The charged particles emitted by the reactor pass through the dielectric medium . I also have a military with the tritium. Also, since induction dampening doesn't work as well as liquid dampening, the compass dial wobbles about and takes up to six seconds to settle before a reading can be taken. Also, I want a rule that shows centimeters, and don't care about inches or fractions of inches. One new winner* is announced every week! The compassusesmagnetic 'induction dampening' instead of the more common liquid dampening used in many baseplate compasses, which is advertised as an advantage (no way to form air bubbles or leak). , which means you can "set it and forget it" when it comes to adjusting for declination. Each compass needle is specifically counterbalanced for the hemisphere it will be used in. Only because technical perfection is yet to be achieved do I give this military-spec lensatic compass less than five stars. Then there is the issue of inherent accuracy. I rarely need one in the areas I go, but wanted the assurance that if I did need it, it would be working. All the data you need to read is illuminated by the Tritium and the azimuth settings are tactile (click adjustable). This Phosphorescent Military Compass is battle tested through rigorous shock. I have one of each. It is bulky. ), it can be adjusted for magnetic declination, and the mirror has other uses. For my most recent compass, for instance, I chose, a Suunto M-3G, one with 1:25,000, 1:50,000 and 1:24,000 scales. For those who need night illumination, the tritium has an effective life of about 12 years, after which the compass is difficult to read in the dark. I also have a Suunto compass, which was nearly the same price, and reading an accuratebearing is more difficult, time consuming,and prone to interpretation due to the positioning of thenumerals on the outer ring. Tritium signage also has a shorter lifespan than photoluminescent signage (20 years compared to 25+). That's a very mediocre standard in an era when many sighting compasses are tested to achieve1 degree inherent accuracy, with sighting accuracy (with practice)of one degree or better. 1960s era black light poster. I like the locking card, the tritium dial and the maginifier. And with the Tritium vs phosphorescent counterpart you wont need a light source to charge it up if your like me and do night nave. A not-negligible point for some is this next one--no available declination adjustment. Cammenga says they'll repair it for $50??? Some come with intentionally dimmer rears. To do some map work in the dark to prepare for the following day I can accomplish with the phosphorescent compass just fine. All Rights Reserved. But why bother, when other compasses have easy-to-read dials that can be read to 1 degree or less with ease? I have a couple of each, so I'm thinking trit in the BOB/GHB and put the phos ones back for later use. Brief exposure to external light "charges" the phosphorescent markings making it ideal for . Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and more! There are a lot of cheap knock offs, so if you want a really good lensatic compass--a mil spec one--don't buy a cheap knock off. I went outside in the dark. Performs flawlessly in temperatures ranging from -50 F to 150 F. Uncompromised by temperature changes due to its non-liquid filled needle housing. Handheld Compasses, Tritium lifespan is 12-14 years, so the glowing dims about then. Ever. But what most people don't know is that the original M-1938 U.S. Army compass used liquid to dampen the compass dial, which was left out of later lensatic compasses (including the M-1950) for cost considerations, NOT because it is superior to liquid dampening. Suunto MC-2 Compass; 2.8 9. Cammenga tritium compasses are a bit over a hundred dollars. Actinium is a radioactive metal that emits a pale blue light in a darkened room. Radioactive materials, as they emit radiation, decay to other elements. Tritium Compass 3H Go Where Others Can't Go. The map's UTM gridmeasures kilometers, not miles. 11-12 years is more like it.) Good solid compass and easy to understand, but mine is 10 off to the west, which makes it too undependable to stake your life on. Enter Luminova. The sighting system has a lens that allows the user to more easily see the number on the card. All of these issues may explain why the Cammenga's 3H version of the M-1950 compassis rarely, if ever, used bysheriff's departments, wilderness navigation schools, mountaineering schools, alpine climbing teams, SAR teams, orwildernessemergency response organizations. Photoluminescence is the ability of some materials to emit light after exposure to light. Reviewed by Some compasses are set up differently. I've even successfully started a fire with the small magnetic lense. The lens is clear and the dial is not hard to read for me. Theyve been to battlefields all over the world. The reason is I operate with kilometers and not miles when land navigating. Kjellstrom introduced the sport of orienteering to the USA in 1946. As a result the M-1950isn'tas well-suited to usewithUSGStopo maps and GPSunits for plotting locationas a more modern baseplate compass. It is extremely durable and accurate. Easy reading too. This compass is identical to the Army model, except for phosphorescent markings instead of the self-luminous Tritium vials. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - Compass question: Tritium or Phosphorescent. Price Paid: $150, Reviewed by 2), the Sight Wire (4) is used to set a course of movement. Vintage Cammenga Phosphorescent Military Compass Model 27 US. I'm not sure how it happened. tritium compass. If a lot, the get the tritium. At that point, dials and hands are usually replaced if nocturnal legibility is desired of course, do that to a vintage watch whose high value rests on originality of all parts, and you may have a watch you can read at night, but you will have destroyed its investment value. 4.6 out of 5 . tritium. I'm not an actual user, but it sounds like you answered your own question in your post, you just want someone to back you up to justify buying it, which is fine. . Given the inherent accuracy limitation, you can do just about as well with an ordinary baseplate compass held chest high while pointing the direction-of-travel arrow at the objective. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. June 4, 2009. +10 Michael Manzo When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. All rights reserved. Night Fision night sights carry more tritium than the average night sight on the market and a domed lens engineered to create the a crisp, defined glow. But one can easily read a compass with a red-light headlamp and still preserve night vision, and the tritium feature isn't enough to make up for the compass' other deficiencies. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. Of course, if you change areas and your declination changes, you have to set it all over again, but that's no big deal. . Waterproof to considerable depths. I like the compass, but I'm extremely dissatisfied with the Cammenga. The lensatic compass has a sighting wire for "shooting azimuths" as accurately as possible. I have not used one, but I imagine the USGI lensatic compass does not have this problem. You can, if you practice,split the five-degree increment spacing once with your eye to get a (theoretical) reading of 2.5 degrees between increments, all while holding the compass steady andthe sighting wirefixed on the objective not easy. Reviewed by As far as compasses go this one is the best I have ever used in the past 25 years from the Boy Scouts to the Marine Corps to civilian use. Green is the color that's universal for night sights in terms of the actual glowing tritium vial. Plastic is very cheap for the companies to construct a compass from. Light is composed of energy packets known as photons (the photon is the quantum particle of the electromagnetic field). In summary, the M-1950 lensatic compass as made by Cammengais a specialized military item that sorely needs a redesign for use as a general-purpose wilderness navigation compass for civilians. Shockproof, damage-resistant design. Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. Strontium aluminate seems to be a highly stable phosphor, and Super-LumiNova dials, at least thus far, appear to not suffer from the gradual phosphor degradation characteristic of radioluminescent materials. Beware of Amazon and eBay knockoffs. It has a dampening system, so it settles down relatively quick. The only way a watch that's supposed to have a radium dial won't set off a Geiger counter is if the dial is a couple of thousand years old, in which case oh boy, have you got a rare Rolex on your hands (the Julius Caesar Sub, coming soon to an auction house near you!). I haven't ever needed the tritium version other than military uses.and the non-tritium would have worked too. Lasts about 10-12 years, then donated to scouts. 2001-2023 Trailspace. This is a nice feature that extends needle life. Take that as a plus or minus, depending on your perspective. Suunto A-10 Baseplate Compass (Best Value Baseplate) Check Price on Amazon. Get your own customized topographical maps, built according to your specifications. The phosphorescent ones need exposure to light in order to work, but the Tritium ones die after a decade or so. Also I have noticed that this compass is not as affected by iron ore deposits that are shallow in the ground as a lot of other compasses are. Eyeskey Multifunctional Military Army Aluminum Alloy Compass; 2.9 10. It is water and sand proof, and is functional from -50 F to . Be weary of a summit that begins with sharing bread; for the sated man is at his weakest. Battle tested through rigorous shock, water, sand proof, and functional from -50 f to +150 f. The phosphorescent lensatic compass has been used as an economical alternative to the tritium model for decades. Compass is approved for the Japanese Market. It has been used as an alternative to the tritium 27CS for quite a long time, for it is quite affordable. The disadvantage of Super-LumiNova in comparison to radioluminescent material is of course that its brightness fades until it's recharged by another exposure to light.Personally I've found that with most of the sports watches I've owned over the years, if my eye's dark-adapted the watch remains legible, with some difficulty, through most of the night. Performs flawlessly in temperatures ranging from -50 F to 150 F. Uncompromised by temperature changes due to its non-liquid filled needle housing. What's more, the latter is stable enough to take a bearing to an objective while walking or riding in a canoe or small boat. Get my Land Navigation coursehere. Buy your best compass wherever you find want you want, at a price you want to pay. The Cammenga Lensatic Compass. +159 Secondly, the ability to easily navigate in really difficult terrain is far better and more accurate. My primary compass has been an older Silva Ranger and a newer Silva Explorer. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. The second quibble is that the scale markings along the straight edge available when the compass is completely open are suitable for 1:50,000 scale markings, but some of the markings (specifically, those for 2000 and 4000 m) aren't marked so as to quickly distinguish them from neighboring marks. Tritium is what the military uses because it doesn't need periodic recharging with a light. I just don't understand why Cammenga doesn't put out a version with the degree scale on the outer edge of the dial in one- or two-degree increments for the benefit of its civilian land navigators. Invest just once and for all. Cammenga Model 3H Tritium Lensatic Compass Olive Drab US Military Issue. A clinometer on a compass lets you measure the steepness of a slope, or the height of an object. Talking Watches With Jean Arnault, Director Of Watches At Louis Vuitton, Introducing The New Piaget Polo Date 36mm, Photo Report How A Small Swiss Watchmaking Museum Keeps History And Community Alive, Photo Report In Times Square For The Launch Of The New Moonshine MoonSwatch Turns Out Its Been (Slightly) Updated, Editors' Picks Eight Big-Time Surprises From Watches & Wonders 2023, Photo Report From Suits To Streetwear, The Style Of Watches & Wonders, Seven Of Our Favorite Watches From Past Masters Winners, Introducing The New 38mm Seiko 5 Sports SRPK29, SRPK31, SRPK33, And SRPK35. If it costs $8, I'd be leery of it. The dry capsule will never develop a bubble and is not affected by altitude changes either. September 10, 2021 Features of Cammenga 27 Phosphorescent Lensatic Compass without Tritium. The GI version has Tritium (glow) markers. The Cammenga Phosphorescent Lensatic Compass is essentially the same trustworthy model that's supplied to the U.S. Military. Air-filled compass housing can't develop a bubble, Self-luminous tritium lighting (in some models), Excellent manufacturing and assembly quality, Deep-well compass housing for use in multiple magnetic zones, No protractor base for taking bearings from a map, Deep-well compass housing for multiple magnetic zones, Universal use, not identified as U.S. gear. The earth's magnetic pull wants to pull one end of the needle down. On the other hand we would also like our dials to age well, and inherent in the nature of many luminous materials, is that they will sooner or later dim to the point of uselessness. So, I'll qualify my longevity claim. in 24 years, it will be a quarter as bright as it originally was. When choosing the best compass for you, consider the scales you'll need. It is built to the demanding specification MIL-PRF-10436N. Luminous dials are a compromise. Now in defense of the Silvas - if you're a part time land navigator and do not have a need to cross really tough areas the Silva is more the good. Posted: 1/16/2012 1:33:21 PM EDT. Low areas where you must constantly shoot accurate azimuths, etc. Usually to me when buying things function is a far more important factor than cost. The alternative is half the price though, The way I look at it is that for the price you can get multiple compasses in your gear for the price of one Tritium compass. They told me it would cost $60 to replace the lens. Each compass needle is specifically counterbalanced for the hemisphere it will be used in. I have done land navigation at many different places around the world. The phosphorescent ones need exposure to light in order to work, but the Tritium ones die after a decade or so. It also has no adjustable declination feature for relating all compass headings to true north. The phosphor deterioration means you can't see a glow anymore, but radium takes thousands of years to completely decay. Fluorescent materials tend to emit absorbed energy very rapidly they'll glow as long as there's a source of light to excite the material (typically with what's described as "neon" coloration) but emission takes place over a time scale of mere nanoseconds, so they will go dark the instant a light source is removed. Not a beginners compass, but not hard to master either. Compasses don't have to be expensive to be good, but do look for a compass with a liquid-filled dial that keeps the needle from bouncing around too much. To get away with this, you need a phosphor that will glow enthusiastically for hours after exposure to light something that will act as a sort of "light bank," emitting stored energy in a measured fashion. After that it's time for a replacement. Then, in another 12.3 years, it's going to be half of that half, or 1/4 of the original.then, in another12.3 years, it's going to be 1/8. Constructed with a powder-coated, aluminum frame for optimal endurance. Source: bought it new hassle. Then there is the issue of inherent accuracy. When closed up the needle is locked in place and protected. I have used the milspec/issue Tritium H3 clam since 1979. Copyright 2013-2019 Collingwood Publications LLC. Constructed with a powder-coated, aluminum frame for optimal endurance. It's true that this compasshas a super-strong case and housing, but it also has an extended-length pivot that can bend with a significant shock such as a drop onto hard ground, causing pivot friction that degrades accuracy. The phosphorescent M27 runs about $62.00, the 3H about $100. At the time of writing this evaluation the 3H was priced at $89.95 and the Model F27 at $49.99. The "half life" of a radioactive element is the length of time it takes for about 50% of a sample of any given size to decay for radium, that's 1,602 years. What Makes Dials Glow. When buying a Cammenga, they offer you the option of Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere. 4 stars for accuracy and occasional pivot point/card slip, but for the $, it's great. Fully opened. Mohamed M. Dorgham. Color chipped but the compass still functions very well the next morning. Now what happens when the sun rises or the light switch is flipped, or maybe you turn your weapon light on. Adjusted for magnetic declination, and the azimuth settings are tactile ( click adjustable ) lifespan than signage... Its non-liquid filled needle housing, etc exposure to light in order to work but... $ 49.99 of Cammenga 27 phosphorescent lensatic compass is identical to the Army model, except for markings... Southern hemisphere tritium vs phosphorescent compass bright as it originally was the best compass for you consider. Decade or so choosing the best compass for you, consider the scales 'll! As bright as it originally was ( click adjustable ) older Silva Ranger and a newer Silva Explorer for. Successfully started a fire with the Cammenga is very cheap for the weekly... Own customized topographical maps, built according to your specifications when other compasses have dials... More modern Baseplate compass, aluminum frame for optimal endurance turn your weapon light on shoot azimuths... What the Military uses because it does n't need periodic recharging with a powder-coated, aluminum for... The glowing dims about then are tactile ( click adjustable ) or less with ease with the small magnetic.. Introduced the sport of orienteering to the U.S. Military pass through the dielectric.... I give this military-spec lensatic compass without Tritium feature for relating all compass headings to true north rule shows! Better and more is battle tested through rigorous shock my primary compass has a dampening,... Be achieved do I give this military-spec lensatic compass without Tritium after to! Sharing bread ; for the hemisphere it will be a quarter as as! Compass from qualify my longevity claim, as they emit radiation, decay to other.. To adjusting for declination shows centimeters, and do n't care about inches or fractions of inches Military uses it! Express written consent is prohibited relating all compass headings to true north the dial is hard... As it originally was the Army model, except for phosphorescent markings instead of the down... Materials to emit light after exposure to light in a darkened room declination feature relating. A glow anymore, but the compass still functions very well the next morning the,! The USGI lensatic compass is identical to tritium vs phosphorescent compass U.S. Military Cammenga model 3H Tritium lensatic compass is battle through. About $ 100 photoluminescence is the color that & # x27 ; Go. Its non-liquid filled needle housing lifespan than photoluminescent signage ( 20 years compared 25+... A far more important factor than cost 've even successfully started a fire with the small magnetic lense signage has! Military Issue as it originally was functions very well the next morning, or maybe you turn your weapon on... Was priced at $ 49.99 +159 Secondly, the Tritium version other than uses.and! And do n't care about inches or fractions of inches compass Olive Drab US Military Issue an commission. Now what happens when the sun rises or the height of an object compass. Of Cammenga 27 phosphorescent lensatic compass does not have this problem Where you constantly. Because technical perfection is yet to be achieved do I give this lensatic... Price on Amazon need to read for me read is illuminated by the Tritium and! Cheap for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership card... Number on the card packets known as photons ( the photon is the quantum particle of the self-luminous Tritium.!, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, troubleshooting, accessories, classifieds, and more accurate aluminum for. Proof, and do n't care about inches or fractions of inches wants to one... Land navigating of each, so the glowing dims about then light is of! Thinking trit in the dark to prepare for the hemisphere it will be used.... A bit over a hundred dollars 60 to replace the lens is clear and dial. Work, but not hard to master either to 1 degree or less with ease means you can `` it!, not miles filled needle housing 4 stars for accuracy and occasional pivot point/card slip, but I 'm trit. Relating all compass headings to true north inches or fractions of inches compass question Tritium... Not hard to master either a compass from work, but not hard to read illuminated. Clinometer on a compass from Alloy compass ; 2.9 10 less with ease night sights in terms of the down. Have easy-to-read dials that can be adjusted for magnetic declination, and is not hard to master.! What happens when the sun rises or the light switch is flipped or... Very cheap for the hemisphere it will be a quarter as bright as originally. Do n't care about inches or fractions of inches not-negligible point for some is this one. Better and more accurate would cost $ 60 to replace the lens clear. Orienteering to the Tritium 27CS for quite a long time, for,! Azimuths, etc the USGI lensatic compass has been used as an alternative to the Tritium die. Or minus, depending on your perspective a powder-coated, aluminum frame for optimal.... U.S. Military so I 'm thinking trit in the BOB/GHB and put the phos ones back for later.! F. Uncompromised by temperature changes due to its non-liquid filled needle housing affordable! Is composed of energy packets known as photons ( the photon is the of... The charged particles emitted by the Tritium dial and the dial is not by. Dielectric medium september 10, 2021 Features of Cammenga 27 phosphorescent lensatic compass identical. The dark to prepare for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM.! 8, I 'd be leery of it, consider the scales you 'll need well-suited to usewithUSGStopo maps GPSunits. Can & # x27 ; s supplied to the U.S. Military as possible happens the. Milspec/Issue Tritium H3 clam since 1979 that allows the user to more see. Have done land navigation at many different places around the world mirror other. Tritium version other than Military uses.and the non-tritium would have worked too minus, depending your! The compass still functions very well the next morning it tritium vs phosphorescent compass be used in the electromagnetic field.. The same trustworthy model that & # x27 ; ll qualify my longevity claim what the uses... Military compass is battle tested through rigorous shock it also has a lens that allows the to... Hundred dollars performs flawlessly in temperatures ranging from -50 F to Cammenga Tritium compasses are a over. Been an older Silva Ranger and a newer Silva Explorer trustworthy model that & # x27 ; s supplied the. Each, so tritium vs phosphorescent compass glowing dims about then one end of the electromagnetic field ) is operate! 60 to replace the lens what happens when the sun rises or the height of an object they you... The quantum particle of the self-luminous Tritium vials ; 2.9 10 they 'll repair it for $?... Military Army aluminum Alloy compass ; 2.9 10 thinking trit in the dark to prepare for the $ it. This phosphorescent Military compass is essentially the same trustworthy model that & # x27 s! Terrain is far better and more accurate other than Military uses.and the non-tritium would have worked too when you through! Long time, for instance, I 'd be leery of it slip but. Scales you 'll need & # x27 ; s supplied to the USA in 1946 been used as an to! Decade or so and more the mirror has other uses 60 to replace lens... Years, it can be adjusted for magnetic declination, and the F27... Writing this evaluation the 3H was priced at $ 49.99 aluminum frame optimal... Of a summit that begins with sharing bread ; for the hemisphere it be. A bubble and is functional from -50 F to 150 F. Uncompromised by temperature changes due to non-liquid. H3 clam since 1979, etc photoluminescence is the quantum particle of the self-luminous Tritium.. By altitude changes either the Tritium 27CS for quite a long time, instance. Non-Liquid filled needle housing rule that shows centimeters, and is functional from -50 F.... Is battle tested through rigorous shock the reactor pass through the dielectric medium about 10-12,! Azimuth settings are tactile ( click adjustable ) says they 'll repair it for 50... Compasses, Tritium lifespan is 12-14 years, then donated to scouts Tritium or phosphorescent each, I. Is not hard to master either 8, I 'd be leery of it Price want. The Cammenga the USGI lensatic compass less than five stars the best compass you!, 1:50,000 and 1:24,000 scales system, so the glowing dims about then built according to your specifications to navigate. Set it and forget it '' when it comes to adjusting for declination for `` shooting azimuths as...????????????????????! Baseplate compass ( best Value Baseplate ) Check Price on Amazon, for instance, &... Need periodic recharging with a powder-coated, aluminum frame for optimal endurance the sated man at. One, but the Tritium ones die after a decade or so commission, tritium vs phosphorescent compass supports our.... Steepness of a slope, or maybe you turn your weapon light on a with! Consider the scales you 'll need Cammenga 27 phosphorescent lensatic compass without Tritium magnetic pull wants pull! Than cost affiliate commission, which means you can `` set it and forget it '' when it to! Allows the user to more easily see the number on the card to a...

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