Optrel Vegaview 2.5 or Esab A50?

[TheUltimateWelder]

Has anyone had experience with both of these helmets?

I cant choose between the two. Mainly going to be tig welding

Thanks

 

[dab4318]

Had a Optrel 680 for work. Highly recommend them.

 

[500e]

+1 for e684 could not get over how good it was still not any good with TIG but at least I can see how Poor it is as I go

 

[R-D-R]

Cant help really all I would say is I have had a A50 for a week or so now and the difference is Night and Day over my old Clarke. I like the ergonomics especially the way it raises above your head with a low profile so your not catching it on low hanging obstructions. Not used the optrel so cant comment on comparative performance.

 

[TheUltimateWelder]

Cheers for the feedback, ive spoke to a few welding companys now and they have all reccomended the a50 over the vegaview, so im going with the a50 :-)

 

[Shox Dr]

Cheers for the feedback, ive spoke to a few welding companys now and they have all reccomended the a50 over the vegaview, so im going with the a50 :-)

For what reasons?
I had looked at the esab, decided to stick with Optrel as I've had good service from a satellite (10yrs old and still going strong)
So I'm just about to buy a vegaview2.5

 

[Richard.]

I've never used a vega view but they get very good press and the 2.5 shade in off state is quite useful as most grind modes are simply too dark to use properly imo. The A50 is excellent. I have used that and it's a lovely lid. Very very clear, nice big veiwing area and great centre of gravity when it's on your nog. Down side is its impossible to change the settings with a gloved hand. Not a deal breaker but an inconvenience. One thing I will say though for under the £200 mark I'm yet to see a finer lid. The vega veiw is quite a bit more brass iirc. Both boast a 1/1/1/1 optical classification iirc which is the most important thing imo for seriously low amp tig.

 

[Richard.]

Optrel has external controls which some love some hate.
I have a new tech with external controls and I love the lid but I hate that part of it so on that basis I wouldn't buy the optrel.

 

[TheUltimateWelder]

For what reasons?
I had looked at the esab, decided to stick with Optrel as I've had good service from a satellite (10yrs old and still going strong)
So I'm just about to buy a vegaview2.5

Its a hard choice as i love the look and sound of them both. The only reason now im going for the a50 is just because after looking it seems to be easier to get lenses for it than the vegaview, could just be that im looking in the wrong places. I cant imagine there is alot between them, the only other reason im going for the a50 is because its come out this year and the vegaview was a few years ago now wasnt it??

 

[dab4318]

Optrel has external controls which some love some hate.
I have a new tech with external controls and I love the lid but I hate that part of it so on that basis I wouldn't buy the optrel.

Never understood the problem with external controls? Used a optrel for over 10 years without an issue.

 

[Richard.]

Never understood the problem with external controls? Used a optrel for over 10 years without an issue.

It's a preference thing down to the individual. You don't need to understand it because that's what makes me different to you.
I've had my esab newtech now for over 12 years and I still dis like the external controls.

 

[TheUltimateWelder]

I honestly dont think the outside controls would bother me especially with what ill be welding. If i was going outside and arc welding pipe then it may be taken into consideration. But im going to be sat on my **** tigging small stuff together, after watching some youtube vids tonight the a50 again looks the best to tig. However the one video which would be useful where they compare the 2 is in german

 

[dab4318]

It's a preference thing down to the individual. You don't need to understand it because that's what makes me different to you.
I've had my esab newtech now for over 12 years and I still dis like the external controls.

That's fair enough Richard. Just read my post back and it sounded a bit rude. Like you said it's a personal preference

 

[500e]

Why do you require controls on the e684 I chose the +- level & the hood does the rest the only down side is viewing area.
But as said each to their own

 

[Lordspectre]

I've never used a vega view but they get very good press and the 2.5 shade in off state is quite useful as most grind modes are simply too dark to use properly imo. The A50 is excellent. I have used that and it's a lovely lid. Very very clear, nice big veiwing area and great centre of gravity when it's on your nog. Down side is its impossible to change the settings with a gloved hand. Not a deal breaker but an inconvenience. One thing I will say though for under the £200 mark I'm yet to see a finer lid. The vega veiw is quite a bit more brass iirc. Both boast a 1/1/1/1 optical classification iirc which is the most important thing imo for seriously low amp tig.

old thread but to clarify the a50 is 1/1/1/2 and vegaview is 1/1/1/2 ....found this thread as trying to decide between both myself currently

 

[dcocks]

I like my A50 a lot