red filters for flashlights

[Static_Age]

this was mentioned in an earlier thread, what is the use for a red filter?

thanks.

[godfather]

Saves your night vision.

[Static_Age]

Saves your night vision.

guess I still dont understand.

[godfather]

Your eyes adjust to the low light conditions. This is called your "night vision" and allows you to see in greater detail at night. Bassically it is your puples letting in as much light as possible to allow you to see. IF you turn on a bright light you loose this so your eyes have to readjust again from almost daytime conditions.

When you use a red or green filter the light is much softer and does not cause such a drastic change to your natural night vision. This allows you to read a map and still be able to see fairly well after the light is turned off again...or at least readjust much faster.

[BROUSER]

A red filter light also will not jump out as much if used for a short time. An enemy combatant is less likely to spot you. Or so we were told.

[gimpface]

A red filter light also will not jump out as much if used for a short time. An enemy combatant is less likely to spot you. Or so we were told.

I tend to use them for a similar reason at sites where bright white lights would give away your presence. Theoretically, people are more likely to mistake our lights for a normal condition at the site. We use 'em a lot in the MSU tunnels, the Branson Landing area, and other places where there's a chance you'll run into somebody.

[godfather]

That too

[HMndnproud]

Very interesting thread. I bought an LED flashlight and it came with the red filter and a blue filter. What's the blue one for?

[godfather]

Same thing as far as I know. Just some people prefer a soft blue to the red. Could also just be intended for emergency personel...red Fire and EMT, blue PD, for roadside signaling at accidents or something. I've never seen them used this way, but that may have been the intent of the company.

[gimpface]

Blue is better for following trails of blood.

[TooMuchCoffee]

Blue light is actually easier to see at night from a distance.
According to some trade info I've seen, flashing blue lights (like on a police car) are seen and identified easier and faster than flashing red lights.
Also, some maps have details that are "washed out" by red lens lights, like some topo markings. Therefore, with these maps you use the blue or green.

[Static_Age]

Here is a decent page for more info about what the different filters do and are used for.

http://www.1stconnect.com/anozira/SiteT ... ilters.htm

[TooMuchCoffee]

Yeah, that link makes sense. Goes along with what I've read in the magazines.

[Gatsby]

We use 'em a lot in the MSU tunnels, the Branson Landing area, and other places where there's a chance you'll run into somebody.

Is there anything interesting out around the landing area?

[junkman306]

The night vision part is right. My dad was in the navy and told me that when they were on an aircraft carrier and they were below deck working on the jets, they had red lights on the outside of the carrier cuz they had the little rail walkways on the hull that led them to the top deck. The red lights allowed your eyes to adjust quicker so you didn't walk out the door and fall over the rail and overboard.