Review of the KITE OPTICS APC 18x50 ED stabilized binoculars (2 Viewers)

[temmie]

Hi, thanks for your thoughts! Makes sense!

I'm just wondering about the use case of an 18x IS bin, apart from the rather specific use on a boat.

• I was thinking it might replace scopes, when distances are not too high and very high mags are not really needed, such as forest birding. Advantage would be obviously that no tripod is needed. You mention the disadvantage, that it cannot be used to show others birds in a fixed scope.

An 18x binocular won't ever replace a 30x scope, but it will come quite close in many situations, as you say, in forest birding, and will indeed be more handy to pack / take on e.g. a birding day out with walking etc. While it cannot be used to show birds, I feel, in general, that scopes in forests not often work. I heard about guides that are very handy setting up the scope in the forest, but I am maybe a bit too lazy for that and would rather (laser)point out birds so all can see them in their own bins.

• You mention use in open country. Do you think it could then replace a low powered wide angled bin? Or rather the scope?

I'm not a fan of any 14x or higher for replacing the bin, mainly because of FOV (I already mentioned this before, and while FOV isn't great, it is reasonably workable, so it's not impossible if you're a talent with regards to aiming at birds or if you don't mind the narrow FOV).
A 14x (or even 18x) could replace both bins and scope on a leisurely day of birding in open field, but leave something to be desired when e.g. trying to get birds in the reeds into view, or scanning the far side of a big marsh land.

I would rather think of the situation in the forest, where you take bins + stabilized bins instead of a scope for the occasional tree top scanning / forest edge, as the best combination.
For open country birding, only the stabilized bins could do for most birds, but rather a 14x than an 18x if you're actively searching and looking through the bins a lot.

 

[Hermann]

I got it! It was a Roseate Tern which has been an incredibly hard bird to see around here in the last decade, so it was quite the challenge!
I don't have shares in companies of stabilized binoculars, but for once I have to say that I couldn't have done it without those stabilized binoculars (and a little help from my friends who managed sea sickness better than me and found the bird).

Congratulations, Roseate Tern is a brilliant bird! I've never seen one in Germany. My only observation was in the UK, some 40 years ago.

Hermann

 

[temmie]

Congratulations, Roseate Tern is a brilliant bird! I've never seen one in Germany. My only observation was in the UK, some 40 years ago.

Hermann

It is a very scarce bird over here, mainly on migration but with the occasional longer staying bird (sometimes even breeding with e.g. common tern). Sometimes some hang around but most for only a short time, and they find The Netherlands much more pleasant to hang out, it seems (I can't say they are wrong!). They're a curious tern in terms of how they have their own niche in between other species, and while it's a globally spread species, it has, in all those areas it occurs, a curiously small, specific area of breeding and a lot of breeding sites aren't in easy reach.

 

[FVG]

Shame rechargeable AAs void the warranty. Otherwise I could be interested in this.

Yes, that is indeed a shame, but my APC 16x42 has had the same 2 AA batteries in it for almost a year and I have used the APC almost every weekend. So the battery consumption is remarkably low.

 

[FVG]

All of that is true, but I also found the Kite APC (new model) a step up in image quality compared to the previous model.
I haven't compared to the Canon, but all I can say is the Kite's image quality is good enough not to be of any annoyance when looking through. It isn't Swaro quality but it's not in the way (anymore) like it was in the previous model. Especially the chromatic aberrations are corrected much better in the new model.

So all in all, I reckon this is a very worthy alternative to any 14-15-16x high quality / alpha binocular that is not stabilized, at least for birding on the move in open terrain, sea watching, and birding from e.g. a ship.
If your aim is to watch from a porch or carry a monopod while birding or have any other possibility to stabilize your binocular on e.g. a pole, wall or other + you have the funds and require the best IQ, in that case something like the Swaro 14x52 will probably be your best choice.

I completely agree with Temmie. In my opinion, the added value of IS is mainly at 12x or higher. At such magnifications, most people cannot get a vibration-free image with unstabilized binoculars and certainly not under unfavorable conditions such as wind, boat, etc. Then IS binoculars are always advantageous because then you don't get much use out of a nice, high-contrast image or one of the other top features of the alphas. I spent a lot of time at the seaside last winter with strong winds and then I was no longer even able to use my telescope, despite the very sturdy tripod I have. For general birding, the APC does not replace my Zeiss binoculars, but it has become my great friend and almost always goes with me in the car. Also ideal for quickly scanning a plain or puddle from the car before setting up my telescope. It is one of the best purchases I have made in recent years because it really stands out from my other optical gear. And of course it's not an alpha image, but it's definitely not as bad as some say. The only thing I sometimes miss is some extra contrast, but again; the IS in combination with the extra magnification really makes up for a lot and gives the APC a unique position and purpose.

 

[K-day]

At the distances that benefit most from an 18X, the APC50 with IS enabled still has a lot to offer while on a tripod.

 

[jafritten]

at least one of the three „alphas“ seems to be definitely working on its own stabi, as my trusted optics dealer tells me

@Canip That sounds very interesting! Do you have more information on this?

 

[Canip]

@Canip That sounds very interesting! Do you have more information on this?

Yes.

 

[jafritten]

Yes.

Would you share your knowledge with us? That would be much appreciated.

 

[Canip]

Sorry, I am not at liberty to say more, even the little that I know - my apologies for bringing this up.

 

[Elkhornsun]

The problem with rechargeable batteries is that they start out with a lower voltage than alkaline and digital electronics requires a minimum voltage level. Replacing one or two alkaline batteries once a year is a trivial matter. I replace mine at least once a year as it is the fully discharged battery that is going to corrode and leak and damage the device they are in.

I do not understand the concern about the field of view. If I am trying to identify a bird, even one in flight, I do not need a wide FOV.

I know in actual use that any level of magnification greater than 12x requires my use of a tripod. Having optical stabilization is a nice alternative to a tripod. It certainly is more important to be able to hand hold the binoculars when tracking birds.

Eliminating all CA is difficult and it crops up in many binoculars including expensive ones from Zeiss (that I have used). With optical stabilization there is a mechanical movement of the element and this makes CA more likely to occur. I care about this with a lens I am using with a camera than with binoculars used for observation.

 

[DRodrigues]

Still no comparison with the Canon 18x50?