I too have Transitions lenses. Nope, nothing to do with it. I also have the same problem you do with 9 being too dark. Good news is, the new helmets that are available through Lincoln or Miller go from 6 to 13. I went to 8 and everything is GREAT! Also the new ones have a slot for magnifiers. I chose the 1.5 and I love it. For years I suffered through putting dual Halogen lights on the work and even then I couldn't see sufficiently. There IS a great solution in the newer helmets.
