Lenses

Smith ChromaPop vs. Oakley Prizm Lenses | Contrast-Enhancing Lens Comparison

Advances in lens technology have made today’s sunglasses more effective than ever. And contrast-enhancing lenses now seem to be available through every sports brand.

Two of the most popular sunglass lenses on the market are Smith Optics’ ChromaPop and Oakley’s Prizm. And while both companies offer great, high-quality lenses with innovative technology, we wanted to actually find the differences.

Keep reading as we give you an overview of ChromaPop and Prizm, help you figure out which is the ideal lens for you, and answer your top questions.

Prizm Lenses

Smith ChromaPop Overview

The Smith ChromaPop Lens was built to help a naturally weak spot in our color vision.  They call it color confusion. But what they’re really talking about is color overlap or crossover.

The structures in our eyes that are responsible for transmitting color are called cones. We have three types. Each type of cone (short, medium, and long) detects a different range of wavelengths. But there is some overlap in these color wavelengths and that is where our eyes struggle. The cones are telling our brains they’re seeing more than one color, and the result is reduced contrast and vividness. In other words, we lose detail in those muddied colors.

ChromaPop lenses filter help to filter out two wavelength areas where these colors overlap. The result is sharper, more vivid color vision with improved clarity and definition.

ChromaPop Advantages

  • Contrast and Clarity Enhancing – Filters specific crossovers of light so you can see clearly, differentiate between colors, and spot more details
  • Color Enhancing – Reducing overlap allows the most vivid colors to take center stage
  • Reduces Eye Fatigue – Your eyes don’t work as hard trying to distinguish between colors with similar wavelengths
  • Color Options – ChromaPop lenses come in an wide variety of colors
  • Prescription – Prescription ChromaPop lenses are available
  • Frame Styles – Good variety of lifestyle and performance frames available with ChromaPop lenses
  • Goggles – Smith also carries cycling and snow goggles with ChromaPop lenses

ChromaPop Disadvantages 

  • Not Sport Optimized – ChromaPop lenses all filter the same wavelengths, so they aren’t tuned for specific sports
  • Price – As a high-end brand Smith sunglasses with these lenses run between $150 and $250+
  • Polarization – All ChromaPop lenses are polarized, leaving those who don’t like polarization out of luck
  • Prescription Limitations – Smith does not offer any single shield sunglasses with prescription ChromaPop lenses

Oakley Prizm Overview

Oakley Prizm lenses are the latest in contrast-enhancing lenses that filter for different light conditions including flat light, shadows, and full sun. Rather than filtering based on color overlap, Oakley optimizes Prizm lenses for specific environments using custom lens colors.

To do this, Oakley uses hyper-spectral imaging to analyze light in different environments. Combined with their study of how our eyes perceive light and color, Oakley created specific dyes, used in Prizm lenses, to filter colors for each environment.

Oakley Prizm Black Lens Comparison
Comparison showing the difference between standard and Prizm lenses

The result is a collection of specialized lenses for a variety of sports and general outdoor conditions. All Prizm lenses offer increased contrast, enhanced color, and more visible detail. Learn more about this technology in our Prizm Lens Guide.

Prizm Advantages

  • Enhanced Color – Colors are more vivid for a more enjoyable visual experience
  • Increased Contrast and Detail – Prizm lenses help you spy environmental features, increasing visibility, and clarity
  • Decreased Eye Strain – Your eyes don’t need to work as hard to pick out detail, leaving them less fatigued
  • Prescription – Oakley offers prescription Prizm lenses for many of its frames, including some single-shield styles
  • Goggles – Oakley snow and MX goggles are available with Prizm lenses
  • Frames – Oakley carries a huge selection of lifestyle and sport performance frames, nearly all available with Prizm lenses
  • Sports Performance – Optimized lenses for improved performance in specific sports environments
  • Polarization Optional – Polarized Prizm lenses, as well as Iridium coatings, are available as options (alongside non-polarized lenses)

Prizm Disadvantages

  • Price –Oakley is a premium brand and their Prizm lens sunglasses run between $125 and $300+

Smith ChromaPop vs. Oakley Prizm Lenses – Which is Better?

Both Smith’s ChromaPop and Oakley’s Prizm are high-quality lenses that offer enhanced color, contrast, and clarity in a wide variety of light conditions. And while the technologies are different, one is not necessarily better than the other.

In our experience, Oakley Prizm lenses are more vivid than Smith ChromaPop. And since they’re tuned for specific environments they perform better during sports and activities. Lenses like Prizm Golf and Prizm Road will easily out-perform ChromaPop in those specific sports environments.

But choosing between ChromaPop and Prizm for most people usually comes down to brand and frame preference. Both brands offer interchangeable lens system technologies but they’re quite different. Optimal lens swapping is dependent on brand technology, frame style, and personal preference.

Other factors to consider include helmet compatibility, lens shape, frame size, and overall comfort. You should also look for ventilation, anti-fog coating, and other moisture reduction methods. These are valuable for cycling, mountain biking, and other high-exertion activities.

If you need a prescription, Oakley is the winner for single-shield sport performance sunglasses. Since Smith doesn’t have a prescription option for these styles.

For the skier or snowboarder, both lenses are available in snow goggles. Oakley’s Prizm Snow are optimized for the slopes, while Smith also offers a variety of ChromaPop color choices in goggles. (We’d recommend trying the Oakley Flight Deck goggles for medium fit goggles or the Airbrake XL for a larger fit.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ChromaPop the same as Polarized?

No, all ChromaPop lenses are polarized, but not all polarized lenses are ChromaPop. Many brands offer polarized lenses to reduce glare, but only Smith carries ChromaPop lenses.

Are ChromaPop lenses good for fishing?

Yes, ChromaPop lenses increase contrast and decrease glare, the two main considerations for a pair of fishing sunglasses. We’d recommend choosing a blue lens for deep water fishing, and a green or amber lens for shallow water or sight fishing.

To learn more about the best fishing sunglasses:

What Colors are Oakley Prizm Lenses Available In? 

Oakley Prizm lenses are available in a wide variety of colors. Along with your standard blacks and greys, there are purple, green, red, brown, and yellow lenses.

Colors range from low visible light transmission (VLT) Prizm Everyday colors like 24K (gold) or black (both 11%), to sport performance options, Prizm Road Black (11%) and Prizm Deep Water Polarized (12%).

Learn more about the wide variety of lens colors offered by Oakley in our Oakley Lens Tint Guide.

Have A Question?

Want to know more about Oakley Prizm or Smith ChromaPop lenses? Or have a question about your lenses? Let us know in the comments below!

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