Midas 8x42 Binoculars for Birding from Athlon Optics

MIDAS UHD

8x42

The rugged benchmark for all-weather brightness and clarity, Midas roof-prism binoculars are light and slim thanks to a magnesium chassis. With their Extra-Low Dispersion Glass lenses, Advanced Fully multi-coated optics, high-quality BaK-4 prisms with our ESP Dielectric coating plus phase coating, the Midas binos gather maximum light and produce brilliant color fidelity. The waterproof, shockproof design and rubber armor are ready for anything you are. No matter the conditions, with Midas, the outlook is clear. Other design enhancements include our XPL Lenses coating that protects the exterior lenses from scratches, dust and anything else mother nature throws at you. The also feature improved twist-up eyecups and argon purging.

MIDAS UHD

8x42

The rugged benchmark for all-weather brightness and clarity, Midas roof-prism binoculars are light and slim thanks to a magnesium chassis. With their Extra-Low Dispersion Glass lenses, Advanced Fully multi-coated optics, high-quality BaK-4 prisms with our ESP Dielectric coating plus phase coating, the Midas binos gather maximum light and produce brilliant color fidelity. The waterproof, shockproof design and rubber armor are ready for anything you are. No matter the conditions, with Midas, the outlook is clear. Other design enhancements include our XPL Lenses coating that protects the exterior lenses from scratches, dust and anything else mother nature throws at you. The also feature improved twist-up eyecups and argon purging.

SKU: :113004 Category:

MIDAS 8×42 UHD

Binocular

$349.99

Where to Buy

HuntingGeneral Nature ViewingBird Watching
PRODUCT USER MANUAL (PDF)

PRODUCT FEATURES

REVIEWS

AVERAGE RATING
Rated 20 Reviews
RATING DISTRIBUTION
5
96%
4
4%
3
0
2
0
1
0
  1. David Staples

    I love these binoculars ! The optics are very sharp from edge to edge , and really nice coatings on all the the glass surfaces ! These are built like a tank , very durable . They have a nice quality feel when in use , I will be using these for nature , wildlife and sweeping vistas through the Milky Way . I am very happy to have these in my arsenal .

    Thank You ; David S

  2. Dave Arbon

    Lots of choices out there in this price range so I ordered these (Midas 8x42) to take a look and then probably return them, competing with the likes of the Monarch5 and Vanguard Endeavor I found the Midas to be every bit as good if not better in some areas, wider field of view being one. I ended up keeping these, plus points for me are great armouring, its fairly hard and will stand up to the wear and tear better than the soft semi sticky type used by other makes. The objective lenses are set back well inside the body, this protects from damage and controls glare. The optics are very good with vivid colours and good sharpness, chromatic aberration is well controlled, all in all a nice binocular.

  3. M. Matthews

    I bought these binoculars for an upcoming trip to Alaska. I was a little nervous about getting binoculars from a company I had never heard of, but, as another reviewer mentioned, the Wirecutter review caught my attention. All the other binoculars in this price range would have involved some kind of compromise, either a narrow field of view or a of lack of ED glass or a long minimum focusing distance. These binoculars ticked all the boxes for me, and I stayed within my budget (although it was the high end of my budget).

    Even though I am no expert, I am impressed. These binoculars are very comfortable in my small hands. They are solid without being unwieldy. The focusing is smooth and easy. Also, I am impressed with how bright they are in low light. The binoculars arrived late in the day, and I gave them their first test drive in the dark. To give you an example, I was able to focus easily and pick out tiny details in an area that my camera metered as f/2.8 and 1.3 seconds at ISO 200. That's EV2, which is really dark.

    One more small detail. These binocular do have a tripod mount, which was not mentioned in the reviews or the product specs on the company's website.

    No regrets here. I would highly recommend these binoculars.

  4. JamesD

    These binoculars are great got them for my wife to whale watch with , she loves them. Delivery was fast and product was in great shape , Thanks

  5. karthik

    I have spent a considerable amount of time looking for superior optics in the sub-insane price range. I am a keen birder, and have relied on traditional recommendations such as the Nikon Monarchs and several Vortex and Bushnell offerings on the market. I came to this product from a wirecutter review. Putting my stock in their verdict, I chose the Athlon Midas 8x42, and I could not be more pleased with this purchase. The ergonomics on this product are fantastic, and that is its least impressive virtue. The clarity and brightness of image is unbelievable, birds literally pop into view with ease.

    The ED glass really helps with minimizing glare and ghost images (I believe these are among the least pricey bins with ED glass on the market). The close focus and low light performance is just brilliant, and are the icing on the cake. In my opinion, this blows the similarly-priced competitors out of the field.

  6. Woodster

    Love these binoculars just as good if not better than glasses twice the price.

  7. KJF

    Bright and clear. Not too heavy. A great fairly compact pair of binoculars.

  8. Alexander Zogheb

    Great binoculars. Up against my girlfriends Nikon Monarch 5's these are much better. #1 rated by wire cutter [...]

  9. jtx

    Very bright and clear. Easy to adjust.

  10. Sue Ellen

    Very good binoculars. I have enjoyed using them very much!

  11. Ben Sanford

    Great image clarity and field of vision. I bought these based on the review on thewirecutter. I'm not a bird watcher but just wanted a quality pair of binoculars for a variety of purposes. Very satisfied with the product.

  12. Astro

    I bought this item on a recommendation online. I am very happy with the quality of the Athlon 113004 Midas. The clarity of the optics and feel of the body is top notch. Adjustments are precise and smooth. I am very happy with the size as well. On a recent trip I carried these around San fransico and didn't feel weighed down by them. 10/10 would buy again.

  13. Deadman

    Amazing. I'll keep this short since I don't usually write reviews, actually never have, but its rare that I'm this happy with a purchase. I researched a ton of different binoculars and made a decision between these and the Carson ED 8x42's. I actually purchased the Carson's before I knew about these but I didn't like narrow FOV of the Carson's at 341 ft. Then I researcher more and found these. I purchased the Athlon's while I still had the Carson's and was able to do a side by side comparison and while the Carson's did have a nice view I didn't like the way they felt looking though them. It was easy to get that black spot and block everything out if you weren't holding them just right. Very happy with these and you can't beat the warranty!

  14. Frank Clemens

    These binoculars are amazing! We were looking to replace our 30+ year old Bushnell pairs, and these came up on our google search. The clarity is amazing! Even looking into the shadows the birds' colors and distinctive markings are easy to see. Very adjustable. Nice case and neck strap included. We them so much we immediately ordered a second pair so we didn't have to share!

  15. Christian Reynolds

    Outstanding little binos, they hold up against the sightron and blow the leupold away. Worth every penny.

  16. M. Matthews

    I bought these binoculars for an upcoming trip to Alaska. I was a little nervous about getting binoculars from a company I had never heard of, but, as another reviewer mentioned, the Wirecutter review caught my attention. All the other binoculars in this price range would have involved some kind of compromise, either a narrow field of view or a of lack of ED glass or a long minimum focusing distance. These binoculars ticked all the boxes for me, and I stayed within my budget (although it was the high end of my budget).

    Even though I am no expert, I am impressed. These binoculars are very comfortable in my small hands. They are solid without being unwieldy. The focusing is smooth and easy. Also, I am impressed with how bright they are in low light. The binoculars arrived late in the day, and I gave them their first test drive in the dark. To give you an example, I was able to focus easily and pick out tiny details in an area that my camera metered as f/2.8 and 1.3 seconds at ISO 200. That's EV2, which is really dark.

    One more small detail. These binocular do have a tripod mount, which was not mentioned in the reviews or the product specs on the company's website.

    No regrets here. I would highly recommend these binoculars.

  17. Paul Justy

    I wanted a pair of binoculars to keep handy in my vehicle that could get bounced around a bit. You never know when that "life bird" will appear. I own Pentax, Kowa, and my spouse owns a pair of Leicas. The Midas 8x42 are EASILY on par, and in some ways superior to my other binocs. The field of view is fantastic, and they are not near as heavy or bulky as the Leicas. They just feel good. Now I leave the Kowas at home and grab these for birding adventures, if my wife doesn't grab them first. The best binocs that nobody knows about, until I let fellow birders look thru them.

  18. Jeremy Monnot

    I've had several pair of binoculars in this price range but none of them compare to these! I too read the Wirecutter review and decided to try these out. I wasn't able to try these during the day first, so I decided to take a peak at night just to get an idea. I was amazed at the clarity and detail I was able to pick out.

    The next morning I couldn't wait to try these out with good light. I spent at least 15-20 minutes staring through these unable to believe my eyes. I brought these into work to let my co-workers who hunt up in the mountains take a look at them. Every one of them have decided to pick up a pair of these binoculars. One said he was going to replace his 15yr old Vortex with them! I am so happy with this purchase and would 100% buy again!

  19. Andrew

    For the price, these are great binoculars! I bought these binos for deer hunting in North Dakota; I only have a doe tag this year, so I need to be sure that the deer I'm shooting at doesn't have any antlers at all... not even tiny little spikes.

    Optically, I have no complaints whatsoever. Brights are brighter, and whites are whiter. No fringing at the edges and easy on the eyes when glassing for deer for long periods of time. When I have a deer in view, I can see antler nubs on small bucks long before they're within comfortable shooting range. The diopter adjustment is solid and won't move unless you want it to. The interpupillary adjustment is the same way, easy to set but stays in place.

    My only complaint about the Midas 8x42 binos is the main focus wheel - specifically in cold temperatures. The focus wheel can be very difficult to operate when out hunting in <15F temperatures and wearing heavy winter gloves. The grease inside the moving parts gets noticeably more viscous as the temperature drops, and the knurling on the wheel can be inadequate for operation with thick gloves. In addition, the focus assembly is geared such that it's necessary to turn the wheel a large amount to achieve a small focus distance change. This isn't necessarily a problem, as it's nice to have a finer focus adjustment, but it does get annoying when combined with the stiffness of the movement and slickness of the wheel. It's almost impossible to rapidly change focus distances when holding my rifle in one hand and trying to glass with the other.

    If I could suggest any improvements, it would be to enlarge/exaggerate the knurling on the focus wheel and implement a new grease that performs better in a larger range of temperatures.

    Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Athlon Midas binoculars to anybody, but I would definitely tell them about my experience with them at colder temperatures.

  20. Bob

    I use the 8x42 Midas for stargazing and birding. Images are sharp. Focus is true and stays put once set. Excellent color transmission both day and night.
    Images are bright with fine depth of field.
    And best of all they are lightweight so observing is easy.

Add a review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FOLLOW US

Follow us on social media and keep in touch.

SUBSCRIBE

Receive Athlon Optics newsletter and be informed about the latest updates.