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Photo gear review: Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses with ImpactX lenses -UPDATE
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Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses
When you're out shooting, there's nothing worse than squinting so much that you miss what's going on around you. Worse still is when squinting makes you miss a photo opportunity. A quality pair of sunglasses can make all of the difference.
Enter Rudy Project's Rydon sunglasses with polarized photochromic ImpactX lenses. Yes, it's a mouthful, but it all defines a quality pair of performance specs that is a great choice for every photographer.
Let's start with the reason you need to wear them, the lenses. I've never worn lenses as clear as these. ImpactX is guaranteed to be unbreakable for life, and have a highly scratch resistant coating (I should know, I've dropped them on rocks and pavement). The lightweight photochromic lenses change from lighting condition to lighting condition in seconds. I didn't really notice it until I thought about it: I was seeing things consistently from shade to clouds to bright light.
As a photographer, the polarizing lenses are a big thing for me. I expected enhanced contrast and I got it in spades. Subjects and scenes that otherwise might have seemed flat had great contrast and depth, something that I was able to repeat in some of my shots (I may have missed those opportunities without the sunglasses). The clarity of the lenses themselves is only enhanced by the polarizing. A most pleasant side effect is that I can see LCD screens clearly even with them on, a major benefit when I'm shooting outdoors.
The frames are lightweight and comfortable, and clearly well-built. Instead of things being molded or glued into place, the important things like hinges and the nose piece use real metal hardware. There are no sharp lines and nothing diggs in; the padding on the arms is a smooth rubber that fits my head (and the glasses) like a glove. It's a very performance sport style of sunglasses, without being too aggressive.
There have been a couple of situations where I wish the Rydon's photochromic lenses had gotten a little bit darker, but I was facing the sun almost directly. I switched out the Rydons for a darker pair of sunglasses and found that it really didn't matter. It was still really bright. It shouldn't stop you from picking up a pair, but if you're hesitating a major plus is that the lenses are replaceable. Don't need the polarizing? Pop in a different sent of lenses. Rudy Project has something for every situation.
Rudy Project Rydon sunglasses with ImpactX photochromic polarizing grey lenses are available for $249 at the Rudy Project online store and from other local and online dealers. For a complete list in US, visit Rudy Project's Web site.
Update: Rudy Project is running a killer promo where if you buy a Rudy Sunglass Kit for $199.99 you get a free helmet, bag, second Core, Non-Specialty lens, Hat and T. Although the ImpactX Specialty lens is excluded, it is a smoking deal. Check them out at www.e-rudy.com
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