refleksitähtäimessä

Refleksitähtäin, often referred to by its English name "red dot sight," is a non-magnifying optical sight that allows the user to see a reticle (usually a red dot) superimposed on the target. This reticle is projected from an LED onto a special lens. The user's eye is not focused on the reticle itself, but rather the reticle appears to be at the same distance as the target. This design facilitates quicker target acquisition, especially when shooting from unconventional positions or in dynamic situations, as the user does not need to precisely align the front and rear sights.

The core principle behind a reflex sight is that the light source for the reticle is a low-power LED. This light is then reflected off a specially coated lens, often called a combiner lens or parabolic mirror. The light path is arranged so that the reflected reticle appears to the user to be at the same focal plane as the target. This means that as long as the user can see the reticle, they are essentially on target. Because there is no magnification, the user's peripheral vision remains intact, which is advantageous for situational awareness.

Reflex sights are widely used in firearms for sport shooting, hunting, and tactical applications. They are known for their durability, simplicity of use, and effectiveness in low-light conditions if equipped with an illuminated reticle. Early versions existed in the mid-20th century, but modern iterations have become increasingly compact, lightweight, and robust, often featuring battery-powered illumination for the reticle.