FINALLY a proper review to make a sound judgment from. Thanks so much. I actually wouldn't mind the left option. Darker faster but takes a little longer to untint. Decent trade off.
I have each of these Transitions lens styles. Love the XtraActive tint in the daytime if you're in bright light. But love the clearer lenses, too! Definitely prefer Grey over the Brown tint, for truer color.
I start the Transition about 3 years ago after I knew that they have this new model that can change color behind windscreen, I am a professional driver, and wait so long for such a product on the market, I'm very satisfy to my pair of XTRActive, they are excellent while I working outdoor all day long, my wife start with Signature, and turned to XTRActive very soon. there will be some problems while shopping in large shopping mall with a lot of UV source lighting, it keep in dark color, but it keep protecting my eye. I fully recommend this product.
Excellent comparison video! I like the XTRActives better (almost sun glasses like darkness) for the outdoors although there's a trade-off in how fast they re-transition back once indoors without UV-Light. Bravo for doing a 100% informative video. Thank you for making an A+ video!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed. You summed it up perfectly. Each lens is great for different things and ultimately its a personal decision. Either way you've got great UV protection and comfortable vision in a light adaptable lens :)
Great comparison. I am a long time XtraActive wearer and adore them because they are only ones that will darken behind the car windshield. Plus I suffer migraines so indoor lighting bothers me at times. In all the years I've worn the XtraActive I've only gone in one public building where I literally had to wait a moment to be able to see. Actually I don't think my gray lenses take as long to clear as the ones you demonstrated, but as you know there's always several variables such as heat that affects the transition time of the lenses from dark to lighter. Wish the XtraActive had more color selections too.
I just bought a pair of xtraactive transions got them today, Love them even indoors with the tent in them. Driving is amazing I love my new xtraactive transions!
Thank you for this video, got myself a Gen 8 transition about 9 months ago and isnt quite happy about it. I would still need to let them out in the sun for quite a while to make them turn dark so that my eyes arent hurting much. Definitely getting the xtractive tmrw
@Naomi M, RE: how heat affects darkening & lightening of lenses, the following paragraph explains it better than I can. Btw, I do not work for Transitions, just love their lenses. I picked up another new pair of XtraActive today after wearing my last pair of glasses for 3 years (really was tired of looking at the same frame for 3 years!) & even after that length of time I could not discern any difference in the lenses from the first day to 3 years later. There probably was some fading, slower response, etc., but as the wearer I could not tell. That's a good lense. Here's the answer too your question that I cut & copied from Transitions. In my experience, the variables due to heat are so slight I'm very rarely aware of them. "The molecules in photochromic technology work by reacting to UV light. However, temperature can have an effect on the reaction time of the molecules. When the lenses become cold the molecules begin to move slowly. This means that it will take somewhat longer for the lenses to adapt from dark to clear. When the lenses become warm the molecules speed up and become more reactive. This means that they will fade back faster. It can also mean that if you're outside on a hot sunny day, but sitting in the shade, your lenses will be quicker to detect the diminished UV rays and lighten in color. Whereas, if you are outside on a sunny day in a cold climate, and then move into the shade, your lenses will adjust more slowly than they would in a warm climate. Transitions scientists continuously strive to improve our technology and create formulations that find the perfect balance between UV light and the temperature of the lenses."
Today I just ordered the Transition Signature 7 in Gray going into a pair of Marchon NYC black frames I'm all most giddy waiting on the Doctor to call me ....only my 2nd pair of glasses Ever
Robert Salyers we’re excited for you!!! I think you’ll really enjoy them and the signature 7 will adapt really nicely for you as you’re in and outside all day. Enjoy them and I’m glad we were able to help in your decision! (Grey with black will look awesome too!)
One of you's wearing brown lenses the other has a different colour on -- but you didn't specify whether it was grey or "graphite green" (as they call it)... Could you please enlighten me. I was thinking of getting green xtractives but I wanted to know what colour they looked under indoor light. I used to have cheap photochromic lenses a few years ago but they went nowhere near dark enough. I got dazzled outside and then I went indoors and couldn't see anything!!
Yes! Happy to help. This video compares brown with grey. The Grey is a Transitions Xtra Active while the Brown is Transitions Signature 7. In my "First pair of Transitions" Video I am wearing graphite green Signature 7, if you're interested in seeing those as well. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for making this video I have been on the fence about which transition glasses to purchase the signature 7 or the extra Active this helped me to make my decision thank you
Do you think the fact that the darker frames look darker compared to the light pink frames? I wonder if different times of the day and the power of the sun, meaning in my case UK sun compared to a hot Mediterranean sun... great video thanks ,because I can now elaborate on what sort of transition I want. I’m looking for granite green for a pair of Tortoise brown Ray ban wayferer frames
I know I want transitions lenses but would you recommend a transition signature 7 or the extra active I drive a cement truck for a living but I do go in and out of the office 20 or 30 times a day
This is an excellent comparison thank you. The pink frames look great with Claire’s face. And thanks to this video I’ve ordered the extra trans 7 . I’m not a driver but I like it when they change. I noticed, in Italy normal transition lenses go much darker, quicker than London UK Sun where I live. like big difference. Seems Mediterranean sun has more UV? Happy new year
I got to see it at Transitions Academy last month! I have a video coming of the conference and will have a sneak peak of Gen 8 compared to the signature 7. :) I can't wait for the release either!
Hello! Thank you for making these videos-- they are immensely helpful! Is the darkening of XTRActive significantly more than Signature 7? I am trying to decide between them for a trip to Florida... due to COVID right now, I am trying not to touch my face as much, and switching back and forth between glasses and sunglasses is probably NOT a good idea. Thank you for any advice! :)
Erin Kauppinen you are welcome! Yes the Xtractive is absolutely darker and in the Florida sun I think I would lean towards those! Also very smart thinking about less glasses switching, I didn’t even think of that and definitely should have! 🤦🏼♀️
May I know the ambient temperature that your took the video? It seems transition lenses doesn't work very well in hotter weather (I live in a place that constantly gets to 100 degrees half the time of a year). Will it still work as your video?
I live in North Carolina and this video was filmed in June or July last year, so it was relatively hot! At least in the 80-90 degree Fahrenheit range and probably hotter. This question has been raised a couple of times, so I have reached out to my contacts at Transitions to help me answer! Response coming soon...
Great Question! So they transition back the fastest when there is no UV light present to activate them. That being said, the room we are in for this video does have a window above us, so its possible that they would've turned back faster in the case without any UV light present.
Great video !!! Very informative :)) are the xtraActive lenses good for a student that does a lot of studying indoors but also likes the benefit of the tint while being out ? Thanks !!
What about Transitions Vantage lenses? I understand they have a polarizing effect when they darken. Maybe you have done, or will do, a video about them.
Yes, that's correct. I actually don't currently have a pair of these or even a sample for my office. Let me see if I can get an example, and then I'll make a video!
Okay.. thanks for the video i asked for this video of XTRActive inside but i clicked your link.. It really takes a while for for the EXTRActive to turn back.. 5 mins is a while.. but i love the slight tint.
02:10, Alright, I watched all the way ladies, but there was no in car test. Has that been done? I really wanted to see how effective the XTRActive lenses are at cutting the glare of sun when used in a hard-top vehicle.
Yes, you absolutely can! They do have a very slight amount of tint even when in their "clear" state, however for most office environments they will still work well. One example of an exception: graphic design or another occupation which requires careful discernment of colors (the slight tint may alter your perception of the colors). Hope that helps!
These are Signature 7, Gen 8 was not out quite yet when I filmed this video. There is a newer video I did comparing 7 vs 8 vs Xtractive in the car. Check out my Transitions lenses playlist :)
She's wearing Transitions Signature 7 in Brown. Since then, Transitions has updated their product line and all Signature 7 has been discontinued in favor of the newer Generation 8 lenses. Generation 8 comes in Brown as well, and they change back and forth even faster than hers did in the video!
Those Transitions 7 brown really look reddish (which I like) - is that the case IRL? I'm trying to decide on the best shade for my black frame, so far only grey and maybe purple seemed fine...
I suggest you take the frame into an optical shop that carries transitions and see if they have the sample lenses. That way you can hold the sample lens against the frame and decide what looks best.
There are not any under the Transitions brand name umbrella that we are aware of. It's possible that other photochromic lenses are capable of this but I don't know of any specifically. If you're wanting a specific tint % that doesn't change in sunlight that's definitely possible! (Suns @ 50% tint for instance) Hope that helps!
@Salisbury Eyecare and Eyewear what is your favorite Xtra active color? I love the new Gen8 but am a fan of and prefer the XtraActive constant slight tint, looks awesome and I have a weird obsession with frames and lense tints. It's a hobby of mine, I cut and tint lenses. So fun. But weird obsession.
I've always thought the nicest thing about Transitions is that there are so many options and that you can personalize to your own needs. For some, the constant slight tint would be bothersome but for others not so much. It really depends on your personal tastes and preferences. If you're apprehensive about the Xtra Active then the Signature 7 might be a better place to start. Best of luck!
Haha. Welll...in that case, I personally wear Signature 7's for more day to day things in my full Rx (I'm quite near sighted) and I have my Xtra Active in my "over-contact lens prescription" since I have a slight residual prescription even in contact lenses. That way for me, I can wear them more like sunglasses and the longer transition back to clear doesn't bother me quite as much. @@DNAacolazione
