We can put an optic on nearly anything these days. Micro-sized optics are everywhere, and they’ve even embraced the enclosed emitter design. Today, we’re looking at three titans of micro-sized optics that all feature enclosed emitters: the Holosun EPS Carry, the CHWPS EDC Enclosed, and the Osight S.
All three use enclosed emitters, which provide a more protective design that fully encloses the emitter. An open-emitter optic allows things to get between the glass and the reticle’s emitter and interrupt your reticle’s path to the glass. That’s not a problem with enclosed emitters.
They are more reliable and more resistant to rain, snow, and dust. This is what brings us to today’s showdown. We have three enclosed emitter optics aimed at the subcompact market.
Introducing the Micro Competitors
These optics are suitable for small guns, big guns, and even rifles and shotguns. Which is best? Let’s try and find out.
The Holosun EPS Carry
The Holosun EPS Carry started the trend of micro-sized enclosed emitter optics. The EPS Carry was more or less the first to figure out that you can use an RMSc or Holosun K footprint to mount an enclosed-emitter optic.
The EPS Carry isn’t just one optic; it’s an entire line of optics with various reticles and features like solar backup panels. There is a multi-reticle model and various individual-sized reticles.
The CHWPS EDC Enclosed
CHWPS made its reputation producing plates for universal optics systems. They produced the best plates, and now they’ve aimed upward and into the world of red dot optics.
The EDC Enclosed is a micro-sized optic that was a big endeavor for a company new to optics. It’s far from a generic red dot, and CHWPS took their time to make a unique and well-made micro-sized red dot that comes in at a great price.
The Osight S
Osight is directly related to Olight, the budget light manufacturer. Olight even produced their own optics before creating Osight as a partner company. Osight now produces a few different optics. The S model is their micro-sized enclosed emitter optic. It uses a fairly novel charging method and comes in at a rock-bottom price.
Size Matters With Micro Optics
No matter what they tell you, fractions of an inch matter—at least when talking about micro-sized handgun red dots. The differences aren’t huge, but they are notable.
Here are the L x W x H of each optic and the overall weight with a battery installed:
- Holosun EPS Carry: 1.62 x 1.07 x 0.95 in; 1.23 oz
- CHWPS EDC Enclosed: 1.61 x 1.10 x 1.02 in; 1.35 oz
- Osight S: 1.59 x 0.98 x 0.97 in; 0.97 oz
The Osight is the smallest of these optics and the overall lightest. When we are talking about carry guns, every bit of weight and every inch of size matters.
With that said, the EDC Enclosed offers the largest window. It’s notably larger than the competitors, and a larger window has its advantages. It allows for a sloppier draw and a less-than-perfect presentation.
Big windows also make it easier to track the dot between shots, allowing for faster overall follow-ups. They can even help you track the reticle when you’re transitioning targets.
Reticles
Both the Osight and EDC Enclosed offer multi-reticles. They pack very similar reticle systems that offer you a dot, a circle, and a combination of a circle and a dot.
The EPS Carry has a similar setup, but only with the premium MRS model. The EPS Carry comes in a few other configurations with standard dots that include 2 and 6 MOA options. They also have green as an option.
At the range, it’s tough to say if the Holosun or CHWPS is better than the other, but it’s easy to say both are better than the Osight.
The Osight has a clear and crisp reticle without any lag issues. The problem comes with tracking the dot. The dot disappears in the last millimeter of the optic’s glass, well before it should disappear.
All three dots are clear and easy to see, and there are no noticeable lag or refresh rate issues I can see. The EDC Enclosed seems to be the brightest of the three optics, but beyond that, the differences are minute.
Clarity
I’m shocked that the EDC Enclosed and the Osight don’t have emitter reflection or noticeable lens distortion. For budget-friendly optics from companies that lack a background in optics production, they made good on their clarity.
Of course, the fact that the reticle disappears at the top part of the glass for the Osight takes it down a peg for me. I want to see that reticle for as long as I possibly can.
The EPS Carry isn’t bad, but the notch filter is noticeably darker than the Osight or the EDC Enclosed. For a handgun dot that will never see a magnifier, it’s not a major issue, but it deserves to be noted.
Durability
If I tried hard enough, I could break any optic, except maybe an ACOG.
I didn’t want to get over the top, but I wanted to see if the optics would survive some falls, some dirt, and some water. Each optic got dropped numerous times on each side and the top. I dropped them from chest height onto the ground at my range.
After the drops were complete, I checked the zero on each. All three micro-sized optics held their own and remained zeroed after a few drops.
Next, I submerged each optic. The EDC Enclosed and Osight are IPX7 rated, and the EPS Carry hits IPX8. The EPS Carry has the best ingress rating of the three.
This is my second Osight experience. I killed the first during a submersion test when water made its way into the optic. Luckily, that didn’t repeat, and this Osight survived. The EPS Carry and EDC Enclosed survived as well.
Price
Price can be a huge deciding factor, and the price of these optics varies a fair bit. Let’s start with the priciest of the optics, the EPS Carry. It’s price varies a bit depending on options.
- EPS Carry: $329.99
- EPS Carry MRS with Solar Panel: $429.99
The EDC Enclosed slides into second place.
- EDC Enclosed: $249.99
The Osight is remarkably affordable.
- Osight S: $249.99 (But less than $200 at retailers.)
Which to Pick?
- Pick the EPS if: You want the most durable option from a company that’s proven to make good, solid optics at an affordable price point. It’s going to be the best optic suited for defense and duty use.
- Pick the EDC Enclosed if: You want a big window and a great bang-for-your-buck optic. The EDC Enclosed is well-made, affordable, and the big window sets it apart.
- Pick the Osight if: You want to save some money. It might be suitable for concealed carry, but it’s best as a hobbyist optic used on plinkers and similar platforms.
The World of Micro-Sized Optics
It’s insane how much better optics have gotten in the last few years. Quality has improved, and cost has bottomed out. These three are the big competitors, and each has something new to offer.
My pick is the EDC Enclosed; it fits my needs and my budget, but that’s a decision you’ll have to make.
