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APM Telescopes Release Of The APM MS 6x30 Porro Prism Binocular (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter gcole
- Start date
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
Regrettably, I would now consider that these just will not materialise whilst the company appears to be misleading potential customers with continued marketing of this unit.
Hermann
Well-known member
I hope you are right, mine was placed here in the states from Lunt Solar Systems. No word yet that they are coming. If and when yours arrive be sure to let us know.
Great … looking forward to your review.
I have not seen any negative reviews these past 3 years since APM announced they were developing these but I could have missed one ? The only negative remarks I have seen , is the promise of delivery … the lack of. I cancelled my first order after waiting close to six months a few years ago. My second order, 4 plus weeks ago now pending according to Lunt Solar Systems USA … my shipment was due in last Fri or this Coming Monday from APM. After they are checked out I will be notified of the shipping. Herman across the pond said he just received his. I can not say what APM’s dealer delivery priority is ( to who) but here in the USA I have yet to read of any one that has actually ordered and received one in 2021. I politely expressed my disappointment with Lunt Solar Systems this past Thursday but they assured me they will be delivered very soon. If I had placed my order direct to APM, maybe I would be giving my opinion of receiving these now instead of still commenting here… I am still on the waiting list.
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
Good to hear as you were unsure of purchasing a pair a few days ago. Cannot find a UK dealer who has them yet.
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Hermann
Well-known member
A quick update: After >20 hours in the field with the APM I'm quite impressed. I'm still not ready for a full review, but I fully concur with Pinacs review on Cloudynights (APM 8x30 ED and 6x30 Porro Binoculars (Prototypes) - Binoculars - Cloudy Nights). Some of the points Pinac noted have been improved in the production models, mine doesn't have truncated exit pupils for instance.
Very nice finish, better than in some alphas I've seen in the past few years. Very good optics with high sharpness and excellent contrast. A nice, large sweetspot. CA is negligible. In a direct comparison to a Habicht 7x42 with the latest coatings, my reference binocular with regard to optical quality in the image center, I can still see a difference, but it is very small. Stray light, for instance, isn't as well controlled as in the Habicht, but it it still very low, including veiling glare. Note that the Habicht is more than four times as expensive.
In short, I'm quite impressed. In fact, I'm so impressed I ordered a second pair that I got last Saturday. It's just as good as the first pair. I ordered both pairs directly from APM. Delivery time two days in both cases by DHL.
Very nice finish, better than in some alphas I've seen in the past few years. Very good optics with high sharpness and excellent contrast. A nice, large sweetspot. CA is negligible. In a direct comparison to a Habicht 7x42 with the latest coatings, my reference binocular with regard to optical quality in the image center, I can still see a difference, but it is very small. Stray light, for instance, isn't as well controlled as in the Habicht, but it it still very low, including veiling glare. Note that the Habicht is more than four times as expensive.
In short, I'm quite impressed. In fact, I'm so impressed I ordered a second pair that I got last Saturday. It's just as good as the first pair. I ordered both pairs directly from APM. Delivery time two days in both cases by DHL.
Stevenkelby
Well-known member
Can you please give more direct comparisons with the Habicht 7x42 which I have? Does it do anything better? I assume the fov is much wider?
Hermann
Well-known member
The field of view of the APM is wider. Check the factsheet. That difference is obvious in the field, although the APM isn't a wideangle binocular with an AFOV of 60 degrees or more. The focussing isn't as stiff (the Habicht has one of the stiffest focusers I ever came across).
Other than that you'll have to wait for my review. Like I said in an earlier post, I don't believe in posting reviews before I had the time to use a binocular for a longer period of time in different conditions.
Hermann
I got an email from Lunt yesterday that says to expect delivery tomorrow- now don’t you go and cancel your order for a second time, gcole!
Your really going to get a kick out of the latest developments regarding my desire to get my hands on these ….. going back to a little over a week ago, Hermann remarks(On Oct 1) he got his pair in 2 Days direct from APM. I am now thinking about a week later with no word on my second order put into Lunt Solar Systems, so I contact APM direct yesterday. They are in stock will ship today. This was early in the AM my time here in Florida. Tired of waiting not sure if or when I will actually get the pair from Lunt Solar System, I place a order with APM direct in Germany. APM emailed me back same day my order shipped with tracking number. Lunt Solar Systems emailed me about a hr later … they shipped my order also. Before I could cancel my order with Lunt … I now have two pairs supposedly arriving this week possibly tomorrow. One pair I really did not need, two pair means a Forum member here is really going to get a good deal when they are listed in the classified section for sale as New Open Box !
The pair from Germany now on truck for delivery. Since my eyes are not so good now, my significant other will express her optics opinion to me and I will comment on their handling/quality of construction. If they arrive in time for both of us to have enough daylight for a quick handling, I will comment today. If not it will be tomorrow.
Both pairs arrived about 1-1/2 Hrs ago. Both me and my significant other swapped both back an forth for about 20 Min. Before I go any further, here is how the shipping went between Lunt Solar Systems here in Tucson AZ USA and the pair shipped direct from APM Germany to us in Jacksonville FL USA. APM shipped on the 11th Oct and Lunt Solar Systems on the 8th Oct. Cost between the two about $10 USA dollars with APM on the lower side. Packaging between the two … APM very impressive, with much larger box then needed. Lunt Solar systems adequate with just big enough box for pop corn foam layer protection between the binocular box and their shipping box. Both shipped UPS, with APM shipping UPS Express (expedited) which is why their package arrived just 2 business days after I placed my order. Very impressive indeed since I did not pay any xtra shipping for that service when I placed my order. Lunt solar Systems shipped UPS standard ground as per their website. Last but I also think this is important to mention … APM email responses back to me with in minutes before I placed my order and during the online transaction, again very impressive. The end result … APM had them in stock, shipped same day super fast. Lunt Solar Systems had to wait for APM to ship them stock before they could fill their back order to ship to me. Having said all this, here’s my opinion and it’s only my opinion on what APM finally delivered. Visually a very pleasing well constructed made waterproof porro binocular. Quality control with both specimens basically looking identical, having both focuser/hinge tensions the same. Both having nicely darkened barrels with clean tubes.The inside screws that can be seen, also blackened. Lens coatings seem evenly applied with no issues that either of us could see. The overall outside finish very nice, I liked the fake wanta - be leather which is nicely done. The fold down rubber eye lens cups could be a little less stiff for my significant other but I found them to be just right. Eye relief adequate for both of us with our glasses. No blackouts with out our glasses. Optically we both thought they were very sharp, giving a easy nice bright view with neural colors. When I mean neutral colors , I mean you see what you would see with your naked eyes. Maybe with a Alpha porro the colors would pop out, being darker or richer but these are only a $200 plus porro. Handling very comfortable, having a nice feel that they will not slip out of your hands if wet. Finally the weight …. for me just right. They do not come across as being made of plastic and given their really nice looking appearance and that they have some heft gives one a sense of a very well made binocular.
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