Could be wrong as I've not handled either type, but I think the two types also read off different sides of the floating disc. The lensatic looks at the card near the front of the compass (farthest from the user) while the prismatic looks at the card near the rear of the compass (closest to the user).
I've just started looking into this myself, what I have found so far are the Kasper & Richter Alpin PRO Baseplate Compass, and silva expedition 4 /54 compass.
Not completely. The hybrid compasses that have both a baseplate and a prismatic sighting system all use a magnetized card instead of a boxed needle, which blocks any view of the bottom of the compass and makes it difficult to use the compass as a simple protractor to measure true course headings from a map (one of the key benefits of a baseplate compass).
Neither is very difficult to use. It takes a bit of fiddling with the prism to focus the scale as nicely as shown I the video. Both are essentially military instruments, and preferences often are dictated by whether one served in the UK (prismatic) or US (lensatic). I enjoy the prismatic compass primarily because a good one is hard to find, and is "exotic" in the US.
Such a pleasure to watch your videos!
Your videos are all good. Thank you for your hard work.
Very helpful. Thanks!
Could be wrong as I've not handled either type, but I think the two types also read off different sides of the floating disc. The lensatic looks at the card near the front of the compass (farthest from the user) while the prismatic looks at the card near the rear of the compass (closest to the user).
Thanks 😎
Great videos. Is there a compass that combines the benefits of a prismatic compass and a baseplate compass?
I've just started looking into this myself, what I have found so far are the Kasper & Richter Alpin PRO Baseplate Compass, and silva expedition 4 /54 compass.
Not completely. The hybrid compasses that have both a baseplate and a prismatic sighting system all use a magnetized card instead of a boxed needle, which blocks any view of the bottom of the compass and makes it difficult to use the compass as a simple protractor to measure true course headings from a map (one of the key benefits of a baseplate compass).
👍
Prismatic seems to be simpler then?
Neither is very difficult to use. It takes a bit of fiddling with the prism to focus the scale as nicely as shown I the video. Both are essentially military instruments, and preferences often are dictated by whether one served in the UK (prismatic) or US (lensatic). I enjoy the prismatic compass primarily because a good one is hard to find, and is "exotic" in the US.
so a prismatic is better in my opinion