Small, fully enclosed, red dots have become commonplace. These dot sights can be used on rifles, shotguns, or pistols. That makes them very useful. Lucid optics has one of these enclosed “dot” sights named the E7. The Lucid E7 has something special under its hood. That special twist is a BLUE colored reticle instead of your standard red dot.
Besides the blue reticle, Lucid’s E7 reflex sight is pretty standard. The E7 is essentially a square rectangle with a length of 1.78 inches. Okay, it is not a true square, but you get the idea. It uses the industry standard footprint for these types of sights. That standard is the ACRO footprint. The nice thing about the ACRO footprint is that you can get a multitude of adapters to fit it on just about any firearm. The E7 comes with a tall picatinny adapter that is pre installed. Also in the box is a MOS adapter should you choose to run it on a Glock pistol. I used the tall picatinny adapter because I mounted the E7 on a Foxtrot Mike AR’ish pistol. It worked great in this configuration.
Before I get into the blue reticle design of the E7, let’s get into some of the specifications. This is a 1x reflex sight, so there is no magnification. The exterior is made from 7075 aluminum. So you should be able to bash it around if needed. The E7 tips the scales at a lightweight 2.65 ounces. It runs off of a CR2032 battery with a 50,000 hour life, thanks to the “shake awake” feature of the E7. The auto on/off feature is really a favorite of mine. The rest of the specs can be seen down below in the “Features” section.
The Lucid Optics E7 is the first reflex sight with a blue colored reticle. Why blue? Blue is calming to the human mind. That leads to less fatigue if seeing it for extended periods of time. It also appears very sharp, making it ideal for reticle designs. But most important to us shooters, is that blue colors are typically not found on things we shoot at. Now if you are shooting in a field of blue flowers, that might be an exception. The blue reticle just doesn’t blend into stuff like a green one might. Even against blue sky, you can still see the reticle of the E7. So if you are training and have different color targets. When someone says “shoot the red target”, you don’t lose track of your dot with the blue, like you might with a red dot.
Now for the reticle design. Lucid Optics uses their M5 reticle in the E7. I will do my best to describe it, but look at the picture of it. In the middle is a 4 MOA dot. This dot is surrounded by about two thirds of a 32 MOA circle. Then, on the bottom, at 45 degree angles, are two lines. Having both the 32 MOA circle and those two lines help to draw your eye straight to the center dot. Lucid Optics says that between the blue color and this reticle, it helps to give up to 30% faster target acquisition over just a dot. I do not know if I was 30% faster with the E7, but the reticle is pretty fast and does draw my eye into it, so it is easy to pick up a sight picture. I really like the design of the reticle.
Since the Lucid E7 is an enclosed sight, it does have some advantages. The most obvious is that the guts of the E7 are protected from dirt, water, oil, and other objects that might cause problems. If you have ever gotten water on the emitter of an open reflex sight, you know what advantage having a closed system does for you. If you happen to get something on the E7’s 21x18mm lens, you can just wipe it off. The enclosed system also puts all the controls on the outside where they are easy to get to. In the E7's case, the brightness up/down is on the left side and the battery compartment is on the right side. The windage adjustment is also on the right side. The elevation adjustment is on top, as one would expect. Both of these have positive click adjustments for easier use. However, they are small and need a small flathead screwdriver to adjust. I was pleasantly surprised with the adjustment clicks, being that they are so small.
I am pretty happy with how the Lucid E7 performed. It is a great little 1x reflex sight. I really only have one complaint. If you turn up the brightness on the M5 blue reticle, it blurs together for me. This is due to my astigmatism. So do not worry about the reticle being clear, unless you have bad eyes like me. Because the reticle has more in it then just a dot, that is why it is worse for me. HOWEVER, if I turn the brightness down a little, the reticle clears up nicely. Plus, due to the blue reticle, I can get a clear reticle at a lower brightness setting than if it were red in color. This really only plays a role if I am shooting at distant targets. Up close I just use the bright blue as a larger dot. Just put the reticle on the target and engage. I also like the size and weight of the E7. It is the perfect size for a lightweight AR pistol or SBR. Having the ACRO footprint also lends the E7 to be right at home on a handgun, if you were to choose that option. The E7 has been a great little reflex sight and has stood up to my abuse.
Since the Lucid Optics E7 is the first blue colored reflex sight, it stands out against all the other ones. Yes, you will pay a few dollars more, but you get an actual reticle in a blue color, not just a red dot. The construction is nice and sturdy with easy to use controls. It has great battery life thanks to the “shake awake” feature. So if you are looking for a good enclosed style reflex sight, but with a blue twist, check out the Lucid Optics E7.
Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points
Claim to Fame:
Blue illuminated reflex sight
Target Market:
Those wanting something different. Sight can easily be used for just about anything from handguns to rifles
Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:
Finish: Matte Black
Material: 7075 Aluminum
Magnification: 1x
Lens Diameter: 21mm x 18mm
Reticle: M5
Illumination Color: Blue
Emitter Type: Enclosed
Battery Life: 50,000 hours
Length: 1.78″
Weight: 2.65oz
Field of view: 60 ft @ 100 yds
Footprint: Aimpoint ACRO
Mount: Picatinny/ACRO adaptor mount included
Battery: CR2032
IPX7 Waterproof
Shake Awake
90 MOA Windage and Elevation Adjustment
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?
None
What others are saying?:
3 out 5 stars at OpticsPlanet.com
Blurry for my eyes and sons eyes
I had trouble seeing the optic clearly and so did my son. My buddy had no issue seeing it. He doesn't wear glasses and neither does my son. I do. Was bummed. However I still hit the target. So far not a horrible optic, just wish I could see it clearly.
Link to other reviews:
Price point:
MSRP = $299.99
Retail = $239.95 at OpticsPlanet.com
I need it now! Availability:
Our Rating:
Pros:
Blue reticle is easy on eyes
Reticle design is fast to pick up
Shake Awake
Acro footprint
Actual click adjustments
Cons:
May not be good for people with astigmatisms
MSRP is a little higher than other optics in this class
Score: 7.50 Good
Favorite Link: Lucid L7 1-6x24 review
