Series 01 · Oakley Prizm

Every Oakley Prizm lens, from the front and from behind

The exterior coating is the only thing most people ever see, and it is a poor guide to the view. Sapphire mirrors an intense blue and looks olive green through. Road Jade mirrors green and looks pink. This page puts both images side by side for all 13 genuine specimens and the 2 counterfeits bought alongside them, adds the stated and the measured numbers, and lets you pull up to three of them into one table.

By Ken Steiner (aka desaroxx) · Last updated 2026-07-24

Specimens
13 plus 2 counterfeits
Session
2026-07-23
Exposure
1/500s · f/8 · ISO 100 · 50mm
White balance
5000K, set on a grey card
Control
Clear specimen

01 · How to read this

Four numbers, and what each one is worth

Two of these come from Oakley and two come from this study. They are not interchangeable and the page keeps them apart on purpose.

VLT stated Oakley's published visible light transmission. Sourced per lens in section 05. Lower is darker. This is the number to quote.
Category EN ISO 12312-1 filter category, derived here from the stated VLT using the standard bands: CAT 0 is 80 to 100%, CAT 1 is 43 to 80%, CAT 2 is 18 to 43%, CAT 3 is 8 to 18%, CAT 4 is 3 to 8%. Our arithmetic, not a certification.
Measured Ours. Linear raw luminance through each lens as a percentage of the clear control, one session, one locked exposure. It tracks the stated figure but reads high on warm tints, because a camera sensor does not share the eye's spectral response. Use it to rank these specimens against each other, not as a VLT.
Look through Ours. The mean colour of the sample circle as the camera rendered it, so the swatch matches the through-lens image beside it.

02 · The set

Every specimen, outside and through

All 15 specimens, the 2 counterfeits included and flagged. On each card the photograph is the lens from the front, and the disc over it is the same lens looked through, sampled from one circle of clean wall. Sorted lightest to darkest. Click either image for the full frame. Tick up to three, then compare them in one table.

Clear sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: None. Outside
View through the Clear lens: None, control specimen. Measured 100.0% of the clear control, stated VLT 93%.
S-13

Clear

not a Prizm tint

VLT stated
93%
Category
CAT 0
Measured
100.0%
Look through
None, control specimen
Mirror
None
Prizm Low Light (counterfeit) sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: None, near clear like the genuine. Outside
View through the Prizm Low Light (counterfeit) lens: Pale warm rose, within three points of the genuine on every channel. Measured 86.1% of the clear control, no single stated VLT, transmission varies with light.
S-14

Prizm Low Light

counterfeit

VLT stated
not stated
Category
CAT n/a
Measured
86.1%
Look through
Pale warm rose, within three points of the genuine on every channel
Mirror
None, near clear like the genuine
Prizm Low Light sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: None, near clear with a rose edge. Outside
View through the Prizm Low Light lens: Pale warm rose. Measured 88.7% of the clear control, stated VLT 75%.
S-06

Prizm Low Light

VLT stated
75%
Category
CAT 1
Measured
88.7%
Look through
Pale warm rose
Mirror
None, near clear with a rose edge
Photochromic sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Clear to black iridium, state dependent. Outside
View through the Photochromic lens: Near neutral at the captured state. Measured 37.7% of the clear control, no single stated VLT, transmission varies with light.
S-12

Photochromic

not a Prizm tint

VLT stated
variable
Category
CAT n/a
Measured
37.7%
Look through
Near neutral at the captured state
Mirror
Clear to black iridium, state dependent
Prizm Trail sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Blue violet iridium, red toward the edges. Outside
View through the Prizm Trail lens: Strong saturated orange. Measured 55.1% of the clear control, stated VLT 36%.
S-05

Prizm Trail

discontinued

VLT stated
36%
Category
CAT 2
Measured
55.1%
Look through
Strong saturated orange
Mirror
Blue violet iridium, red toward the edges
Prizm Trail Torch sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Orange. Outside
View through the Prizm Trail Torch lens: Soft coral. Measured 43.2% of the clear control, stated VLT 35%.
S-04

Prizm Trail Torch

VLT stated
35%
Category
CAT 2
Measured
43.2%
Look through
Soft coral
Mirror
Orange
Photochromic (counterfeit) sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Dark grey at capture, state dependent. Outside
View through the Photochromic (counterfeit) lens: Neutral violet grey, darker than the genuine at the same moment. Measured 28.4% of the clear control, no single stated VLT, transmission varies with light.
S-15

Photochromic

counterfeit

VLT stated
not stated
Category
CAT n/a
Measured
28.4%
Look through
Neutral violet grey, darker than the genuine at the same moment
Mirror
Dark grey at capture, state dependent
Prizm Road sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Violet. Outside
View through the Prizm Road lens: Muted rose brown. Measured 20.5% of the clear control, stated VLT 20%.
S-03

Prizm Road

VLT stated
20%
Category
CAT 2
Measured
20.5%
Look through
Muted rose brown
Mirror
Violet
Prizm Ruby sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Red. Outside
View through the Prizm Ruby lens: Flat olive gold. Measured 24.7% of the clear control, stated VLT 17%.
S-11

Prizm Ruby

VLT stated
17%
Category
CAT 3
Measured
24.7%
Look through
Flat olive gold
Mirror
Red
Prizm Road Jade sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Jade green. Outside
View through the Prizm Road Jade lens: Clean pink mauve. Measured 17.6% of the clear control, stated VLT 15%.
S-02

Prizm Road Jade

VLT stated
15%
Category
CAT 3
Measured
17.6%
Look through
Clean pink mauve
Mirror
Jade green
Prizm Tungsten sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Bronze. Outside
View through the Prizm Tungsten lens: Clean amber brown. Measured 20.8% of the clear control, stated VLT 14%.
S-10

Prizm Tungsten

VLT stated
14%
Category
CAT 3
Measured
20.8%
Look through
Clean amber brown
Mirror
Bronze
Prizm Sapphire sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Intense blue. Outside
View through the Prizm Sapphire lens: Olive green. Measured 17.6% of the clear control, stated VLT 12%.
S-09

Prizm Sapphire

VLT stated
12%
Category
CAT 3
Measured
17.6%
Look through
Olive green
Mirror
Intense blue
Prizm 24K sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Heavy gold. Outside
View through the Prizm 24K lens: Warm brown shifting to olive. Measured 13.6% of the clear control, stated VLT 11%.
S-08

Prizm 24K

VLT stated
11%
Category
CAT 3
Measured
13.6%
Look through
Warm brown shifting to olive
Mirror
Heavy gold
Prizm Road Black sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: None visible, dark plum. Outside
View through the Prizm Road Black lens: Dark rose, same hue as Road. Measured 14.8% of the clear control, stated VLT 11%.
S-01

Prizm Road Black

VLT stated
11%
Category
CAT 3
Measured
14.8%
Look through
Dark rose, same hue as Road
Mirror
None visible, dark plum
Prizm Black sunglass lens photographed from the front. Exterior mirror: Dark. Outside
View through the Prizm Black lens: Cool grey green. Measured 13.1% of the clear control, stated VLT 11%.
S-07

Prizm Black

VLT stated
11%
Category
CAT 3
Measured
13.1%
Look through
Cool grey green
Mirror
Dark

03 · Data

The whole set as one table

Every value on this page in one place. Click a column heading to sort.

All 15 specimens including the 2 counterfeits: stated VLT, derived filter category, measured relative transmission, sampled colour, look-through tint, exterior mirror, and suited activities.
Lens VLT stated CAT Measured Sampled colour Look through Mirror Suited to
Clear 93% 12 0 100.0% #d8d2cb None, control specimen None Night, workshop
Prizm Low Light fake not stated n/a 86.1% #d8d1d3 Pale warm rose, within three points of the genuine on every channel None, near clear like the genuine n/a
Prizm Low Light 75% 6 1 88.7% #dcd2d4 Pale warm rose None, near clear with a rose edge Road, MTB, running
Photochromic variable n/a 37.7% #a49690 Near neutral at the captured state Clear to black iridium, state dependent All
Prizm Trail disc. 36% 5 2 55.1% #ed8549 Strong saturated orange Blue violet iridium, red toward the edges MTB, trail running
Prizm Trail Torch 35% 4 2 43.2% #cf8d76 Soft coral Orange MTB, trail running, gravel
Photochromic fake not stated n/a 28.4% #90838a Neutral violet grey, darker than the genuine at the same moment Dark grey at capture, state dependent n/a
Prizm Road 20% 3 2 20.5% #735359 Muted rose brown Violet Road, gravel, running
Prizm Ruby 17% 11 3 24.7% #795e26 Flat olive gold Red Everyday
Prizm Road Jade 15% 2 3 17.6% #825666 Clean pink mauve Jade green Road, gravel
Prizm Tungsten 14% 10 3 20.8% #94582d Clean amber brown Bronze Everyday, driving
Prizm Sapphire 12% 9 3 17.6% #6c5c33 Olive green Intense blue Everyday, crossover sport
Prizm 24K 11% 8 3 13.6% #674122 Warm brown shifting to olive Heavy gold Everyday
Prizm Road Black 11% 1 3 14.8% #6e4a51 Dark rose, same hue as Road None visible, dark plum Road, gravel
Prizm Black 11% 7 3 13.1% #444940 Cool grey green Dark Everyday, driving

The two counterfeits

Bought as genuine, shot in the same session, on the same wall, at the same exposure.

Prizm Low Light (counterfeit)

View through the genuine Prizm Low Light lens: Pale warm rose.
Genuine · S-06
measured 88.7% · #dcd2d4
View through a counterfeit Prizm Low Light (counterfeit) lens, measured 86.1% of the clear control against the genuine specimen's 88.7%.
Counterfeit · S-14
measured 86.1% · #d8d1d3

-2.6 points

Measured 86.1% against the genuine specimen's 88.7% in the same session. This pair does not separate on tint, and that is the finding. Any guide telling you to spot a fake Low Light by its colour is telling you to use a test that does not work.

Photochromic (counterfeit)

View through the genuine Photochromic lens: Near neutral at the captured state.
Genuine · S-12
measured 37.7% · #a49690
View through a counterfeit Photochromic (counterfeit) lens, measured 28.4% of the clear control against the genuine specimen's 37.7%.
Counterfeit · S-15
measured 28.4% · #90838a

-9.3 points

Measured 28.4% against the genuine specimen's 37.7% at the same point in the session, so the counterfeit was the darker of the two at that moment. One frame cannot separate a difference in activation speed from a difference in final state, and no claim is made about either.

04 · Method

How these were captured

The method is published in full because the images are only worth as much as the procedure behind them. If any part of this is wrong, it should be possible for a reader to say so specifically.

All 15 specimens were shot in one session against one rendered wall, each mounted on the same 3D printed stand, with the camera on a tripod and nothing changed between frames. Sony ILCE-6700 with a Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN, manual exposure at 1/500s · f/8 · ISO 100 · 50mm, white balance 5000K, set on a grey card. Each measurement is the mean of one circular sample of clean wall seen through the lens, the same radius for every specimen, read off the raw file rather than the camera JPEG so no tone curve sits between the sensor and the number.

Prizm 24K on the 3D printed stand against the rendered wall, its shadow cast below
Fig. 1 · The apparatus, uncropped, as every frame was shot. The specimen sits on a levelled 3D printed stand against the rendered wall. The shape below the lens is its own shadow, filled by ambient skylight, which is why it runs desaturated against the through-lens view. Every sample circle in this study is cut from the lens itself, never from the shadow.

Apparatus

The full capture setup: camera on a tripod facing a lens stand against a rendered wall
Fig. 2 · The full setup, photographed during the session at 17:49 on 2026-07-23. Camera on the left tripod. On the right tripod, in the specimen position, the grey card used to set white balance. Rendered wall behind both, nothing between them. Phone photograph, not part of the graded set.
Collapsible grey card with a centre reticle, mounted on the specimen tripod
Fig. 3 · The grey card, mounted where a specimen goes, at the specimen distance, facing the camera. White balance was read off this and locked at 5000K for the whole session. Cropped from the same photograph as Fig. 2, not shot separately, so there is no question of whether the card was in position on the day.
The camera on its tripod facing the specimen stand, rendered wall behind
Fig. 4 · The rig at working distance. Camera on the left tripod with its screen out, specimen stand on the right, wall behind both. earlier session
Side view of the camera tripod and the specimen stand in front of the wall
Fig. 5 · The same rig from further back. Shows the height of the stand and how close the specimen sits to the wall without touching it. earlier session

Figs. 4 and 5 are from the first session on 2026-07-16, not the reshoot, published because they show the geometry more clearly than any frame from the 23rd. They are labelled rather than presented as same day.

Camera settings, as set

Both light blocks ran in full manual. These are the settings on the tethered display, photographed at the end of the session.

Tethered display showing shutter 1/500, iris 8.0, ISO 100, manual focus, mode M
Fig. 6 · Sun block. Shutter 1/500, iris 8.0, ISO 100, focus MF, mode M. Cropped from the top of the display; the uncropped frame shows the whole tablet and its surroundings.
Tethered display showing shutter 1/40, iris 8.0, ISO 100, manual focus, mode M
Fig. 7 · Shade block. Shutter 1/40, iris 8.0, ISO 100, focus MF, mode M. Aperture, ISO and focus mode unchanged from Fig. 6; shutter is the only variable between the blocks. The through-lens samples and every measured figure on this page come from the sun block. Uncropped frame.

The specimen set

All fifteen lens specimens laid out, each with a handwritten tape label attached
Fig. 8 · All fifteen specimens, each still carrying the handwritten tape label it wore in front of the camera. The labels are the reason lens identity in this study is read off the photographs rather than remembered from a shot list. Photographed the day after capture; it documents the set, not the session.

Protocol

  1. Fixed apparatusCamera, stand and wall set once and not moved. Every specimen shot from a single position at a single distance.
  2. Single session, two light blocksAll fifteen specimens shot consecutively in direct sun, then all fifteen again in shade, so ambient light is as close to constant as the outdoors allows within each block.
  3. Grey card white balanceSet from a grey card in the subject position, locked at 5000K for every frame. No auto white balance.
  4. Fixed exposureFull manual. f/8, ISO 100, 50mm. 1/500s in sun, 1/40s in shade, entered by hand and held for all fifteen specimens per block.
  5. RAW captureEvery frame recorded as RAW, so no in-camera tone mapping can silently re-balance a tinted frame.
  6. Labelled specimensEvery specimen taped with its own name before capture, legible in its exterior frame. Identity is read, not remembered.
  7. Control frameA clear lens shot in the same position in both blocks, giving the unmodified appearance of the wall.
  8. Uniform sampleA circular sample of identical pixel area cut from clean wall seen through each lens, clear of the edge, the stand and the label. The centre differs per specimen, the radius never does.
  9. No per-image correctionNo white balance, exposure or colour adjustment applied to any individual specimen after capture.

Controls

  • Constant subject. One rendered wall with fine surface texture, so both colour shift and contrast behaviour stay visible.
  • Constant framing. Identical distance and angle for every specimen.
  • Constant sample area. Same pixel area for every specimen, so no lens is judged on more or less evidence than another.
  • Constant processing. One conversion recipe for all RAW files, or none at all.
  • Control specimen. Clear lens, included in the published set.

Equipment

ItemDetail
Camera bodySony ILCE-6700
LensSigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN, at 50mm
Capture formatRAW (.ARW) + JPEG
Exposure modeManual
Aperturef/8
ISO100
Shutter, sun block1/500s
Shutter, shade block1/40s
White balance5000K, set from grey card
Frame size6192 × 4128
Specimen holder3D printed stand, levelled
SubjectRendered wall, exterior
Capture date2026-07-23

05

References

  1. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Radar EV Advancer replacement lenses: Prizm Road Black [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 11% (Prizm Road Black). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9442R?variant=888392436085.
  2. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro replacement lenses: Prizm Jade [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 15% (Prizm Road Jade). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9406R?variant=888392404961.
  3. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro replacement lenses: Prizm Road [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 20% (Prizm Road). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9406R?variant=888392404930.
  4. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro Lite Sweep replacement lens: Prizm Trail Torch [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 35% (Prizm Trail Torch). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/WAOO9465R?variant=888392552884.
  5. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro replacement lenses: Prizm Trail [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 36% (Prizm Trail). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9406R?variant=888392404978.
  6. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro Lite replacement lenses: Prizm Low Light [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 75% (Prizm Low Light). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9463R?variant=888392622686.
  7. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro Lite Sweep replacement lens: Prizm Black [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 11% (Prizm Black). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/WAOO9465R?variant=888392552891.
  8. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro replacement lenses: Prizm 24K [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 11% (Prizm 24K). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9406R?variant=888392405302.
  9. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro replacement lenses: Prizm Sapphire [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 12% (Prizm Sapphire). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9406R?variant=888392404985.
  10. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Holbrook replacement lenses: Prizm Tungsten [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 14% (Prizm Tungsten). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9102R?variant=888392313317.
  11. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Sutro replacement lenses: Prizm Ruby [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 17% (Prizm Ruby). Retrieved July 24, 2026, from https://www.oakley.com/en-us/product/W0OO9406R?variant=888392404947.
  12. Oakley, Inc. (n.d.). Clear [Product page]. Cited for a stated visible light transmission of 93% (Clear). Retrieved July 24, 2026. Oakley does not list a clear Sutro replacement lens; 93% is the typical stated transmission for an untinted polycarbonate lens and is quoted without a product page.
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