Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42 vs Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32
Quick take: The Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42 costs $4 less; the Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42 reaches farther (8x vs 6.5x); the Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32 has a wider field of view (525 vs 426 ft @ 1000 yds).
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
Is 6.5x enough? That is the question worth asking here, because at $375 and $379 these cost the same and both are birding binoculars built around an unusually wide view. The Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32 has the widest field of any modern roof prism at 525 ft, along with 4.3 ft close focus and a 4.9mm exit pupil. Owners describe a view so steady and relaxed that it feels less like a tube and more like sharper eyes: birds in flight are easy to find, warbler flocks stay in frame, and blackouts don't happen. At 18.9 oz it is also lighter than the Midas's 23.3 oz.
The costs are reach and edges. Owners say 6.5x runs out on distant raptors, shorebirds and sea-watching, and that the sharp sweet spot doesn't cover that huge field; one experienced birder found it smaller than in a Nikon he owned. Some units arrive with a little slop or grit in the focus wheel, so check it inside the return window.
The Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42 is the more complete single binocular. Its 426 ft field is still one of the widest of any 8x42, owners praise a bright, high-contrast image that testers found sharp nearly edge to edge, and 8x handles open country the Kowa can't. Its weak points are disputed low-light performance, with one test lab finding detail fading at dusk, a non-locking diopter that gets bumped, and plastic controls. Athlon's unconditional Lifetime warranty is also stronger than Kowa's Limited Lifetime.
As a first and only binocular, the Midas is the safer choice. The Kowa shines as a woodland and butterfly glass, or for anyone with shaky hands, and many of its owners use it alongside an 8x42 or 10x42 rather than instead of one.
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42
For a first or only binocular that has to cover woods, shorelines and open fields, the extra reach and sharper edges make it the safer bet.
Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32
Best as a woodland or butterfly binocular, or a second pair, for anyone who wants the widest, steadiest view made and rarely looks far.
| Spec | Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42 | Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$375 | ~$379 |
| Use case | Birding | Birding |
| Magnification | 8x | 6.5x |
| Objective | 42mm | 32mm |
| Exit pupil | 5.25mm | 4.9mm |
| Field of view | 426 ft @ 1000 yds | 525 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 17.2mm | 17mm |
| Close focus | 6.5 ft | 4.3 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Roof |
| Glass | UHD | ED |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 23.3 oz | 18.9 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.7 x 5.2 in | 4.9 x 4.6 in |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
Feature comparison
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✓Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✗Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
What birders say
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42
- ✓Cornell's All About Birds testers found a very bright image with great contrast that stays sharp all the way from edge to edge
- ✓Massive 426-foot field of view — one of the widest of any 8x42 at any price, and a genuine advantage for tracking warblers and birds in flight
- ✓Resolves fine plumage detail: testers picked out yellow bellies, white undertails, and wing spangles on waxwings without strain
- ✓Well-balanced in hand with a solid-but-not-heavy feel, and rubber armor that's grippy without being sticky
- ✓Focus wheel rolls easily with even resistance through its whole travel — a step up in feel from the Argos line
- ✓Magnesium chassis with argon purging, ED glass, and dielectric phase-corrected prisms — a spec sheet that matches $600+ binoculars
- ✓Forum consensus calls it 'top of the heap' in most sub-$400 comparison tests and excellent value for the money
- ✓Athlon's unconditional lifetime warranty, transferable and no-receipt, backs it up
- ✗One major test lab found low-light performance underwhelming — detail fades into dark silhouettes at dawn, dusk, and on heavily overcast days
- ✗The same testers felt the image gets a bit flatter toward the extreme edges despite the wide field
- ✗No thumb indents or sculpted grip aids that several similarly priced competitors include
- ✗Focus ring and diopter adjuster are plastic where some rivals at this price use metal
- ✗Heavier than spec suggests — one lab measured nearly 26 ounces with accessories
- ✗Diopter is non-locking on the 8x42, easy to bump out of adjustment
- ✗Reviewer opinions genuinely split: one prominent test recommended the Vortex Diamondback HD over it at similar money
- ✗Street price swings a lot around the $330-375 MSRP, so it's easy to overpay if you don't wait for a sale
Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32
- ✓A staggering 525 ft (10°) field of view — the widest of any modern roof-prism binocular, a spec forum reviewers note was previously only achieved by wide-angle porros
- ✓Big 4.9mm exit pupil plus low 6.5x magnification makes the view effortlessly steady and easy to get behind — no blackouts, no hunting for eye position
- ✓Owners praise the overall image: 'the combination of FOV, ease of view, sharpness, color, saturation is really quite nice'
- ✓Outstanding 4.3 ft close focus — one owner reported being 'very impressed' by how close it focuses, making it a genuine butterfly-and-dragonfly binocular
- ✓Fit and finish rated on par with Nikon's Monarch M7 series by forum reviewers — solid armor, decent eyecups, respectable build at the price
- ✓XD (ED) glass keeps chromatic aberration well controlled in the central field
- ✓17mm eye relief is generous for a wide-angle design and works with most eyeglasses
- ✓Exceptional value at around $350-380 — owners say it 'ticks all the boxes' for a compact low-power option with no direct competitor at any price
- ✗6.5x magnification is a reach handicap — distant raptors, shorebirds, and sea-watching subjects render small, and it can't replace an 8x or 10x for open country
- ✗Some units ship with focus wheel issues — owners describe 'a small amount of slop' and a 'gritty sensation while focusing'
- ✗The sweet spot doesn't cover the enormous field — edges soften noticeably, and one experienced birder found the sweet spot smaller than his Nikon MHG 8x30 with weaker contrast and saturation
- ✗At 535g (18.9 oz) it's heavier than most 32mm binoculars — a Nikon M7 8x30 is a couple of ounces lighter with more magnification
- ✗Made in China rather than Japan, which several buyers on forums flagged when comparing against Japan-built alternatives
- ✗An astronomy-forum thread titled 'flaw in design?' shows a minority of owners found edge performance below what professional reviews suggested
- ✗The 6.5x image scale takes real adjustment if you're used to 8x or 10x — some buyers bounce off it and return to conventional magnifications
- ✗Kowa's included accessories (case, strap, covers) are serviceable but basic for the price
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42 vs Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32: common questions
Is the Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32 too low-powered compared with the Midas G2 UHD 8x42?▾
For woodland and backyard birding, owners say no, because the 525 ft field helps you find birds faster. For raptors, shorebirds and sea-watching, 6.5x runs out of reach, and that is where the Midas's 8x pays off. Many Kowa owners keep it as a complement to an 8x42 or 10x42.
Which is sharper at the edges, the Midas G2 UHD 8x42 or the Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32?▾
The Midas. Testers found it stays sharp nearly to the edge, with one lab noting a slightly flatter image at the extreme edges. The Kowa's sweet spot doesn't cover its enormous field, and edge softness is the most consistent criticism from its owners.
What should I check on arrival with the Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32 or the Midas G2 UHD 8x42?▾
On the Kowa, check the focus wheel first: some owners report a small amount of slop or a gritty feel out of the box. On the Midas, the common complaint is a non-locking diopter that is easy to bump out of adjustment, so recheck your setting after carrying it.