Paultricounty
Well-known member
This is very true, but I usually won’t tolerate it in that category.
I do as well, but it depends on the definition of some.
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The APM 6.5x32 ED IF, compared to the APM 6x30 – A Few Thoughts (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Canip
- Start date
A question for @Canip (since I'm aware he has both models) or anyone else who can compare the APM 6.5x32 ED CF to the Oberwerk SE 8x32.
I'm not sure I've seen these two models compared anywhere, hence my interest.
I know it can seem like a bit apples to oranges at first sight, but then: both are oversized 32 mm Porro models made in China, both cost 249 € right now, and both have gathered very good reviews recently. Yes I know one is 8x while the other one is 6.5 on paper (although it seems to be closer to 7 than what the specs say).
How do these two compare against each other? Is there any big difference where one model really shines?
Thanks for any comment or input!!
I'm not sure I've seen these two models compared anywhere, hence my interest.
I know it can seem like a bit apples to oranges at first sight, but then: both are oversized 32 mm Porro models made in China, both cost 249 € right now, and both have gathered very good reviews recently. Yes I know one is 8x while the other one is 6.5 on paper (although it seems to be closer to 7 than what the specs say).
How do these two compare against each other? Is there any big difference where one model really shines?
Thanks for any comment or input!!
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I couldn't say that one shines whereas the other doesn't.
I am with you in that both are (for the objective diameter) quite large and heavy China-made Porro models that are similarly priced, and both got good reviews.
But as you write, comparing an 8x and a 6.5x binocular isn't an obvious thing, and I tend to avoid it. How do you compare CA correction and image brightness if one is 8x32 and the other 6.5x32??
Even rating central sharpness is tricky, due to the different magnifications. Off-axis sharpness is easier, and both binos do quite well here; the same is true for color fidelity.
Perhaps the APM exibits a tiny bit more field curvature (which I don't mind, esp. for day-time observations), but you have to look hard to find it.
So overall, I find the image characteristics not too different. These are both very pleasant binos in my view; you may or may not like it, but the optical - and in the present case mechanical - quality of Chinese binoculars has reached quite a high level (will they last??? can't say, my "test case" is the SRBC 8x42 which I have been and continue using every single day to find out how the focuser will do over time. So far: impeccable).
fwiw Canip
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@Canip Thank you ever so much for taking your time and explaining all in detail, even taking some pictures. All my gratitude, seriously!
The pictures are quite telling, I was aware that the APM was pretty bulky for a 32 mm (thanks in part to your pictures from past days), but the Oberwerk really looks like a "regular" compact 8x32. If I hadn't seen pictures of both compared to other binoculars and I was told these two are 32, I could be fooled to believe they are smaller.
In terms of "fear of bad quality" I really don't mind where my binoculars (or anything else for that matter) are made. I've had good and bad experiences with binoculars made in Germany, Japan or China, so basically I have no preconceptions when I get a new bino, and I simply believe what I have in my hands in each case. As you say, there are many nice Chinese binoculars out there, like computers, bike frames, etc.
My comment about what differences in quality could there be was sparkled by the fact that both cost exactly the same, to the very cent (just checked and they're both 249 €), so I was curious to know if they somehow "belonged" in the same "quality step/category". You know, sometimes there are binoculars that punch above their price and seem to jump to a higher level, while others (I can think, for example, of the pricing policy of Blaser) seem to be priced too high, maybe for the sake of perceived status.
The pictures are quite telling, I was aware that the APM was pretty bulky for a 32 mm (thanks in part to your pictures from past days), but the Oberwerk really looks like a "regular" compact 8x32. If I hadn't seen pictures of both compared to other binoculars and I was told these two are 32, I could be fooled to believe they are smaller.
In terms of "fear of bad quality" I really don't mind where my binoculars (or anything else for that matter) are made. I've had good and bad experiences with binoculars made in Germany, Japan or China, so basically I have no preconceptions when I get a new bino, and I simply believe what I have in my hands in each case. As you say, there are many nice Chinese binoculars out there, like computers, bike frames, etc.
My comment about what differences in quality could there be was sparkled by the fact that both cost exactly the same, to the very cent (just checked and they're both 249 €), so I was curious to know if they somehow "belonged" in the same "quality step/category". You know, sometimes there are binoculars that punch above their price and seem to jump to a higher level, while others (I can think, for example, of the pricing policy of Blaser) seem to be priced too high, maybe for the sake of perceived status.
Some users have found the build quality of the Oberwerk badged "SE" to not quite match the image quality - see hopster's post here (link). I wonder if this has been improved in current examples. The APM badged porros do seem to be well built so it is definitely within their capability to build a solid porro.
I have a comparison of SE 8x32 and APM 8x32.
(but under diffrent brand name)
have posted on Korean forum this may
(they are being introduced by Korean local distributor approximately this year march)
can post it soon
with 6.5x32 (only bino left between three until today)
in reference of the best 8x32 I have ELSV 8x32
(but under diffrent brand name)
have posted on Korean forum this may
(they are being introduced by Korean local distributor approximately this year march)
can post it soon
with 6.5x32 (only bino left between three until today)
in reference of the best 8x32 I have ELSV 8x32
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It's the largest I can remember in any binocular I've used. I usually have issues with narrow eyecups, so I tend to prefer wide eyecups, but oddly enough I found these eyecups not the easiest to use. Somehow (paradoxically) your eye has so much room in the FOV and the eyepiece lens to move around ,that the eye position becomes critical, and I found I could get some kidney beans. Strange. But then, I only used it briefly, maybe with time you can get used to it.
On the other hand, another thing I discoverd is that, just like with many wide field Porros I simply could not see the entire FOV, and I don't wear glasses. Hard as I tried, it was impossible. If I twisted the eyecups down fully... well then usability became somwhat compromised, especially for birding (unlike for landscape viewing). And then, in my unit the eyecups did not have very clear positions, it was hard to pick an intermediate position and get it to stay put.
I think it because of it's too long rubber eyecup.
we only have 3 choices, leave it, fold it, take it up.
6.5x32's eyecup is long enough for Flat Asian face on mine. but average western faces is diffrent.
I think, if you want to get full fov with your 6.5x32, you have to cut the tip of the rubber eyecups.
things happen at Canon 10x32 too. more severe that even some asian, modified the eyecup to get a full view of FOV.
@jackjack Wow, that sounds interesting. I use a Canon 12x36 IS III, but it's only 5º, so I have no problem with that. Oh, I forgot to mention, I was talking about the CF APM 6.5x32, hence the twist up eyecups that I guess are a little different. Maybe with the traditional fold-down rubber eyecups I would have less trouble! Who knows.
Oh! There are no 6.5x32 CF ver in Korea. so I didn't know that 6.5x32 CF have diffrent eyecup from what I reviewed.
Hermann
Well-known member
The APM 6.5x32: Mini review
Over the past few weeks I used the APM 6.5x32 CF quite a lot in the field to see how well it works for me. I also did some brief comparisons with my Habicht 7x42, one of the two binoculars I’ve been using a lot for birding over the past decade. (The other binocular I currently use for birding is...
www.birdforum.net
Hermann
