to fish. Both these masks have downward canted lenses - which means you are usually looking at the fish through an angled glass which is probably reflecting whatever is under you - so
that may be a factor.

Its worth noting that anything that reduces the amount of light reaching your eyes is going to contribute to eye fatigue and also probably decrease your ability to resolve faint images - such as fish silhouettes in the haze.
 
An angle on a lens sounds like a good solution to hide your eyes... as long as you can see and shoot straight of course

I haven't noticed any problems like eye fatigue with the mirrors... but then it isn't like i read with them on it's comparable to wearing a pair of grey sunglasses outdoors... ok as long as you don't wear them at night or when its very dull. I think when you find yourself in a situation when you have to squint to see something its time to change to the other lenses.
Last time I took a dip it was overcast and occasionally snowing with fair vis and I wore the clear lenses and it didn't hamper my hunting in the slightest... wasn't any damn fish around
 
@ atomichaggis,

I assume your comment was meant to imply that hiding your eyes is helpful when hunting wary fish with aspetto/waiting technique.

Well, whereas it sometimes appears that your eyes can give you away during an aspetto, but wait until you see fish take flight in the unfortunate event that light is reflected by those lenses!

@ all

For those who may be tempted by the marketing myth that it brings in more fish or just the cool looks:

you better get two masks (i.e. an additional mask with clear lenses). The best hours for spearfishing are just after sunrise and close to sunset. In these difficult light conditions I am sure you will not appreciate shaded lenses!

Needless to say: mirrored lenses are 100% useless for cave hunting.

Cheers
 
It's helpful to hide your eyes from the fish anytime you want to get close. Unless you are a ninja like Fondueset
Light reflecting from the mask or anything else is no problem for me either, it draws the fish closer in the same way my flasher does. I don't know if that works everywhere but it sure does for nosey codfish and other north sea species.

I agree that dusk and dawn require clear lenses... as does any poor light conditions.
 
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