Costa Del Mar makes the best lenses for very bright and long exposure conditions. The 580 Gray Silver Mirror and the 580 Gray lenses are some of the best neutral lenses on the market today.
This review is for both the 580 Gray Silver Mirror and the 580 Gray lenses.
Check out the lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Costa's website).
If you want to know more about how grey lenses work, click here.
This Costa 580 Grey/Silver Mirror lens review is for the Costa 580G (glass) lens, not the 580P (polycarbonate).
In This Review
Lens Specs | Costa Del Mar 580G Gray/ Silver Mirror |
Technology | 580 Technology |
Lens Color | Grey |
Mirror Color | Silver/No Mirror |
VLT | 10% for Silver Mirror, 12% for Gray |
ABBE | 58 |
Coatings | Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic, UV, Infrared and Blue-light blocking |
Material | Glass |
Weight | Moderate |
Scratch Resistance | High |
Prescription Available | Yes |
3 |
The clarity of the 580G lenses is exceptional.
Costa's lenses are crafted with thinner glass compared to standard options, although I find them slightly heavier than other brands like Maui Jim or Serengeti. However, the added weight doesn't affect comfort.
These lenses come with every coating you could want, and in my experience, the quality of these coatings is top-tier. Water and oil truly repel from the surface, and the anti-reflective coating performs just as effectively as any I've tried.
One unique feature of Costa's glass lenses is that the mirror coating is sandwiched between two layers of glass, rather than being applied to the outside. Since the mirror coating is often the most vulnerable part of the lens, this setup provides extra protection from scratches, which many other brands lack. From what I know, only Revo employs a similar method, and they currently offer just two mirrored glass lenses.
All Costa lenses come with polarization. One thing that stands out about Costa is their transparency; they are one of the few brands that openly share their patent numbers and invite customers to explore the technology behind their lenses. This level of openness is refreshing, especially because their claims align well with my personal experience.
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes. Costa is one of only a few brands that offers glass lenses (with color-enhancing tech) in prescription. For some higher prescriptions where glass will not work, they use Trivex, a top alternative.
For non-prescription, Check out the Costa Grey/Silver Mirror lens on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Costa's website).
How does the lens look?
The front of the grey lens is a plain grey, which is better for dressing up, something Costa has been adding to their lineup with more lifestyle and even classy frames which differ from their more traditional intense sport frames.. The Silver Mirror version has a great fully reflective mirror. It is not too silvery, almost a plain mirror like you would see on a wall.
The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The tint is grey, without any noticeable shift to green or blue like other contrast-enhancing greys can sometimes have.
What does the view look like?
Unlike many brands that focus primarily on enhancing the visual spectrum for picturesque views, Costa prioritizes comfort in extremely bright environments. This doesn’t mean that the view through Costa lenses isn’t impressive, but it's a secondary aspect. Their lenses excel at eliminating irritating light in the 580nm yellow range and HEV blue light. While several brands make similar claims, Costa lenses stand out with how effectively they cut down on harsh, distracting light.
The way the Costa Grey lens removes glare is fantastic, and it is among the best grey lenses I have tried. It’s not just the amount of light the lens handles, but how the light is filtered. The irritating light simply disappears, leaving no lingering effects, almost like stepping indoors while still outside. Although few lenses offer a 10% VLT (Visible Light Transmission), Costa’s 580 technology goes beyond this figure. Since it removes more "bad" light and lets in more "good" light, to some degree the lens feels even darker than 10% VLT when dealing with glare, while feeling brighter than that for everything else.
Sunny Conditions
These photos are what Costa and other sources have used to show the view. Keep in mind that photos will never look as good as the real view looking through the sunglasses with your own eyes.
Interested in experiencing the Costa Grey/Silver Mirror lens for yourself? Check out Costa on Amazon (which is often cheaper than Costa's website).
This is the visual Costa uses for all lenses on any product page. It is nice, but it is not particularly accurate, especially since their lenses are very different from each other and one picture cannot possibly represent all the views.
Costa seems to have a hard time showing what their lenses look like. This simulation, which they used for most of their lenses and seems to be done with little effort, is not even close to accurate. They have since removed it from their website and currently have no display on how specific lenses look.
This is from YouTube:
Not to worry. Here is my simulation of how the lens looks:
The glare is gone and the colors, especially reds and greens, are boosted and more defined, more so than nearly any other grey lens can produce. The view is very neutral, which is great for prolonged use in bright conditions.
This lens is designed for full sun use and does a great job managing those harsh conditions.
Cloudy Conditions
Grey lenses are not ideal for overcast or mixed lighting conditions. When light is already limited, further dimming it without boosting color can create a dull, cold atmosphere. While Costa Grey lenses do enhance color more than most other grey lenses, they still fall short compared to the warmth and vibrancy provided by even standard brown or rose-tinted lenses.
Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
Grey lenses are more comfortable in bright sunlight over long periods because our color memory doesn’t need to adjust as much as it would with other tints. This prevents eye fatigue.
Color memory refers to how we remember the appearance of objects and subconsciously adjust them to look correct. Grey lenses align with this natural process, ensuring they never feel off, even after extended wear. Other tints can sometimes make things look odd, like the sky appearing a different shade of blue at certain times of day. The Costa Grey lens is among the best grey lenses for this purpose.
It’s straightforward with the Costa Grey lens: fantastic for full sun, but not ideal for cloudy conditions.
Grey lenses are a good choice for driving in full sun, but since we often drive in overcast or mixed conditions, they may not be the best option. For driving, warmer tones or enhanced grey lenses with a mirror are preferable, as they provide more alertness. However, if you live in a hot, sunny climate most of the year, the Costa Grey can be your go-to driving lens.
This lens also excels at the beach and in bright vacation spots. It's comfortable for all-day wear with no fatigue, making it perfect for anyone who isn’t light-sensitive and doesn't need a more intense lens.
Sports
In full sun, grey lenses are fine for sports but not the best choice. Since grey lenses are neutral, they don’t evoke feelings of energy or warmth. When playing sports, you want a lens that makes everything feel vibrant and dynamic. For this, a brown or rose lens is a better option. Brown and rose lenses also provide a lot more color enhancement and contrast which are advantageous for sports.
Grey lenses are excellent for water sports and fishing.
However, it’s best to avoid wearing glass lenses for sports, as they are not as impact-resistant as other materials.
Interested in experiencing the Costa Grey/Silver Mirror lens for yourself? Click here to buy on Amazon.
Comparison to the same brand - Costa Del Mar
Costa Del Mar 580G Blue Mirror
The Blue Mirror is the grey lens overlayed with a blue mirror that reflects blue light and has a bit of amber effect that boosts greens and reds. This makes the Blue Mirror an in-between lens from the Grey and the Green Mirror, as it is not neutral but not a full brown either. It thrives in full sun and performs even better in those conditions than the Grey/Silver Mirror for general use, but is not as versatile in mixed or overcast conditions as the Green Mirror.
See here for the full Costa 580 Blue Mirror review.
Costa Del Mar 580G Green Mirror
The Green Mirror lens, and also the copper lens, have a very red-brown tint that boosts colors much more than the Grey/Silver Mirror, especially red and green light. Blues, like the sky and water, are much redder and take a minute to adjust to. The view is much less "natural" than the Grey/Silver Mirror but can be a functional advantage in many scenarios like inshore fishing, and they can be much more pleasant in mixed or overcast conditions, making them more versatile. The Green mirror makes the lens get a slight rose/purple tilt in the brown tint. This is a brown lens that is able to handle full sun conditions well.
See here for the full Costa 580 Green Mirror review.
Comparison to the Grey Lenses of Different Brands
Maui Jim Neutral Grey
The Maui Jim Neutral Grey takes the priorities of the Costa and flips them. The top priority is to get the best view possible, with colors boosted and fine-tuned, and then comfort in bright light is good as well. Light-sensitive people may enjoy the Costa more, and the Maui Jim may begin to feel too bright in long exposure in very bright conditions, though it does perform well there as well. For those who feel the Costa is too dark and not colorful enough, the Maui Jim is the way to go.
See here for the full Maui Jim Neutral Grey review.
Smith Chromapop Glass Grey
Very Similar to the Costa grey lens, and excellent color boosting lens with exceptional clarity. If you want the lens but do not like any Costa frames, this can be a great alternative.
Oakley Prizm Black Polarized
A pleasant grey lens with a black mirror, the tint has a faint rose hue to it that does create a bit of color boosing. As a non-glass option, this is a great lens if you want a grey lens for sports. No coatings added, except on prescription lenses.
Conclusion - Costa 580 Grey/Silver Mirror Lens Review
The Costa 580 Gray/Silver Mirror lens stands out as one of the best options for bright, sunny conditions, offering remarkable clarity and glare reduction. Its advanced technology effectively filters harsh light while enhancing colors, making it ideal for extended wear during outdoor activities. Whether you're driving, fishing, or simply enjoying a day in the sun, this lens provides exceptional comfort and performance.
If you prioritize comfort and clarity in extremely bright environments, the Costa 580 Gray/Silver Mirror lens is a top contender.
Interested in experiencing the Costa 580 Gray/Silver Mirror lens for yourself? Check it out on Amazon.
