Its a very solid scope with exceptionally high quality glass. The Ultima is a fairly affordable but still massive and powerful scope that works great for astronomy and stargazing. At middle distances, like 50 to 400 yards, you can usually zoom in to see precise details of your target. $249.99. How versatile do you want your scope to be? The Athlon HELOS uses what appears to be ARGOS GLASS if that matters to you at all. The Athlon reticle does offer a more dynamic design with a crosshair that has tons of hash marks for range and windage estimation. This is a list of rifle scopes with at least 24X magnification that cost less than $750. The Argos mechanism has proven to track and is robust. The most hard-wearing models have oversized controls that can be used with gloved hands, and they are double-sealed against dust, grit, and moisture. The Nature-Trek has some nice appointments, including the responsive center-barrel focus and the comfortable eyecups. Its on the larger side for a hunting scope, and you may not want to pack it in if youve already got a heavy pack and are going in deep. 1.8 #8) Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-6085 Spotting Scope. Large 85mm Objective Lens. These coatings help the scope transmit and gather light better, thus increasing the quality and clarity of the image it delivers. Athlon BTR vs Vortex Diamondback - Long Range Hunting Forum They have many scopes under 500$ that comes in both straight and angled version. And we conclude that the priceyou should be able to find this retailing for around $650was fair for the performance. The Argos HD 20-60x85mm falls into the perfect category of spotting scopes for high power use. The extra low-dispersion glass in this model and the oversized objective lens make this a good choice for mid-range field work. Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-2450 FFP EBR-2C MOA reticle diagram. This can be important depending on what youll use your scope for. The Diamondback Tactical2 has much better glass than the ARGOS/HELOS at a cheaper price but the MIDAS has a slight overall edge in clarity image quality overall. If youre just casually looking at wildlife and dont want to spend the dollars on a premium scope, then this Gosky model will fill your needs. The 45-degree angled eyepiece is also a nice touch, as it allows for users to use it in a number of different stances. Athlon Optics Cronus Gen II 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scopes FREE S&H We later measure the scopes optical resolution, or how finely they render details. There is no such standard in the world of sporting optics, and the term is essentially meaningless. Spotting scopes are good from fairly close to nearly infinity. While the use and need of a good spotting scope extends well beyond those needs, it still is hard to bump it up the priority list, hence the need for affordable alternatives to the exceptional high end spotters available on the market that cost well over $2000 USD. Athlon Optics Cronus Gen II 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scopes 311004 But I will say, that no matter what I did, I could not get my eye comfortable behind the glass. This is not a particularly exciting year for spotting scopes. I had a Diamondback FFP and I sold it immediately. They are one of the largest and most popular companies in this space. If the exit pupil diameter of your scope is smaller than your eyes pupil, the image you see through them will appear darker than it does with the naked eye. Founded in the United States in 1907, it has been family owned and operated for five generations, an incredible feat for any company. As a hunter who uses a spotting scope and binoculars in tandem, I dont worry too much about the field of view of my scope. About Us Policies. The best brightness and image quality will be at 20X, but the image will be smallest at that magnification. (130) Compare Product. Is the foot large and strong enough to stabilize the optic? Don't let the fact that it's cheaper than the Viper and Razor deter you, this thing provides stellar optics and is backed by their excellent lifetime warranty program. Athlon vs. Vortex Riflescopes - Which One is Best? Its a testament to the Hawkes spotter that it adequately handles all that magnification. But if you made me choose, I would have to pick the Athlon Argos 20-60x85mm. He already had a high end Vortex ($1,000). We test spotting scopes the way you use themby subjecting them to the rigors and insults of the field. Vortex Diamondback 10x42 As you can see from in the table above where I have included the stats and features of both the older (2014) model and the latest 2016 versions, Vortex really have made much more than cosmetic changes to the Diamondback. They are quick and easy to use when you are based out of your vehicle. But if its the latter, than less expensive glass might be fine. These are big, expensive optics for a fairly narrow segment of the market, and most hunters dont buy a new spotter every year or even more than a couple times in their careers. Expensive Spotting Scope Comparison, Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. Apart from its compact design, it is also ergonomic. They are known to provide some of the best mid-range optics. I have purchased 3 Athlon Argos BTR scopes, and zero issues with any of them. If youre spending close to (or upwards of) $1,000 for a spotter, make sure it has either ED (extra-low dispersion) glass. But I have had several of the midway BSAs, one primary arms, they all tracked well. All else being equal, you want the biggest lens possible. Especially in low-light conditions, those extreme ranges are rarely usable. But if you want to make it easy, the winner from all this testing and analysis (as of March 2023) is the. Vortex is a well-known manufacturer of optical material such as binoculars, spotting scopes and rifle scopes. 20-60x Zoom Eyepiece. athlon ares rifle scope tract optics Product Description ARGOS BTR GEN2 For those of you that are just getting started in the PRS or are looking to start, take a close look at the Argos BTR GEN2 family of scopes. Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope - 45 Degree, Green/Black Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. Replies 44 Views 30K. Nikon is one of the most well known optics brands in the world. Athlon Optics Argos BTR Gen II 6-24X50mm APLR2 Rifle Scope - OpticsPlanet The Ares G2 placed second in our low-light rankings and turned in very good resolution scores. First focal plane reticle stays valid at all power settings allowing you to fully utilize the specially designed reticle that shrinks or grows along with your target as you zoom in or out. $199.99. We may receive a sales commission if you purchase any products after using one of our links. Not all hunters need a spotting scope, but for those who want to get a detailed look at their quarry before taking a shot, its a lifesaver. As you have seen in our list of recommendations, both Vortex and Athlon offer multicoated optics. It is dramatically more affordable than the other optics were recommending here for bird watchers. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-60x85 Spotting The eyecups and sunshade move with snappy precision. Doug asked me to review two Athlon scopes for him. The size of that beam of light is directly derived from two of the factors mentioned above: zoom and objective lens size. The Athlon Argos BTR is an excellent mid to long-range choice. Most are designed to be held directly up near your eyes and therefore have a short eye relief, and this works perfectly for most situations. Which begs the question: Why arent more bird hunters using them? The controls are tight, and we especially liked the two-speed focus and the fingertip sensitivity of the fine-focus knob. Darling of our best spotting scopes test is the new compact CS.1 from Maven, but we also like a couple of nicely priced full-sized spotters. It also has a dual focus knob, one of our favorite features on any scope that allows you to focus it both quickly and precisely. Burris Fullfield II or Vortex Diamondback: . From reviews and videos I've seen it tracks well. It is worth a trip to your local sporting goods store to look through some scopes and make sure that your glasses do not interfere with the normal eye relief on models you are considering. But the magnification range, zooming from 9x up to 27x, gives this little unit more range and a surprisingly nice image. They also have several subsidiaries underneath them, including names you might recognize like Tasco, Browning Sport Optics, and Simmons. Again thanks for everyones input, truthfully I had been leaning towards the Diamondback but the Athlon supporters swayed my decision. Free Shipping & Free Returns* FREE SHIPPING on Over 250,000 Products. $139.99 - $169.99. Hi, looking for a new scope for my 22lr. But you wont be tempted to compare the image delivered by the Maven to that of a Swarovski or Leica. Check them out at Bushnell.com. The Vortex strike eagle 5-25x56 FFP The Athlon Midas TAC 5-25x56 FFP Are there people who have been able to compare these 2 scopes? I haven't had a chance to mount and shoot it yet, but construction feels solid. This scope has one function: To get you close eyes on a subject far, far away. For this particular, how does it perform? It may not display this or other websites correctly. Some users like angled eyepieces because of their versatility. Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 174-81 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 234-108 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 102-48 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 108-60 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 176.4-58.5 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 105-73 feet, Ships with dust-resistant neoprene jacket, Interchangeable 22-power eyepiece with MRAD PRS reticle available, Removable eyepiece design can allow dust and grit to enter body, Angled eyepiece and rotating tripod collar enables multiple viewing angles, Removable eyepiece can be traded out for other variable or fixed-power eyepieces, Center-barrel control is hard to finely focus, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 250-50 feet, Eyepiece contains Horus H-32 milling reticle, Multiple attachment points for Picatinny rails, Reticle matches those in precision riflescopes, Throw lever makes magnification changes fast, Slender build easily fits in backpack sleeve, Utilizes Bushnells best glass and coatings, Excessively heavy for a 60mm walk-about spotter, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 144.36-68.9 feet, Oversized center-barrel focus easy to turn with gloves, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 110-52 feet, Angled eyepiece and tripod rotation enable wide range of viewing options. They tend to give mediocre images at best and quality is low. An exception might occur if you are going to be looking through glasses first and then your spotter. Vortex Optics Viper HD Spotting Scopes. Budget is a very firm $500 or preferably less. Where are Athlon Scopes Made or Manufactured? Maven applied the Goldilocks Rule to this versatile spotter. Opinion on athlon scopes. | Shooters' Forum Strike Eagle has a ton of elevation and nice features. Range spotters often have a reticle in the eyepiece that allows you to call shots for a buddy. The ED glass delivers a bright image that showed only minor color fringing and slight deformity on the very edge of the image at lower powers. Say you have a 20- to 60-power eyepiece on an 80mm spotter. Should the spotter ever fail, its fully backed by SIGs excellent five-year warranty. German Precision Optics ED Binoculars. However in dark conditions, your pupil will open to allow more light in, and can get up to 7mm in diameter. I honestly would be fine with a 65mm but they only offer this one. Demerits include the slippery, non-textured armor and the underwhelming glass, which makes images above about 45-power pretty dark and grainy with some distorted edge detail. Spotter-Vortex Viper vs. Athlon Ares | Rokslide Forum Spotting scopes work best from mid to far distances. Getting up close images is the entire point of a spotting scope, so obviously zoom power is one of the most important things to know about the scope you are going to buy. Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. They have come to dominate those segments of the market. Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x50 Review (2023): Worth the Money? - Scopes Field I will test and be able to give better feedback as soon as I get to the range. The Diamondback HD has decent high-definition glass in the objective lens, but experienced hunters may be disappointed with the clarity and brightness of the image. It's big and heavy, so you probably will mostly use it from your vehicle or a camp, but the power behind a scope this big is something awesome to behold. Whether you choose an angled or a straight-body spotting scope is largely a matter of personal preference. 6 Best FFP Scopes. Spotting scopes are usually used on a tripod, so you dont need to worry about your hands shaking and distorting high zoom images like you do with binoculars. The optic with the highest Price/Value score wins our Great Buy award.