A decade of research. A breakthrough that changed everything.
Stabilised binoculars have been around for a while. But anyone who has ever held one of the older models knows their weaknesses too: large, heavy, short battery life, and an image that when panning sometimes feels like the onset of seasickness. The reason lies in the technology that for decades was considered the only option.
The problem with the old systems
Until 2019, stabilised binoculars worked according to two basic principles. The first shifts the lenses within the optical path – a precise approach, but with one decisive drawback: the possible correction angle is small, meaning the system can only compensate for moderate movement. The second principle stabilises the Porro prism using gyroscopes and electric motors. This allows larger movements to be corrected, but the Porro prism is heavy – and heavy components need powerful motors. Powerful motors need a lot of power. And the result is often a slightly wavy, delayed image that in some users genuinely triggers a mild sense of nausea.
Both systems also share a common denominator: they inevitably make the binocular large, heavy and demanding in terms of upkeep.
The breakthrough: stabilisation on the roof prism
In 2019, KITE OPTICS presented something that changed the industry. For the first time, image stabilisation was successfully transferred to the roof prism – that compact, powerful component found in all modern high-performance binoculars. Behind this invention lies a decade of intensive development work, because the roof prism places entirely different demands on stabilisation than a Porro prism.
The difference is fundamental: while a Porro prism can be dampened by gyroscopes – much like shock absorbers on a car – a roof prism requires active, continuous control. It is not enough to intercept movement. The system must keep the prism precisely within the optical path at all times, even as the binocular moves.
The solution is the KDGS – the Kite Dynamic Gimbal System. A gimbal mount in which every moving and stationary component is continuously tracked by an array of accelerometers. This data flows in real time into intelligent software that dynamically coordinates all components with one another. The result is a system in perfect balance – and an image that simply holds.
KT software: the brain behind the gimbal
The KDGS alone would only be half as capable without the right software. KITE OPTICS’ KT software controls high-precision voice coil actuators and ensures that the system responds correctly to every type of movement – whether a slight hand tremor, a fast pan across the horizon or strong vibrations on a boat. All of this happens without perceptible delay, without wave motion in the image, and without the uncomfortable effect that older systems leave behind.
Since its introduction in 2019, KITE OPTICS has continuously developed both systems – KDGS and KT software. Each new generation of devices surpasses the previous one. The goal is always the same: the perfect balance between suppressing small and large movements, adapting to natural observation movements, and reliably holding an image on a stationary subject.
APC: when the binocular thinks for itself
Another pillar of the system is APC mode – Automatic Power Control. The sensors in the binocular detect from the angle at which it is held whether you are actively observing or simply wearing it around your neck. When it hangs downward, the electronics automatically enter standby and consume no power. The moment you raise the binocular to your eyes, the stabilisation activates instantly – no button press, no delay. After prolonged inactivity, the system shuts down completely. A low-battery indicator gives advance warning before the power runs low – often days ahead of time.
The result of this energy efficiency is remarkable: depending on the model, a single set of batteries lasts for 36 to 120 hours of active use. You change the batteries once, perhaps twice a year.
What this means in practice
A stabilised binocular based on the KDGS is barely larger or heavier than a high-quality unstabilised binocular of the same class. It is fully waterproof, gas-filled and built for hard outdoor use. And it delivers an image that simply cannot be achieved with a conventional handheld binocular – steady, sharp, effortless. At every magnification. In every condition.
Anyone who has observed with one will understand why KITE OPTICS has used this technology to redefine an entire category of instrument.
