Kite APC 60 ED Stabilized Spotting Scope – Unboxing & First Impressions with Video

Introduction

In this article and embedded video, I am going to be opening up this box (see below) and giving you my very first impressions on the very exciting Kite APC 60 ED, the world’s first image-stabilized spotting scope:

Today, I have something very exciting to share with you and indeed discover for myself!

This is because in this box is a product that I believe has the potential to change the way we use spotting scopes forever! It’s from Kite Optics, it’s called the APC Stabilized 60 ED, the world’s first image-stabilized spotting scope, which means that, despite the high magnifications, they say can be used effectively in the hands without the need of a tripod or monopod.

Now, as you can see, not only have I not opened the box yet, I haven’t even opened the packaging that it was sent in – so this is a genuine first look at it for – but in preparation for this moment, I’ve done a quite a bit of research, and let me tell you, the features specs are impressive. On top of that, I have tested and reviewed three of Kites’ APC image-stabilized binoculars over the past few years (See all my Kite Optics Binocular Reviews Here), and if this scope follows the same trend in terms of the level of stabilization and overall build quality, then we are really in for a treat.

Unboxing

As has been my experience with all their binoculars that I’ve tested in the past, Kite tends to go for a clean, no-fuss presentation, and that’s exactly what we once again see here with the scope.

Wrist Strap

So, first up, we have a wrist strap, which is not something that I have ever seen included with a spotting scope, but then again, because this scope is designed so that it can be used from the hands, this makes sense, as it wont always be attached to a tripod and you definitely wouldn’t want to drop it accidentally.

As you can see, the strap looks to be very well made, it has a nice thick, very slightly elasticated rope that loops back on itself and goes around your wrist.

To tighten the loop, it has a noose-type system with a slider that looks to me to be made from leather, or, if it is not, then a very good fake leather, which you just pull down to reduce the size of the loop to ensure that it fits securely around your wrist.

The strap connects to the scope by threading the thin cord through one of the two recessed eyelets located on the sides of the body of the scope.

The fact that it has a quick release clip that separates the thin cord section from the main wrist strap is great, because it makes this somewhat fiddly task a little easier, and then once it is attached, you can just leave it there and remove the rest of the wrist strap when it is not needed.

Overall, my first impression would be to give this particular accessory a very good rating, It seems to be generally well thought out and well made using quality materials. Just keep in mind that, as with everything else that we are looking at today, with more testing, I will discover just how effective it is when used out in the field and will update my thoughts in my full review.

Mini-Monopod

As with the wrist strap, the next accessory we are going to look at is another that I was not expecting to find: and that is a mini-monopod!

Packaged within its own box, this really small telescopic monopod has a carbon fiber leg with two expansion points enabling it to double in length from 20cm to just over 40cm.

The foot of the monopod looks to be made from aluminium and is threaded, meaning it can easily be fixed onto a tripod.

Likewise, the mounting platform at the top-end of the monopod is metal with a metal screw. Whilst this platform is not massive, it has a textured rubber inlay, which should help with the connection to the scope so as to help prevent it from turning or unwinding without having to tighten it excessively.

As with the wrist strap, this accessory looks to be extremely well made from top-end materials.

As for its usefulness, I can see that it would be great to use when sitting at a table in something like a bird or wildlife hide, but as well as this, taking a look at some of Kite’s marketing photos, it looks like it will also work as a handle and anchor point when carrying the scope on your shoulder when out in the field.

Protective Carry Case

So, before we get to the scope itself, let’s quickly look at the carry case that comes in.

Unlike most traditional spotting scopes that come with a protective jacket that can, if you wish, be kept on the scope whilst in use, Kite has gone with a more traditional case that can be used for transport and storage.

Access to the interior is via a double zip that has a court connecting the two, which enables you to open both at the same time, and I can also see will act as a quick carry strap.

The flip-open lid also has a magnetic closure, which is a really nice touch and shows a good attention to detail, as it means that when you are often taking the scope in and out of the case, you won’t have to take the time to fully close the zip every time.

The case has a belt loop and its own carry strap with a quick release clip, and because there are a number of mounting points on the case, you are able to carry and attach it to your body in three ways – this is something I will go over in more detail in the full review.

On the side of the case, there is a separate pocket with a zip closure that will be useful for securely storing a few personal items and a cleaning cloth for example.

The underside of the case has a wide elasticated band, which at first I could not see an obvious use for. However, after a little more thought, I now think it is designed for carrying the monopod, or if it isn’t then it works very well for this anyway!

The padding on the interior looks and feels just about sufficient, but I wouldn’t call it extremely well-padded for what is a reasonably heavy electro/optical instrument. But overall, and as with all the other accessories that come with this Kite scope, I would say that the case is extremely well-made and you can tell there has been a lot of thought and attention to detail put into it.

The Scope

Now, for first impressions of the scope in terms of its external design and features. Also, at the end, and just to give you a quick idea of the effectiveness of image stabilization, I will quickly show off some initial footage that I captured just after unboxing, by simply holding up my phone to the eyepiece.

So my first thought when getting my hands on the Kite APC was just how compact it was. The straight-through optical design helps with this, and whilst it may not be quite as small as the smallest travel scope out there, remember this has a 60mm objective lens, whilst many of those have smaller 56mm or even 50mm lenses.

In terms of weight, at just over 1,3 kilos (this includes the eyepiece), the scope is certainly heavier than it looks, but with the metal parts, added electronics, battery, and IS parts, this is understandable, and I don’t think it feels unreasonably heavy.

The twist-up eyecup has a great action to it, it feels robust and clicks nicely into each of the three click-stops.

The supplied zoom eyepiece looks to be of very high quality and has a really large exterior lens. Note that it is the same eyepiece that comes with the high-end Kite KSP 80 HD non-image stabilised spotting scope.

It is detachable, and to remove it, you simply unlock it using the dial on the top and then twist counterclockwise. It has a click lock system and thus presumably you can get other eyepieces for it, although at the moment I am not sure of its compatibility, but you can definitely use this eyepiece with the Kite KSP 80 scope and vice versa. So if you already own that scope, you only need to buy the body, which is possible.

This variable magnification eyepiece, combined with this 60mm scope, gives you a zoom range of between 17x and 35x. To adjust the magnification to any setting between these extremes, you simply turn the rubberised ring on the eyepiece. This felt nice and smooth, and I feel that it was just the right level of resistance.

To adjust the focus on this spotting scope, you rotate the large rubberized ring on the main barrel. This, like the eyepiece, was nice and smooth and felt very similar to changing the focus on a large telephoto lens on a camera.

The scope has a spring-loaded lens cover, similar to those you get on a camera, and which you pinch together to remove. This looks nice and neat and works well, and I like that it is tethered to the body via an elasticated cord to prevent me from leaving it behind in the field somewhere!

Whilst the Kite APC scope does not have a separate extendable hood like many large scopes have, the lens is set back very far from the end of the barrel, offering a lot of protection and which should help with lens flare.

I also like that the inside end of the barrel is threaded, meaning that you can attach lens filters or protectors should you wish.

This scope has an integrated rechargeable Li-Ion battery, and at the front of the main body, just under the barrel, is the location of the charging port. It has a rubber cover for weather protection and uses a standard USB-C cable for charging.

To turn the Image stabilization on and off, you turn the dial located just behind the focus adjustment ring at the junction between the main body and the barrel. I found this to be a little on the stiff side on my sample, but really this is no big deal.

Image Stabilization – Quick Demonstration

Speaking of the IS, I was too excited not to give the IS a try, so be sure to look at the video at the top of the page, which contains some digiscoped footage of what I captured immediately after unboxing.

The quality is far from great, as I was hand-holding the scope and then simply holding up my phone to the eyepiece. On top of this, due to the time of day, I was filming towards the sun, and so much of what I captured was in silhouette.

For my full review, I plan on doing a lot more digiscoping with this scope using an adapter and thus will hopefully get much better quality footage; however, I think, as you can already see, the difference the image stabilization makes is huge. Remember, I was not only shooting from the hands without a tripod, but by holding the camera of my phone up to the eyepiece made the setup even less balanced than when you rest it against your face.

Conclusion – Wrap-up and What’s Next

So here you have it – the Kite APC Stabilized 60 ED Spotting Scope – surprisingly compact, looks to be of a very high quality, and overall, my initial impressions of it and the package as a whole, including the accessories, are for the most part extremely positive.

For more details and my final thoughts in detail on the Image stabilization, the optics, coatings, overall image quality, and by using an adapter, also much better digiscoped examples (hopefully!), you will have to give me time for testing and to put together the full review.

So, over the next few days and weeks, I’ll be using it for birding, digiscoping, and maybe even try it out with a little astronomy.

If you have any questions or if there’s anything specific you’d like me to test or perhaps compare it to, let me know in the comments in the video on the BBR YouTube Channel, and I’ll do my best to see if I can accommodate you. Also, remember, if you enjoyed this first look, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don’t miss the release of my full review.

Further Reading

Note: My full review is now live:

• Kite APC Stabilized 60 ED Spotting Scope Review & Field Testing