Each year, the Shot Show in Las Vegas brings together thousands of exhibitors and visitors, making it the largest industry event globally. In January, we headed to Vegas to discover the latest innovations and among the many brands we explored at the fair, we also made a point to visit Athlon’s booth to see their products for 2024. There, we spoke with Dustin, who introduced us to the new Midas G2 UHD 12×50 PRO binoculars.
Midas G2 UHD 12×50 PRO
Over the years, the Midas line from Athlon has attracted a lot of interest from hikers, birdwatchers, and hunters. Dustin mentioned that with the Midas G2, Athlon aimed to take a new direction – by adding a MIL reticle to their G2 12×50 model.
The binoculars now feature three adjustment rings: one for diopter adjustment, another for reticle focus, and a separate reticle level adjustment ring. The last one allows users to easily level the reticle in response to changes in the interpupillary distance which is not commonly found in other binoculars with reticles.
When we first handled the device, it felt compact and comfortable to hold, which is what you would expect given that the binoculars are constructed on a magnesium chassis. This contributes to a solid feel, with the device weighing just over 900 g (32 oz). The Midas G2 features an XPL coating, offering protection for the exterior lenses against dirt, oil, and scratches. Additionally, twist-up eyecups with intermediate stops make it easy to adjust the eyecups for optimal eye relief.
The UHD glass in the binoculars provides a clear image with minimal chromatic aberration, and the ESP coating allows for over 99% light transmission to the user’s eyes. Binoculars are equipped with BAK-4 glass prisms, which help in delivering a brighter and sharper image. The advanced fully multi-coated lenses further improve light transmission, ensuring optimal brightness and accurate color across the entire light spectrum. Additionally, the product is built to endure harsh weather conditions, being fully waterproof and argon-purged for better thermal stability.
Competitive Pricing and Lifetime Warranty
We particularly appreciate the compact and ergonomically designed form factor of the new Midas G2 UHD 12×50 PRO. The binoculars are not on the market yet but are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2024, priced at around $560 in the US, with the price expected to be slightly higher in the EU due to import duties and other charges.
Athlon continues to offer a lifetime warranty in the US, as long as the model is being produced. In Europe, the warranty is set at 10 years, in line with EU regulations.
