In brief
We have presented recently the Cressi Zeus and Cressi F1, two masks thought for great field of vision, but with high internal volume, a limit for deep spearfishing and freediving. The mask by Cressi that puts together great field of vision and reduced internal volume is indeed the Cressi Calibro, specifically thought for spearfishing, and which puts together all best technological solutions by the Italian Company.
Cressi patented Dual Frame Technology, Fog Stop system, tilted lenses, facial with veins as reinforcements and all the know-how for what seems today THE spearfishing mask by Cressi.
The chassis
Cressi Calibro utilizes the Cressi patented Dual Frame Technology, able of reducing to the limit its thickness, and so permitting to position the lenses closer to the eyes, for best field of view (and some internal volume reduction). Result is similar to frameless masks, but at the same time avoids the production process of such masks that always determines, even though in higher or lower quantities depending on the attention of the manufacturer, deposits of silicone or glue particles on the lenses, which often even absorb such particles due to high temperatures. The design is with dismountable chassis, but even though AP has, as visible on the photo below, completely dismounted the Calibro, Cressi does not suggest to do it as the mounting process of the mask is a very advanced one.
On the chassis are directly mounted two triangular connections made of reinforced rubber that will be connected to the head buckle and that guarantee a very strong and functional solution compared to softer silicone elements.
The lenses
The Cressi Calibro has been studied starting from the Cressi Nano, tested some time ago by AP with excellent results. Aim of Cressi designers has been evidently to improve Cressi Nano mask in different ways, starting from the field of vision. To do this two main things have been done: tilt the 2.8 mm thick lenses of additional 2°, from 15° to 17°, and changing the shape of the lenses which now have a wider lower profile. Lenses are now 49.9 x 57.7 mm. The increase of the tilt angle determines a better field of vision in the lower direction, still keeping the correct distance between the eyes and the lenses, and the increase of the wodth of the lower area of the lenses, compared to the ones of the Cressi Nano that has a V shaped profile, also improves field of vision in such zone.
Lenses of the Cressi Calibro are also available in the HD Mirrored version, which determines a better contrast and more detailed view, but evidently takes away some light and so is best to be used in conditions where sunlight underwater is strong. Optical lenses are not available, as Cressi has them as an option only for Cressi Focus and Cressi Big Eyes masks.
The facial
The feel of the silicone of the facial is of extremely high quality, while internally surface is glossy, and complete with veins for additional rigidity, just as for the Cressi Nano.
Even though some manufacturers make also the internal part of the mask matt, to avoid light reflects also inside the mask, which could worsen visibility, Cressi considers such situation quite unlikely, also because with the Calibro the face of the diver is very close to the lens. The Italian Company prefers instead to have a glossy internal surface which improves seal compared to the matt one that, even though very smooth, still has some kind of porosity.
One of the key elements of the facial is the “Fog Stop System”, the innovative system patented by Cressi, and for the first time designed for the Calibro, Practically, the facial is complete in its internal part with a curved profile lip that goes all around the nose, closing it in a pocket, in a way that the hot air coming from the lungs through the nose is slowed down in its way to the lenses which, cooled by the external water, would determine the air to condensate and generate, in some cases, fog. This system evidently can adapt differently to each face. In some cases the lip perfectly seals nose and face generating a pocket that is completely isolated from the rest of the internal volume of the mask, and acting extremely efficiently to reduce or totally cancel fog production on the lenses, as hot air from nose does not circulate and reach the cold lenses. This has been our experience in the test in the water, that we will publish soon. Some other divers, depending on the shape of the face and dimension of the nose, could experience a less efficient effect of the Fog System.
Cressi Calibro Fog Stop membrane
The external area of the nose has two triangular zones that are thinner to simplify equalization process when using fingers to close nose nostrils. Such areas are smooth.
Head buckle
Wide for best positioning on the nape, and with the possibility of inserting the snorkel between the two rear bands, the head buckle is of the same metalized colour of the facial.
Extremely important is the connection of the mask to the head buckle through a special Cressi system, which sees a triangular structure in hard rubber perfectly connected to the chassis with a merging process of the materials of the two elements. On this rubber element the rear strap adjusting clips are connected. The system, in addition, has the clip connected to a hole in the triangular structure, so that the clip itself can have a free rotation movement. Moreover, the triangular hard rubber structure permits an additional freedom of movement of the clip, but with no excess, which guarantees on one side the absence of any deformation of the chassis, also and especially when tthe snorkel in the head strap, a situation that can occur when the head band is connected directly to the chassis and which determines water infiltration in the mask, on the other a more stable position of the mask.
The adjusting system is extremely easy and precise, as it works lifting the clip to loosen the strap, while to tighten it it is sufficient to pull the strap from the end. The terminal parts of the head band fit in a rectangular element in glass loaded Nylon.
Weight of the mask is 150 grams.
Measure of internal volume
Once more we have proceeded, as for the previous masks tested, with the measure of the internal volume of the mask, using the standard head of a polystyrene dummy and a 60 ml graduated siringe. The test has been done as usual tightening well the rear band of the mask, also because in the test in the sea no contact between eye lashes and lenses has been perceived, so there was no limit in tightening the mask on the face.
With two measures made, the average value of the internal volume has been good, but above the Cressi Nano, confirming the aim of Cressi designers has been to improve field of view more than internal volume. Final result has been in fact equal to 110 ml (110 cc) vs 100 ml of the Cressi Nano, even though not a big difference. In such measures one must consider that the error margin can be anyway of +-2 ml.
Field of vision
Here we have the real strong characteristic of the Cressi Calibro, compact but with an amazing field of vision, with designers upgrading the Cressi Nano to the Cressi Calibro with the already seen actions on the lenses (shape and additional tilt) and other design characteristics of the facial. The measurement methodology is still the same, using a GO-PRO camera to make photographs, positioning the mask in a hole in the dummy, so that the lens of the camera would be positioned in the same place as the theoretical eye of the dummy. From the photo obtained the field of view has been measured in the 4 cardinal directions and the 4 intermediate ones. The results have been:
North: 80, North-East: 90, East: 60, South-East: 60, South: 80, South-West: 70, West: 70, North-West: 80, for a final value equal to 590, only 5 points below the mask with the best field of vision among all the ones tested by AP, the Cressi Zeus, which though has a very high internal volume. Mission accomplished!
Conclusions
Cressi Calibro is really a product to look into. The details, the patented technical solutions such as the Fog Stop System and the Dual Frame Technology make this mask so interesting and high level. The compactness of the mask is very good, even though internal volume is finally higher than the Cressi Nano (110 ml vs 100 ml), but the increase in field of vision is so much more evident with 590 points of the Cressi Calibro vs 500 of the Cressi Nano, numbers that have to be considerend squared times 3.14, as the circular area increased in such way with the radius. Amazing how the Cressi Calibro almost equals a much bigger mask as the Cressi Zeus, and is superior in this parameter (field of vision) compared to all other masks tested until now.
