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Pros - Best-in-class image quality - Extremely durable and weatherproof - Very generous eye relief Cons - No tripod included - Slightly heavy

Welcome to my review of the Athlon Ares 20–60×85 ED Spotting Scope. Athlon is a new name (to me, at least) in spotting scopes, so I was eager to try out the Ares and see how it compared to the likes of Swarovski. Read on to find out what I learned.

The Ares is available in three models, but the one I got for review features a large 85mm objective lens in a porro prism layout. It’s not a tiny spotting scope, by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it’s a bit on the heavy side at 4.16 pounds. It measures 15.7 inches long.

The eye relief on the Ares is among the most generous I’ve ever seen in a spotting scope, 17mm at maximum zoom. If you wear eyeglasses (or not), this spotting scope is always a comfortable pleasure to use.

What Comes With the Spotting Scope?

When you’re investing in glass, you want to know what else you get for your money. My review unit might not be the final consumer packaging, but this is what I received in the box:

• The Athlon Ares 20–60×85 ED spotting scope itself
• A hard carrying case
• A soft carrying case
• A lens cleaning cloth
• The instruction manual
• The warranty card

All of the included accessories are high quality, well made, and attractive. I wish Athlon had included a high quality tripod, but the truth of the matter is that most of the tripods that come with spotting scopes are horrible anyways.

What’s the Magnification of the Athlon Ares 20–60×85 ED

The eyepiece on the Athlon Ares 20–60×85 ED allows for magnification from 20X to 60X, with fantastic clarity, resolution, and detail throughout the entire zoom range. I didn’t notice even a hint of chromatic aberration or fringing, just a gorgeous image that made me think I was right on top of my subject.

This optic’s field of view is a bit limited, ranging from 51 feet at 1,000 yards with full magnification to 102 feet at 20X. That’s roughly the average for a 20X to 60X spotting scope, so no real complaints.

How Easy is the Glass to Use?

I was immediately impressed with the Ares’ focus ring, which actually wraps around the entire chassis of the scope. It’s very solid and has plenty of ridges and knurling to make it easy to use even with gloves or slipper hands. The same holds true for the magnification ring, located on the eyepiece. This is one of the easiest spotting scopes I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. For viewing objects in the sky like birds, the angled eyepiece design simply can’t be beat, especially when you take into account the rotating tripod ring that allows you to set the scope up for the most comfortable viewing angle.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like On This Model?

This glass is really well-constructed. With premium BaK–4 prism glass and advanced fully multicoated lenses made from ED glass, I think this model might have the best transmittance of any spotting scope I’ve ever used.

I used the Ares for birdwatching in very low light conditions, and was quite pleased with the results. I even used this for some backyard astronomy, and was able to see the moon in amazing detail. I was also able to make out Jupiter’s Galilean moons better than I’d ever seen them before.

How Are the Optics and Focus?

As previously noted, the optics on this spotting scope are definitely world class. There isn’t a hint of phase shift, owing to the use of Athlon’s ESP Dielectric Coating, a phase correction coating that rivals the best in the industry.

The focus ring moves smoothly, but with enough friction to make sure you don’t inadvertently bump your image out of whack when you’re moving the scope.

How Good Is the Housing of the Spotting Scope?

The magnesium chassis provides all of the strength of a metal housing, but at a lower weight. It’s robust and rugged, able to take a licking and keep on ticking. It offers just enough texture to keep a firm grip when you’re handholding the spotting scope. The tripod ring rotates around the chassis, allowing you to set the scope on a tripod in any viewing angle.

How Durable is the Scope?

It’s shockproof, fogproof and waterproof. The lenses are O-ring sealed, and the optics chamber is argon purged. Think nitrogen purging, but with the more inert argon gas instead for even better thermal stability. On top of that, Athlon has protected the lenses with XPL coating to prevent scuffs and scratches.