Best Athlon Binoculars for the Money

Athlon Optics have a large selection of instruments in a wide range of prices, so whilst the choice is there, it can sometimes make it difficult to not only find the right configuration for your needs, but which range or series matches your expectations in terms of their function and image quality and at the budget that you can afford.

I have researched, tested, used and reviewed many of their instruments, including the long-range Midas 12x50 binoculars and so feel I know the brand and their lineup really well. So in this article, I wanted to share an insight that became clear to me as to which series offers you the best bang for your buck:

The Best Value For Money Athlon Binoculars

Athlon’s flagship series is the Cronus and sitting just under them is the Ares series. Both of these ranges contain truly great high-end binoculars with just about all the best quality optics, features, and components that you would expect to find at the highest levels (For more details, read my full Athlon Ares 10x42 Binocular Review).

However, you do have to pay top dollar to get such high quality… or do you?

Athlon Midas Binoculars

Third in line in the Athlon stable is the Midas series, which is a really interesting one to me as I believe it is probably the series where you get the biggest bang for your buck and here is why:

The Body

The chassis on the Athlon Midas is made from a magnesium alloy, which as you would expect has a durable rubber armor exterior, is sealed making it fully waterproof and filled with Argon gas to protect inner optics from fogging.

This is exactly what Athlon’s top two series of binoculars, the Cronus and the Ares have and use, so no difference here.

Admittedly with the Athlon Cronus, you do get a few added features like a lockable diopter adjuster located on the central focus wheel and it is these small details that separate it from the rest and is why it is their flagship range.

The Optics

The fully multi-coated optical system on the Midas includes ED glass lens elements, BaK-4 roof prisms with both dielectric and phase correction coatings and also you get extra protection coatings on outer lens surfaces.

So once again this is EXACTLY the same level of optics used on the Athlon Ares and are all out of the top-drawer.

Indeed they once again come extremely close to matching the flagship Cronus, however, the difference here is that Athlon Cronus binoculars also feature a field flattening optical system which does help deliver sharper images from one edge of the view to the other.

Conclusion

So apart from the body shape, you are getting exactly the same level of components and features as the Athlon Ares, but at a substantially lower price!

And whilst there is no argument that the Cronus is the top dog, both the Athlon Ares and the Midas are in the grand scheme of things, really not that far behind.

So if it is the best of the best you want then the Cronus is the way to go and whilst I think the Ares is also a really great instrument and still offers good value, it is the Midas Binoculars that looks to me to be located right at the sweet spot and is thus the BEST Athlon binoculars for the money.

The Athlon Argos binoculars are also worth a mention and if you want to save a little more cash they are well worth a closer look at (Athlon Argos 8x42 Binoculars Review). Impressively, they have the same level of optics as the Ares and Midas, but where you lose out is in the body as rather than magnesium, the housing is fashioned from a polymer composite material. The main specifications like the field of view, eye-relief and close focus also don’t quite match that of the equivalent Mida or Ares models.

Models

The Athlon Midas comes in the standard and versatile 10x42 and 8x42 models and they also give you the choice between two large aperture versions, a 10x50, that will excel in low light and an even more powerful 12x50 binocular, perfect for long distance observation.

Prices & Where to Buy

Depending on the exact model you choose, Athlon Midas binoculars cost between $280 and $390 in the US and between £600 and £800 in the UK. For current prices in your country, take a look at the link below:

More Details

For more details, their exact specifications and links to reviews, check out my page on Athlon binoculars

Reviews

• Athlon Midas 12x50 Binoculars Review
• Athlon Midas 8x42 Binoculars Review
• Athlon Ares 10x42 Binoculars Review
• Athlon Argos 8x42 Binoculars Review