Athlon Midas 8×42, an absolute medium segment binocular, is the main focus here. Within this market range, we’re sure you’re more familiar with many other options. From our point of view, this is an interesting tool, a good one. In this Athlon Optics review, let’s look through all the analysis before you make any decision.
Athlon Midas 8×42 – overall
Priced at around $210-$290 (it varies after seasons on Amazon), this is the mid-medium bin. Athlon Optics is the producer of these 8×42 binoculars. Athlon Optics received quite many biased comments because some of their products are “made in China”. To be honest, that’s quite unfair because after all, the quality we guarantee is you’ll get even more than what you pay for. And secondly, products “made in China” are not at all rare even if the creators are from Westerners.
These 8×42 binoculars are meant to be for terrestrial purposes, so we’ll analyze based on that. To us, these Athlon Midas are in the perfect position of being balanced. Athlon Optics did really well in scarifying the expensive factors yet remaining a great acceptable performance.
See specific details below.
Technical data
| Tech specs | Athlon Midas 8×42 | Athlon Midas |
| Magnification | 8x | 10x |
| Lens Objective | 42 mm | 42 mm |
| Eye relief | 17.2 mm | 15.2 mm |
| Field of view | 426 ft | 341 ft |
| Close focus distance | 6.5 ft | 8.2 ft |
| Twilight factor | 18.33 | 20.5 |
| Exit pupil | 5.25 mm | 4.2 mm |
| Eyecups setting amount | 3 | 3 |
| Weight | 25 oz | 25 oz |
| Dimension | 5.7 x 5.2 in | 5.7 x 5.2 in |
| Prism glass type | BAK-4 | BAK-4 |
| Glass type | Athlon Midas Optics ED | Athlon Midas Optics ED |
| Prism coatings | Phase corrected & dielectric coated | Phase corrected & dielectric coated |
| Lens coating | Fully multi-coated | Fully multi-coated |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes | Yes |
Those are information we collected from the homepage of Athlon Optics. In this Athlon Optics review article, let’s focus on the 8×42 binoculars. It’s the most available option in the market, and also witness the most promotion.
Athlon Midas 8×42 – Pros
Brightness
Usually in this category, we’ll talk about experience in normal light conditions. In this case, Athlon Midas does an amazing job. You could tell from the technical information already, Athlon Optics invested so well in Midas transmission.
The phase corrected & dielectric coated BAK-4 prism prove their ability in avoiding light loss. Together with the fully multi-coated lens, Midas transmission showed a very bright image. To us, the result was far better than decent as it was very clean.
- For this characteristics, we rate 9/10
Image quality
bestbuybinoculars Athlon Optics 8×42 in use
We think that the image would speak for itself in this category. Athlon binoculars bring you a very crisp, detailed safe image quality. Especially, Athlon Optics get you an awesome quality of sharp edge viewing experience. Contrast, as our personal experience, is good, but not so excellent. But we’re totally pleased about it. What we like the most about this experience is how Athlon binoculars did a splendid blending and blurring of the background and the front objects. It keeps the focus so clear, and everything else is nicely harmonized. This would differentiate a mid-medium range to other low-medium range options.
Speaking out of the picture a bit. Chromatic aberration is also not a concern. It was really hard to recognize, the Athlon Optics Midas ED made sure this would happen at minimal amount. However, out of collimation was easier to witness. It’s not a bad experience, but for some with certain experience in binoculars using, it lessens the perfection a bit.
- For this characteristics, we rate 8/10
Field of view
426 feet is the top class figure. Even the Swarovski SLC 8×42, the field of view is just 408 feet with 4 times plus more expensive price. There’s nothing much to discuss more in this part of the Midas reviews. Basically, your birding/ hunting,… trip won’t be distracted by bad experience related to field of view.
- For this characteristics, we rate 9/10
Size
Dimension is also a plus of this Athlon Midas 8×42. To our own experience, 5.7 x 5.2 inch from Athlon Optics Midas ED is just nicely handy. It fits so well in our luggages. Nothing to be complaints about.
However, we did collect other reviews. A few of them show that big-size hand people might feel a bit small in the palm. Therefore, you might want to consider this in these Midas reviews. But in terms of performance and space-occupation, it’s not a problem at all.
- For this characteristics, we rate 8.5/10
Eye relief
17.2 mm is a good eye relief figure to ensure comfortability for glasses wearers. There’s nothing more to discuss in this part of this Athlon Optics review.
- For this characteristics, we rate 9/10
Construction quality
For this price, you’ll be more than happy to hear that the chassis is magnesium. This is a high quality material for binoculars that Athlon Optics brought. The rubber outer cover of these Athlon binoculars is quite thick. You can definitely feel it’s very firm in the palm. To us, it’s strong enough to resist sudden shocks.
However, what impressed us the most is the position of the texture. Textures are placed densely at where the palms hold the binoculars while viewing things. This would even reduce more dropping possibilities, and create a more unique design. Just a small detail, but that show Athlon Optics’ dedication.
- For this characteristics, we rate 9/10
Athlon Midas 8×42 – Neutral factors
Low-light performance
For easier illustration, let’s revise this picture.
We took this picture in a low light condition. If you ask us whether we have any difficulty experiencing this result? Absolutely not. But it’s not really impressive anyway. The brightness is lacking a bit to be really good. And we think that overall the view is a little yellowish. We don’t think it’s bad at all, but definitely we can list out some other better options.
- For this characteristics, we rate 7/10
Athlon Midas 8×42 – Cons
Weight
To be honest, we don’t think this weight is for 8×42 binoculars. 25 oz is a medium weight for 10×42 binoculars. We don’t actually think that these Athlon binoculars are heavy, but it’s not light at all. To be fair, we don’t think this would bring good experience for a large number of people.
- For this characteristics, we rate 5/10
Focus knob
We considered a lot to make this decision in this Midas review. The focus knob feels significantly hard to control. It took us a decent amount of torque to move. We feel that at the nearly end of one day using, the focus knob got a bit easier to modify. However, the next day the same problem happened again.
It’s quite a pity because other factors in the switching system like diopter or eyecups are smooth to use. But to be honest, we think that focus knob’s experience is significant to stand on it own in this part.
- For this characteristics, we rate 5/10
Athlon Midas 8×42 – The verdict
Will we recommend this? To be honest, it brought us more considerations even more than lower tier options. If you look at the cons in this Midas review, it might have more weaknesses than other cheap options. However, the answer is: yes, you can think of buying this Athlon Midas 8×42 whenever you’re financially ready (but the price is not high at all).
The Midas transmission, field of view, size and construction quality are just amazing. Nevertheless, what impressed us the most is the image quality. Like we mentioned above, Athlon Optics blended so well and smoothly the background and objects in a viewing experience. This, in our personal point of view, is the killer point of Athlon Midas.
If you wonder about the most significant weakness of this Athlon binoculars, it’s the weight. Low light performance is still more than fine to enjoy. Focus knob, once you get into the middle of concentration, you would hardly feel this stiff. But the weight is easier to figure out.
In conclusion, please take into consideration all of these. We think that after all, weight is something you can lessen priority a bit, depends on you, to try the performance of this Athlon Midas.