I’ve had nothing but EOTech’s in the past and finally decided to switch over. When I turn on the T1 Micro, I can’t see anything until setting 8. What I do see on there is just a red swirly/blob blur. I tried to take a photo of it and my phone shows a perfect red dot. Are my eyes that bad or am I doing something wrong? I e-mailed the gentlemen on here who I purchased it from (he has been more than helpful), and this is what he replied.
"Brennan, is it your first time using an Aimpoint? I thought it was weird when I first bought it but it took me a couple days to get used to it. I can’t remember the exact setting I ran it on, but it was pretty low (remember the first 4 settings are for NV). I usually turn it down until I see no red reflecting on the sides of the tube.
I’ve had three aimpoints, the T1 you now have, a M4s, and a H1 (the only one I’m keeping) and besides a slightly smaller dot on the M4s (its 2moa) they functioned identically.
Here’s how you can tell if there’s something wrong with it… turn up the intensity and then holding it in your hand spin it clockwise or counterclockwise while looking through the tube (keeping the dot in the middle) if the dot doesn’t turn (it should not) then there’s no problem and its just the way your eye perceives the dot.
Hope that makes sense.
If you have any other questions, please let me know.
PS It grows on you. I think the problem was I tried to run it on too high of a setting and the dot becomes a bit of a blob. When I got used to running it on a lower setting (some people even keep the front bikini cap on so they can turn it down even more) then it felt perfect. I actually almost returned my T1 the first time I used it in favor of an Eotech but I’m glad I didn’t. I’ve tried many of my friends EoTechs since and none of them could really compare with the micros for me."
Any input would be greatly appreciated… I feel lost here… I really can’t see a red dot, are my eyes just bad?
When I use my T1 in daylight setting 8 is lowest that I use. On setting 7 I can see dot on dark background if I really concentrate to do it.
Not seeing perfect dot can be result of eye astigmatism (I have this, my dot looks more like comet). When you take sight, look at dot and rotate sights around it’s optical axis and blur does not move - it’s your eye. If blur move with sight rotation it’s either dirty lens on unit problem.
I don’t know what shape your eyes are in…my 40+ YO eyes suffer from nearsighted astigmatism. You might want to get them checked.
I went down the same path…had and Eotech and swtiched over to an Aimpoint (Midway R1 special). I turn the brightness all the way down to just barely visible and zero, then go one click brighter for regular use.
When I first switched over, I thought I had a better sight picture with the Eotech, but agree that the Aimpoint just takes some getting used to. With the Aimpoint, I notice blooming and something resembles a ‘J’ if I look too long/hard through the tube. Remember to blink occasionally:smile:
Yeah, mine seems more like a comet and not a dot… I know Aimpoint doesn’t compare to cheap red dots, but I haven’t had any issues using $50 ones from Dick’s Sporting Goods before. I guess my eye sight is bad? I see nothing but blurs
Outside in mid day, you will be hard pressed to even see setting 8. The odd dot shape is likely due to the way your eyes see the dot, and this is common. The fact that your picture shows a perfect circle is evidence enough that it is your eyes and nothing is wrong with the T1. The first few settings are NV and you won’t be able to see them without NV. The lower visible settings are generally only for night use so it seems to me, from your description that everything is goot to go with your T1.
The smaller and brighter dot - the more astigmatism kicks in.
Whe I use cheap RDS with 7-15 MOA dots, I also have no such problems. But my Aimpoint M4S was very “comet”. When I went to larger dot on T1 it still is not perfect, but definitely more round. Actually this was one of main factors I switched from M4S to T1. Other one was that, according to popular knowledge, my HK MR223 rifle is so heavy that I could not lift it up with M4S on it :lol:
I have the same issues with my eyes. I found that moving the RDS as far forward as possible and keeping my head back away from it helped with the blurring. This may only work for me and my 57 year old eyeball focal length requirements though…
Full Disclosure; I work as a Pro-Staff member for Aimpoint.
Now onto the answer. As already mentioned the first several settings are for night vision and you will not see them with the naked eye so no issues there. The dot shape issues come from the way your eye is perceiving the dot. If you have an astigmatism the dot may appear to be misshapen. If you stare at the dot it will appear to be misshapen. Don’t look at the dot! Huh, but how…?
The “trick” is to simply superimpose the dot onto the target, keeping your focus on the target. It will also help to keep the dot at the the lowest setting you find suitable to the lighting conditions.
Not all red dot optics use the same technology. This is why some people see a nice round dot with some optics and other shapes with other optics.
Stick with it for a while, and remember to keep your focus on the target. You won’t find another red dot on the market with the durability and battery life of an Aimpoint.
I know for me (I have a T1 on my duty rifle and an M4s on my rifle at home) even looking thru the Aimpoint with my glasses off the dot is somewhat blurred. With my glasses on it’s a pinpoint and very sharp. So I’d wager an astygmatism or other eye variance will give you this. The advice above - to concentrate on the TARGET is excellent.
Just for fun, you can look though your rear BUIS. The dot should look sharp when you do this.
In my experience with my T1, Eotech and changing eyeglass prescriptions, the dot is only as sharp as your vision. So if your vision is a little fuzzy, the target and the dot will be a little fuzzy. My astigmatism isn’t perfectly corrected, so I see a slight comet tail on my T1. When shooting It isn’t bothersome. A new eyeglass prescription would help you see the dot and the target more clearly.
