Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42 vs Celestron Regal ED 10x42
Quick take: The Celestron Regal ED 10x42 costs $7 less; the Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42 has a wider field of view (341 vs 340 ft @ 1000 yds).
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
Seven dollars and one foot of field separate the numbers most shoppers check first, so the decision lives elsewhere. The Celestron Regal ED 10x42 has field flattener lenses, and its owners say the edge-to-edge sharpness is real and rare at this price; one estimated it does about 90% of what a Swarovski EL does. It also brings 20.2mm of eye relief against the Midas's 15.2mm and 4.9 ft close focus against 8.2 ft, which makes it the better choice for glasses wearers and for butterflies.
The Regal's costs are mechanical. Its owners repeatedly call the focus wheel stiff and the eyecups loose enough to wander while it hangs on the strap, and the flat field brings a mild rolling-ball effect when panning that takes getting used to. At 27.1 oz it is heavier than the Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42's 23.3 oz, though owners like the included shoulder harness. Its warranty is Limited Lifetime and covers defects only.
The Midas is the easier binocular to use. Owners praise its smooth, even focus wheel, a bright, high-contrast image with good fringing control, and a body light enough for all-day birding at 10x. Athlon's unconditional, transferable lifetime warranty is the stronger promise. Its weak points are the tight eye relief, which sends glasses wearers hunting for the full field, a plastic focus ring, and the low-light fade one test lab flagged for the line.
If you wear glasses, the Regal wins outright. Without them, it is a trade between the Regal's sharper edges and closer focus and the Midas's lighter weight, nicer focus feel and better warranty, and for birders chasing fast-moving warblers the smooth wheel usually matters more.
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42
For birders without glasses who refocus constantly and carry all day, the lighter body, smoother wheel and stronger warranty outweigh softer edges.
Celestron Regal ED 10x42
The clear choice for glasses wearers and anyone who wants sharp edges and 4.9 ft close focus, provided a stiff focus wheel won't bother you.
| Spec | Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42 | Celestron Regal ED 10x42 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$387 | ~$380 |
| Use case | Birding | Birding |
| Magnification | 10x | 10x |
| Objective | 42mm | 42mm |
| Exit pupil | 4.2mm | 4.2mm |
| Field of view | 341 ft @ 1000 yds | 340 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 15.2mm | 20.2mm |
| Close focus | 8.2 ft | 4.9 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Roof |
| Glass | UHD | ED |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 23.3 oz | 27.1 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 5.0 in | 5.5 x 5.0 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
Feature comparison
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✓Locking Diopter
Celestron Regal ED 10x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✓Locking Diopter
What birders say
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42
- ✓341-foot field of view is exceptionally wide for a 10x42 — wider than many competitors' 8x models feel, which takes the sting out of choosing 10x
- ✓Same ED glass, dielectric-coated phase-corrected prisms, and magnesium chassis that earn the Midas line 'top of the heap' status in sub-$400 comparisons
- ✓8.2-foot close focus is typical for a 10x42 — fine for feeder birds, too long for most butterfly work
- ✓Locking diopter on this configuration, fixing the bump-prone adjuster owners flag on the 8x42
- ✓Bright, high-contrast image with fringing control that owners say rivals binoculars costing twice as much
- ✓Focus wheel runs with the same smooth, even resistance praised across the Midas G2 line
- ✓Well-balanced magnesium body under 24 ounces — light enough for all-day birding at 10x
- ✓Unconditional transferable lifetime warranty with a solid claims reputation
- ✗15.2mm eye relief is workable but noticeably tighter than the 8x42's — eyeglass wearers report having to hunt for the full field
- ✗4.2mm exit pupil compounds the line's disputed low-light performance; the dusk fade one test lab found will show up sooner at 10x
- ✗10x magnification amplifies hand-shake, and the wide field can't fully compensate for a jittery image
- ✗Focus ring and diopter collar are plastic where some similarly priced rivals use metal
- ✗No thumb indents or grip sculpting — the barrel is smooth and some hands want more purchase
- ✗Measured weight with accessories creeps past the printed spec
- ✗Street price swings between roughly $300 and $375, and at the top of that range the value case weakens against sale-priced Vipers
- ✗Reviewer opinions on the Midas line split — one major test recommended the Vortex Diamondback HD instead at similar money
Celestron Regal ED 10x42
- ✓Field flattener lenses deliver genuine edge-to-edge sharpness - a feature normally reserved for Nikon Monarch HG and alpha glass, almost unheard of in the sub-$400 class
- ✓One forum member's blunt assessment: the Regal ED FF does about 90% of what a Swarovski EL does, at roughly a tenth of the price - and that sentiment recurs in owner discussions
- ✓Expert reviewers rated it 5 stars, calling it 'impressive, sharp, bright and doesn't cost the earth' and naming it the most premium of Celestron's 10x42 lineup, clearly above the TrailSeeker and Nature DX
- ✓4.9 ft close focus is class-leading - noticeably better than the TrailSeeker ED's 6.5 ft and superb for butterflies and feeder watching
- ✓ED objectives keep chromatic aberration well controlled even on high-contrast subjects like raptors against bright sky
- ✓One reviewer said it replaced a pair that cost over twice as much - the 'giant-killer' framing comes up repeatedly around this model
- ✓Includes a genuinely good accessory kit for the price - owners specifically praise the included shoulder harness for taking the weight off the neck
- ✓Magnesium chassis, locking diopter, and metal twist-up eyecups give it a build sheet that reads like an $800 binocular
- ✗The focus wheel runs stiff - expert reviewers found it difficult to adjust to, which is the single most repeated criticism of this model
- ✗Eyecups are the weak point of the build: reviewers report loose eyecups that change position on their own while the binoculars hang at rest
- ✗It's heavier than most direct competitors - reviewers called the Regals the heaviest in their comparison group, and the 10x42 is over 25 oz
- ✗The flat-field design produces a mild 'rolling ball' effect when panning - some owners notice strange glare or a globe-like distortion at the edges that takes getting used to
- ✗Celestron's limited lifetime warranty covers defects only - no no-fault accident coverage like Vortex VIP, which matters at this spend level
- ✗Brand perception lags the optics - it gets left out of the endless Monarch M7 vs Viper HD forum debates, so resale value and name recognition trail the big two
- ✗Forum discussion volume is thin compared to rivals, which means fewer long-term durability reports to lean on before buying
- ✗The 10x42's 4.2mm exit pupil is merely adequate - the 8x42 version is the easier, brighter view if you don't specifically need 10x reach
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x42 vs Celestron Regal ED 10x42: common questions
Which works better with glasses, the Midas G2 UHD 10x42 or the Celestron Regal ED 10x42?▾
The Regal, by a clear margin. It offers 20.2mm of eye relief against the Midas's 15.2mm, and Midas owners who wear glasses report having to hunt for the full field. If you always glass in eyeglasses, that difference matters more than anything else between them.
Is the Regal ED 10x42's stiff focus wheel a reason to choose the Midas G2 UHD 10x42?▾
It can be. Stiff focus is the most repeated complaint about the Regal, while Midas owners praise its smooth, even resistance. Some Regal owners say the wheel loosens with use, but if you follow fast birds and refocus constantly, the Midas is the more comfortable tool.
How do the warranties compare on the Midas G2 UHD 10x42 and the Regal ED 10x42?▾
Athlon's Lifetime warranty is one owners describe as unconditional and transferable. Celestron's Limited Lifetime warranty covers defects only, with no accident coverage, which Regal owners point out matters when you are spending this much.