DITA Lancier Air Sunglasses Lens Review
- Sunglass Science
- Jul 2
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 3
The DITA Lancier Air lens is a high-quality, non-polarized green lens originally designed for pilots, but its appeal can go beyond the cockpit. It offers a classic, timeless look with excellent optical clarity in bright sunlight. While it’s not the most versatile lens in DITA’s lineup, it fills a unique role for people who want a dark, non-polarized option that’s comfortable, stylish, and functional across a range of sunny-day activities. In this review, I’ll break down where this lens shines, where it doesn’t, and whether it’s the right fit for you.
Check out the DITA Air lens at Dita.com.
If you want to know more about how green lenses work, click here.
In This Review
Lens Specs | DITA Lancier Air |
Technology | Custom Tinting |
Lens Color | Green |
Mirror Color | NA |
VLT | 11.67% |
ABBE | ~52 |
Coatings | Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic, UV |
Material | Nylon |
Weight | Light |
Scratch Resistance | Moderate |
Prescription Available | Yes, in CR39 |
3 |
DITA uses premium nylon for its non-prescription Lancier sunglasses lenses. This material keeps the lenses clear, lightweight, and impact-resistant—perfect for a collection that balances style with daily performance. Glass was not an option because of its low impact resistance. Nylon remains an excellent choice, and other brands like Randolph and Revo also use it for their non-glass lenses. Many competitors use polycarbonate, which is better for extreme impacts but falls behind in most other aspects.
The Lancier Air lens is non-polarized. We will discuss that more below.
Lancier lenses also feature premium coatings: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, oleophobic (resistant to oil), hydrophobic (repels water), and full UV protection.
With a visible light transmission (VLT) of 11.67%, the Air lens is on the darker side compared to most lenses, as discussed in more detail below.
The model I've been wearing is the LSA-107, seen here:
I usually refrain from commenting on frames, as there is significant variability within each brand in terms of style, material, and construction. However, I will note that the DITA Lancier frames are designed and manufactured by the same team and factory that produce standard DITA frames. Lancier is presented as a kind of "entry-level" DITA offering, but for those who care more about lenses and performance, Lancier is arguably a better option.
In addition, because Lancier is priced competitively compared to luxury sunglasses, but performs better in terms of optics, I would make the case that it is on the shortlist of best all-around value for a pair of sunglasses.
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes, in CR39 and 1.60 High Index MR8 material. Authorized local dealers can order the lenses from DITA, and SportRx is a great online option.
How does the lens look?
The front has a deep, saturated green look, with no mirror. This is the classic and timeless non-polarized "G15" lens tint that has been around for decades and will be around for decades to come.
The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The tint is a pure green, more saturated and less neutral than many other green lenses.
What does the view look like?
The DITA Lancier Air lens was originally designed with pilots in mind, which is why it’s intentionally non-polarized, as polarization messes with pilots' instruments (and that is sometimes true for certain cars as well).
The lens is a fairly dark 11.67% VLT. For comparison, the classic Ray-Ban G15 is 15% VLT. That makes the Dita Air lens around 22% darker. A noticeable difference, but not overwhelmingly so.
Despite its darkness on paper, the lens feels balanced in full sunlight. The saturated green tint brings out the vibrancy in greens and keeps blues — especially the sky — looking rich and natural. Some green lenses can make the sky appear dull, but that’s not the case here. Reds are also preserved nicely, avoiding the muted effect that green lenses sometimes have.
Green lenses are typically not regarded as contrast-enhancing lenses, which are essential for sports. Instead, they are used to create a relaxing visual experience, reduce the intensity of bright light, and provide a relatively neutral perspective. They are often chosen as an alternative to gray lenses.
Green lenses are excellent for providing a "relaxing" or "soothing" effect. They can achieve a higher tint to darken the lens more than other colors while still creating a sense of brightness, as the green hues are enhanced for our vision.
Sunny Conditions
This photo is what Dita 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 Dita Air lens for yourself? Check it out on Dita.com
I get where they were going with this, but I don't think it's fully accurate. On a bright say like that it will not feel as dark and gloomy as that photo.
Photos often fail to capture how sunglasses actually look through the lens. Cameras struggle with color shifts caused by lens tints, and they can’t adjust the way our eyes and brains naturally do.
Human vision uses “color memory” to correct what we see, recognizing that snow should look white or a rose should appear red. Cameras, on the other hand, don’t have this built-in recognition. That makes it nearly impossible for them to replicate the true view.
Here is my simulation of how the lens looks:
On a bright day when the sun is directly overhead, the intense light can dull colors and reduce contrast, making it difficult to see clearly without squinting.
The view is colorful, comfortable, and still bright. The sky is a lively blue, and the greens are glowing.
A standard grey lens will be comfortable, but with much less and darker colors:
Cloudy Conditions
The Air lens performs better than other green lenses in cloudy and overcast conditions, but it doesn't match the performance of brown or rose lenses. The contrast it provides isn't sufficient to counteract the dull feeling that green lenses can create when the light is dim. It can handle brief interruptions of sunshine due to clouds or shadows, but I wouldn't rely on them if the forecast predicts limited sunlight.
Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
The Air lens excels in full, bright sunlight. I’ve worn it to the beach on some of the brightest days, and even without polarization, the view remained comfortable. I would also confidently recommend it for desert climates or open, high-exposure environments.
I tried wearing them for driving a few times, but the lack of polarization didn't work for me for that use case.
DITA suggests this lens is ideal for flying, skiing, and hand/ball-striking sports. I would partially agree.
It’s true that non-polarized lenses can be better for sports like skiing and tennis, where depth perception is key. However, I believe the tint is just as important as polarization, or lack thereof. For those sports, a brown or rose lens (like the DITA Land lens) would typically offer better contrast and color enhancement than a green lens.
I personally prefer polarized lenses because they remove reflected glare, which often obscures the details underneath. When that glare is gone, I can see more, not less — whether it's the road, water, or any reflective surface. There’s a common idea that non-polarized lenses offer more “clarity,” but I don’t agree with that. For me, clarity comes from being able to cut through glare and fully see what’s in front of me. Polarization also enhances contrast by removing the light that washes out colors, making it easier to differentiate objects and surfaces. While there are specific cases — like skiing or fast-paced sports — where some people prefer to see reflected light for added depth perception, those are the exceptions, not the rule, in my day-to-day use.
The Air lens isn’t ideal for:
Driving (polarization is a big advantage for reducing road glare)
Overcast days or winter (green lenses don't boost contrast the way rose or brown lenses do)
People looking for maximum contrast or sports-specific performance
It’s not a flaw in the lens — it’s just a limitation of the category (green lenses).
That said, if you prefer green lenses, can’t (or don’t want to) use polarized lenses, and live in a consistently sunny area, the Air lens will perform well enough for active use.
For me, this lens is for walking around on bright days and looking sharp. Sometimes I prioritize optical performance, and other times I just want to enjoy a beautiful lens with an elegant, timeless look. DITA delivers that with the Air lens.
If you already have the DITA Sea and Land lenses, the Air lens is a harder sell from a pure utility standpoint, as any non-polar green lens would be. But if you’re after the non-polarized, dark green aesthetic, this is one of the best on the market. It's as timeless a look as any iconic wearable, like luxury watches or suits.
The materials, coatings, and color balance stand out, especially when I compared it directly with seven other green lenses (Ray-Ban, Persol, etc). It either matched or outperformed the rest.
If you’re looking for a non-polar green lens that’s beautifully made and offers a relaxed, stylish viewing experience on bright days, the DITA Air lens is absolutely worth considering.
This lens is best suited for:
Pilots and aviation professionals
People who want a single lens for both sunny-day relaxation and occasional fast-paced sports
Style-conscious individuals looking for a high-quality, non-polarized green lens with a timeless aesthetic
It’s a compromise lens — not a specialist for sports or contrast-heavy environments, but a versatile option if you want something that looks good and performs well enough across different settings.
Sports
I wouldn't recommend this lens for sports unless you live in an area with a lot of sunlight. Even then, a brown or rose lens will provide more color and contrast which help with acuity, comfort, vibrancy, and perception. This lens is better for relaxing in beautiful views.
Interested in experiencing the Air lens for yourself? Click here to buy on Dita.
Comparison to the same brand - DITA Lancier
Dita Lancier Sea Lens
The DITA Lancier Sea lens is a great option for those who spend a lot of time in consistently bright environments, like coastal areas or the southern U.S., where sunlight is intense and glare is a regular challenge. It uses a polarized grey tint with a 16.4% VLT, offering crisp clarity and strong glare reduction, especially around water. The neutral tone delivers a clean, easy-on-the-eyes view in full sun, and I find it feels bright and colorful while staying comfortable. While it’s less dynamic in overcast or lower-light situations, it's a great lens for bright, open environments if you want a less intense, calmer option. If you’re looking for a lens specifically for sun and sea, this is a great fit. If you can have polarization, I would take this lens over the Air lens most of the time, in similar circumstances.
Dita Lancier Land Lens
The Dita Lancier Land lens is a phenomenal lens geared towards driving, all conditions, and great views. It is a rose lens with a bit of brown to it, a relatively dark 13.4% VLT, and the same material and coatings as the Air lens, and it is polarized. Unlike other rose or brown lenses that can throw the normal color balance off, the Land lens brightens and enhances all colors while keeping the colors feeling normal, especially the sky (which is rare for a rose or brown lens). This is the best all-around lens in the Lancier collection, and arguably any other collection.
Comparison to Green Lenses of Different Brands
Serengeti 555nm
The Serengeti 555nm have a similar tint and saturation to the Air lens, with some notable difference. The 555nm comes in glass, polarized or not, and is photochromic, meaning it get lighter or darker depending on the conditions. It doesn't get as dark as the Air even at its darkest. For those who want the vibrancy of the Air but also want polarized, this is that lens.
Ray-Ban G15
Sort of the less colorful, more boring version of the Air. The G15 is more blue than the yellower and more saturated Air lens. The Ray-Ban does not have all the coatings the 555nm does, only having an anti-reflective coating. The G15 does come in glass in select models.
See here for the full Ray-Ban G15 review.
Randolph Engineering AGX
Compared to Lancier Air, the AGX is a lot more grey/blue and "calm"; putting the Air lenses on after wearing the AGX feels like someone turned the contrast and color saturation up. Both lenses are comfortably dark, and wear the AGX when I want an even calmer feel than the Air provides. The AGX has all the coatings the Air does, and comes with the option of polarized or not, and comes in glass.
See here for the full Randolph Engineering AGX review.
Persol Green/Grey
A slightly more grey lens than the rest of the green lenses mentioned here. . If you do not like grey but green is too much, it is a good in-between choice. Green is rarely too much, though, as the same conditions the Persol excels in the Air performs just as well, if not better. The Persol comes in glass.
Conclusion - DITA Lancier Air Sunglasses Lens Review - Should you buy it?
The DITA Lancier Air lens performs exactly as intended: it’s a relaxing, non-polarized lens that handles bright sunlight comfortably while offering a vibrant, natural view. For pilots, style-focused wearers, or anyone who can’t or doesn’t want polarized lenses, the Air lens is an excellent choice.
If you’re looking for a timeless, dark green lens with excellent build quality—and you want to look sharp while soaking in beautiful views—the Air lens deserves your attention.
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