Binoculars are a helpful tool. They allow you to see items in the distance, homing in on a target and checking out the landscape ahead. Two of the most popular pairs are the Athlon Cronus and Athlon Ares. We will compare these two to determine which is the best.
Technical Specifications
First, let’s dive into the technical specifications. This portion of the binoculars includes the prism types. The prism is vital because it helps determine how users will see out of the tools and what may warp their vision as they view the world.
The Athlon Cronus and Ares are similar in what they offer users. Both possess a roof prism, which places faces at a right-degree angle. These split the light in half, which moves in different directions before meeting again to create the picture.
Both products have a proof prism BAK4, which means it's made of stronger material for better vision. They have the same structure.
You can’t go wrong with either option when examining technical specifications. They each have the same offerings to interested users.
Next, let’s talk about the performance specifications. These are critical when considering vision on the move.
Performance
The performance indicated how well a pair of binoculars work in action. These specifications include the angle of view, the field of view, and the minimum focus distance. There are many similarities between the products here and many differences.
Cronus and Ares are similar in many ways. They both have a magnification ten times that of the human eye, an objective lens diameter of 42 mm, and an actual angle of view of 6.5 degrees. They also boast an exit pupil diameter of 4.2 mm.
Here are a few ways they are different:
- Field of View: 338' @ 1000 yd / 112.2 m @ 1000 m for the Cronus, 341' @ 1000 yd / 113.2 m @ 1000 m for the Ares
- Minimum Focus Distance: 6.6' / 2 m for the Cronus, 8.2' / 2.5 m for the Ares
- Eye Relief: 19.3 mm for the Cronus, 14.7 mm for the Ares
These items set them apart from each other.
The products have the same interpupillary adjustment ability. They provide adjustments of 56 to 73 mm, or 2.2 to 2.9”.
The final similarity between these two is the focus type. They offer a center focus type, providing a central knob on each pair to permit the user to adjust the view until it is crystal clear.
Although the Ares and Cronus are similar in performance, a few features make one better than the other. The Cronus has a wider field of view, a shorter minimum focus distance, and longer eye relief. It’s the better of the two in this category.
Now that we’ve gone over the performance section, let’s discuss the general features. These determine how well you can use these products in adverse weather conditions.
Features
Features are a critical part of a pair of binoculars. These will help your technology survive in adverse weather conditions, permitting you to adventure outside even in the worst storm. The Cronus and Ares are similar in this area.
Both products offer an excellent fog proof addition. They accomplish this process through argon filling. If you want to use your binoculars in a humid or temperature location, you don’t have to worry about losing your vision due to fog on the lenses.
The Cronus and Ares also have water resistance. They are waterproof, which ensures they will survive being temporarily submerged in a body of water. Although it isn’t ideal to soak them, they will withstand it for a period. You can use them in powerful rainstorms.
There is no difference between the fog proof and waterproof abilities of these binoculars. They exist to last in all situations, ensuring you will have a quality experience every time.
Now that we’ve gone over the features of each product, it’s time to dive into our final category - general specifications. This category helps users understand the size and weight of each pair.
General
Our final category is general specifications. For some, this section is the most critical. The size and weight of a pair of binoculars determine how easy it is to carry them from one place to another or wear them around your neck during an endeavor.
The Athlon Cronus comes in at 6.3 x 5.1" / 16 x 13 cm. It’s a little over half a foot in length and slightly less than that in width. It weighs 33 oz / 935.6 g, a decent for the size of the product. It isn’t too tricky to put the Athlon Cronus to work.
The Athlon Ares comes in at 6.7 x 5.2" / 17 x 13.2 cm. It’s closer to seven inches in length and less than half a foot in width. It weighs 29.8 oz / 844.8 g, less than the competing Cronus.
Although the Cronus is smaller than the Ares, it weighs more thanks to the features packed inside the body. The Ares is larger but weighs nearly four ounces less than its competitor.
Overall, we would say Cronus wins this category. Although it weighs more, it’s easier to handle a heavier smaller pair of binoculars than to work with larger, lightweight varieties. It depends on what you prefer.
Now that we’ve gone over the specifications in each category, it’s time to pick a winner. There can only be one when comparing these two excellent Athlon products.
Final Thoughts
It’s a tough race between the Ares and Cronus. However, the Cronus pulls ahead in weight and size, providing a smaller and lighter offering for interested users. It also has better performance specifications. For that reason, we recommend the Athlon Cronus.
We hope this information was helpful! It’s tricky to land on the ideal pair of binoculars, especially with so many options on the market. No matter which of these two you select, you can’t go wrong. Each provides an excellent view of the world to users.