The Ray-Ban B15 lens is Ray-Ban's primary dark contrast lens. Let's find out what it's all about.
If you would like more details as to how brown lenses work in general, click here.
This Ray-Ban B15 Lens Review is only for Ray-Ban mineral glass lenses, not polycarbonate lenses. The color rendering will be similar for the polycarbonate.
In This Review
Lens Specs | Ray-Ban B15 |
Technology | N/A |
Lens Color | Brown |
Mirror Color | N/A |
VLT | 15% Non-Polarized, 12% Polarized |
ABBE | 58 |
Coatings | Anti-reflective |
Material | Glass |
Weight | High (relatively) |
Scratch Resistance | High |
Prescription Available | Yes, but not in glass material |
3 |
The B15 means "Brown" with a 15% visible light transmission (VLT). Visible Light Transmission is the amount of light that passes through a lens. The lower the percentage, the darker the lens tint will be with the least amount of light reaching your eyes. 15% is a middle-of-the-road amount of light transmission, but the polarized 12% puts it on the darker side of lenses.
Without getting too deep in the weeds about Ray-Ban (and to some degree their parent company, Luxottica) and their overall quality regarding frames and non-glass lenses, it is important to be clear that Ray-Ban makes excellent glass lenses. The clarity of Ray-Ban glass lenses is exceptional and on par with the best lenses available. The crystal glass lenses used by Ray-Ban are manufactured by Barberini, the global leader in glass lenses.
With the possible exception of their Chromance lenses, Ray-Ban glass lenses are significantly better optically than their polycarbonate lenses, which usually do not even have an anti-reflective coating, often at the same price. Polycarbonate lenses are more impact-resistant and weigh less, so keep that in mind if those are considerations.
As far as I can tell, the only coating on the lens is the backside anti-reflective coating, which is the most important coating after the UV filter. There is no indication of any scratch-resistant, oleophobic (oil-resistant), hydrophobic (water-resistant), infrared, or blue-light-blocking coatings. There are different reports of what lenses Ray-Ban puts an anti-reflective coating on, but they definitely do have it for the glass polarized lenses. For any sunglasses over $100, anti-reflective coating is an absolute must-have. Without it the bounceback reflections on the inside of the lens can be annoyingly distracting.
Most classic styles like the Aviator, Clubmaster, Wayfarer, and Round use glass lenses, with some exceptions. Though Ray-Ban's website does not list the lens material in the details of each frame option, Sunglass Hut's website does. In the "About this Style" tab they will list the lens material and glass is often called "crystal".
All Ray-Ban lenses provide 100% UV protection. All Ray-Ban lenses feature the Ray-Ban signature engraved on the right lens & the RB initials on the left. If the lens is polarized it will say "Ray Ban P" on the lens and will say "3P" on the arms instead of "3N".
This Ray-Ban B15 review is about the polarized version of the B15 lens. I highly recommend getting polarized lenses, even at an increased price. This is explained in great detail here.
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes, Ray-Ban does make this lens in prescription but not in glass, only in polycarbonate or a similar material. I highly recommend adding an anti-reflective coating to your prescription order, which is an option that polycarbonate non-prescription lenses do not have.
How does the lens look?
The front has a brown tint, with no mirror. The brown is classy, sharp, and subtle. The color has proven to withstand evolving trends and works with many different frame colors and styles.
The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The color is brown, right in the middle of the yellow/red hue. Some lenses like Maui Jim have a more yellow-brown, and some like Persol have a more red-brown. Ray-Ban is right in the middle of the brown lens spectrum, a perfect standard brown tint.
What does the view look like?
Generally, it is better to add some warmth to a lens to make the world more colorful and vibrant. This is because blue light, which brown lenses transmit less than green and red light, is "cooler" and has higher energy, making it annoyingly prevalent and hurting our ability to see other colors clearly. In addition, we like to add warmth and color to the view because it makes us more alert, energetic, and happy.
Grey or green lenses are great at being a "relaxing", "cooling", or "soothing" lens. Brown lenses are warming, vibrant, and exciting. Each lens has conditions in which it thrives.
It is important to note that brown lenses do not make the view or objects we look at more "brown". The lens changes the light balance to make the view more red and green and less blue, acting like an equalizer to tune colors. This means blues become a different shade of blue, not a shade of brown.
Because the lens changes our color balance in a way a grey or green lens does not, it is important to keep the lenses on for at least two minutes to let our eyes properly adjust to the new tint. Otherwise, we will not get a proper feel for what the lens really does.
Sunny Conditions
This is the simulation Ray-Ban uses to show the view of the B15 lens, which I took screenshots of. Needless to say, it is awful and mostly inaccurate.
Here is how I would show the view, with no lens, the B15 lens, and a grey lens for comparison. Keep in mind that photos will never look as good as the real view looking through the sunglasses with your own eyes.
The B15 does a good job removing glare and haze. It makes the view appear very warm and vibrant but on the "hotter" feeling side. The blues are darkened and slightly diminished and the rocks, which are the reddest object in the photo, get a saturated red and "hot" look to them. It is a very energetic feel.
A grey lens is usually preferable in bright sunny conditions like this. The view itself is already very alive and vibrant and adding to that can be a bit overwhelming, though depending on the person or mood the brown some may still prefer brown.
What is certain is that the B15 lens still works well in full sunlight, even if it is not the ideal color choice for the conditions. As we will see in the next section, the B15 thrives in conditions where a grey lens does not. The versatility of the B15 in both bright and mixed conditions is where it excels.
This photo is also a decent depiction of what the lens looks like:
Cloudy Conditions
The versatility of the B15 lens really shines when it is cloudy or in mixed conditions. The lens thrives with lower contrast lighting, changing the colors to brighten the view. When a grey or green lens is too dark and dreary, this lens adds warmth and color in a very pleasant way.
Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
The Ray-Ban B15 is, as we have seen, very versatile. It works best in bright, low-contrast situations like mixed conditions, works well in cloudy, darker conditions, and performs adequately in full sun.
It is a fully dark tint and though it works well in darker conditions, it may not perform as well as a lighter tint in similar conditions, though the added contrast keeps the view from feeling gloomy.
For driving, it may be a better choice than other lenses even in full sun. This is because the added contrast and the boosted vibrancy play a functional role by helping us see the road and cars better, and keep us alert and energized.
Most people who do not live in year-round hot, sunny environments would benefit from having a premium brown lens in their collection.
In winter, when there isn't as much colorful beauty to work with anyway, you may prefer a rose lens but the B15 will work fine, at least as well as most other lenses.
It’s fine at the beach but you may find the way it slightly reddens the sky and water a bit disappointing. The exception to that is when the water is very green for various reasons, then this lens is very pleasant.
Sports
These lenses work well for sports in both sunny and overcast conditions. The color and contrast they provide, as well as an energetic tint, help with acuity, comfort, and perception.
Avoid the glass lens if the activity has any chance of significant impacts to the face. Avoid this lens entirely if polarized lenses would not work for your sport.
Keep in mind for long exposure in bright conditions the B15 may be fatiguing, even though the view is nice. I wouldn't do offshore boating or fishing with them, but it would work well for inshore fishing or water activities.
Comparison to the Same Brand - Ray-Ban
Ray-Ban G15
The Ray-Ban G15 (Green, 15% VLT) is a green lens that has a low VLT (11%) when polarized which is much cooler and more soothing compared to the B15. In full sun it works better, as the view is already hot and vibrant and the G15 keeps things pleasantly balanced. The B15 performs much better in overcast conditions, thriving in bright haze with passing clouds. The B15 is an excellent compliment to the G15, or for my preference, the G15 is the compliment to the B15. That really depends on where you live. You can learn more about how green lenses work here, and you can read the G15 review here.
Ray-Ban Blue Mirror
The Ray Ban Blue Mirror is a grey lens with a blue mirror. You can learn more about how that works here. A blue mirrored/grey lens will have a amberish hue. Gray with a small touch of warmth makes us feel like the world is natural but everything is slightly boosted, which to some degree makes it feel more boosted than others. With a rose or brown lens it can be hard to forget you are wearing sunglasses because the view, though beautiful, is far from what you would normally see. A gray lens will feel "natural", and a small touch of warmth will not be noticeable to our brains but it will still enhance the same colors a brown lens would, green and red.
If the B15 is too vibrant and hot, and the B15 is too relaxing and cool, the Blue Mirror lens strikes a perfect balance, though with the aesthetic difference of a bold blue mirror.
Comparison to Brown Lenses of Different Brands
Randolph American Tan
Randolph American Tan is a reddish brown lens that has a low VLT (11%) while still adding significant contrast. It feels darker than the B15, though it has the same VLT. In full sun it works, though feels very "hot". The Tan performs only average in overcast conditions compared with other brown lenses, but it thrives in bright haze or mostly sunny with passing clouds. This lens has blue light blocking which removes extra haze, plus it has all the coatings that Ray-Ban left out.
Persol Brown
Even redder than the Ray-Ban B15, the Persol's have a very dark, saturated view that boosts reds, keeps greens bright but highlighted, and heavily reduces blues. It can take a few minutes to adjust to. A great lens, especially if you like the redder browns. Both are made by Barberini and are excellent lenses. Anti-reflective coating added but no others.
Serengeti Drivers
The Serengeti's are significantly better in every way, as the colors are noticeably richer and more pleasing, even in full sun. The Serengeti's are photochromic, changing darkness depending on the conditions. The glass is thinner and lighter and includes all coatings. See the Serengeti Drivers Review here.
Maui Jim HCL Bronze
One of the best brown lenses in the world, the colors are vivid, the clarity is off the charts, and the view is stunning with the HCL Bronze. The lenses are thinner and lighter and include all coatings. Usually with a bi-gradient gold mirror on the lenses, it has a different aesthetic to the B15, which can be a bit dressier. This lens leans more yellow to the B15's redder tone.
Conclusion - Ray-Ban B15 Lens Review: Should you buy it?
In conclusion, the Ray-Ban B15 lens is a fantastic choice for those seeking vibrant, high-contrast views. Its warm tint enhances colors, making your surroundings more lively and enjoyable. Perfect for mixed and overcast conditions, the B15 excels where other lenses fall short. Ideal for both everyday wear and sports, these lenses keep your vision sharp and your style on point. Go for the Ray-Ban B15 lens for an energetic and vivid visual experience. Don’t miss out on elevating your eyewear collection with this classic yet dynamic option!