New APC 42 Stabilized (2 Viewers)

[FlanaganV]

Good point, different eyepieces might indeed explain the similarity of the FoVs of the 12x and 16x. Btw, according to Kite the APC42mm binos are made in Japan.

Just for curiosity, are they actually made in Japan? In the website they say that the 10x30 and 12x30 are optically ‘based’ on the petrel model which was (at least in the beginning) made in Japan, but in the pictures I’ve seen for the 10/12x30 it’s clearly written ‘China’ in the body.

I was almost decided to buy the Fujinon ts-x 1440, but if these 16x42 are made in Japan their price would be very attractive.

 

[Winterdune]

They are made in Japan I believe

 

[Winterdune]

Yes it states Japan here
https://www.optics-trade.eu/uk/kite-optics-stabi-apc-12x42.html?___from_store=en

 

[PeterPS]

They are made in Japan I believe

Yes, according to the owner of Kite Optics. The usual suspect is Kamakura Koki.

 

[PeterPS]

Just for curiosity, are they actually made in Japan? In the website they say that the 10x30 and 12x30 are optically ‘based’ on the petrel model which was (at least in the beginning) made in Japan, but in the pictures I’ve seen for the 10/12x30 it’s clearly written ‘China’ in the body.

I was almost decided to buy the Fujinon ts-x 1440, but if these 16x42 are made in Japan their price would be very attractive.

It seems that the 30mm APCs are also MIJ. Can you attach a pic of the 10/12x30 with MIC?

 

[FlanaganV]

Hi, For example, this link:
https://www.facebook.com/BrowningEurope/photos/kite-optics-hunting-stabi-apc-30-image-stabilized-binoculars-provide-a-shake-fre/3150007308354909/

Maybe they are japanese optics with MIC assembly&electronics?

 

[PeterPS]

Hi, For example, this link:
https://www.facebook.com/BrowningEurope/photos/kite-optics-hunting-stabi-apc-30-image-stabilized-binoculars-provide-a-shake-fre/3150007308354909/

Maybe they are japanese optics with MIC assembly&electronics?

That text has vanished from any other pics that I have seen; can you find it anywhere else?

 

[Winterdune]

My 10x30 APCs say China on them.

 

[FlanaganV]

Yes, it seems you're right, there are some more pictures (mainly coming from users) were China is written:

https://i1.wp.com/wzrokowiec.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Stabi-3.jpg

But in the more recent 'studio' pictures:

https://www.sightsofnature.com/uploads/Producten/KITE_OPTICS/KITE_APC_30-back2.jpg

It has been erased.

I'm confused, but I would bet for the China origin theory, because, the other clones of this series of binoculars are also made in china (i.e. Opticron)

 

[joskaDK]

My APC 10x30 says Japan.

 

[PeterPS]

My APC 10x30 says Japan.

It looks like the production was moved from China to Japan.
I have asked my contact at Kite to clarify this aspect and will post his answer.

 

[PeterPS]

I have received the following prompt answer/clarification:
"Very first series of APC 30 was made in China. Since a year ago all pruduction is made in Japan."

 

[Winterdune]

My APC 10x30 says Japan.

Have you got the ones which are IPX7 certified? Mine were made before the certification so I wonder if that might explain the difference, although I was told mine were identical and IPX7 water resistant, they just couldn't state it because they were still waiting for the certification. Because of that I got them at a discount. Given that their fov is wider than the 12x42 I am going to wait for the next generation of IS bins before upgrading them.

Edit: just seen the explanation from Kite above.

 

[joskaDK]

Manual for the APC 10x30 states several times that it is not waterproof.

Here it says IPX6.
www.kiteoptics.com/en/nature/product/223/bino-apc-stabilized-30/

 

[Winterdune]

Yeah that's what I mean. It's splash resistant...

 

[PeterPS]

Yeah that's what I mean. It's splash resistant...

The APC 42mm models are waterproof (IPX7). I have just received a pair of 16x42. Btw, they're MiJ.

 

[Winterdune]

What are they like Peter? How's the FOV? Do you notice how narrow it is?

 

[PeterPS]

What are they like Peter? How's the FOV? Do you notice how narrow it is?

The FoV of the 16x42 is 3.9*, which is not bad for a 16x---indeed an AFoV of about 60* is quite reasonable. Of course 3.9* is not enough for all types of birding, but it's OK for pelagic bird watching and similar (as well as for stargazing)--- imo that's the main application of the 16x42, in which case they can be viewed as a substitute for a scope. Their mechanics and optics are quite good (at their price level) and the IS system works very well---I believe it is one of the best, if not the best. Their ergonomics is good too, in particular their eyecups are better than the eyecups of other IS binos such as some Canon models.

 

[Winterdune]

Yes I like the ergonomics and the weight of my 10x30 APCs, and the 16x42 fov is actually better than the 10x42, but both are much worse that the 10x30, sadly. When the fov issue is sorted, hopefully in the next generation of Kite IS binoculars, I will be ditching my Swarovski 10x42s for sure.

 

[Gijs van Ginkel]

PeterPS, post 32,
Made in Japan and/or in China, but it very well could be exactly the same company that has a production facility both in Japan and in China and, if quality control is alright, there is nothing wrong with it.
Gijs van Ginkel