I just received my Athlon Ares, It comes pretty bare bones, no lens covers no sun shade just a cloth, battery and an Allen key.
The first test I did was at night. I put both the scopes on 20 power to try and make it apples to apples.
The PST won hands down I was looking a a street lamp about 100yards away and the PST was able to see the dimples on the glass, The Ares was not.
I did the same test in the daytime with the same results. Except the PST had much more contrast in colors, while the Ares looked washed out and dull.
I also noticed the eye box on the PST was bigger and showed a larger field of view.
The turrets and Illum reticle knobs on the PST have a much more positive click and are slightly bigger. The numbering on the PST is smaller which I don't mind, but someone with reading issues might.
I haven't been able to check the tracking yet, but I assume the Ares tracks just as well as the PST
All in All, I don't know if I received a dud of an Ares but for $80 more I would recommend the PST hands down. Plus it comes with a sunshade which is nice!
Just my .02
The first test I did was at night. I put both the scopes on 20 power to try and make it apples to apples.
The PST won hands down I was looking a a street lamp about 100yards away and the PST was able to see the dimples on the glass, The Ares was not.
I did the same test in the daytime with the same results. Except the PST had much more contrast in colors, while the Ares looked washed out and dull.
I also noticed the eye box on the PST was bigger and showed a larger field of view.
The turrets and Illum reticle knobs on the PST have a much more positive click and are slightly bigger. The numbering on the PST is smaller which I don't mind, but someone with reading issues might.
I haven't been able to check the tracking yet, but I assume the Ares tracks just as well as the PST
All in All, I don't know if I received a dud of an Ares but for $80 more I would recommend the PST hands down. Plus it comes with a sunshade which is nice!
Just my .02