I echo Nicaburns & Blacktailer on the 15-45 Ares. I think it's a, "wow" product, and I bought mine back when Doug was selling them for 20% more than he is now.
I've not looked through the Meopta or Swaro, and wouldn't begin to put the Athlon in their orbit. I would suggest, however, that the distances and geography that the OP mentioned, won't really let those Alphas show how much better they might be. One might need to be in some really wide-open country to truly appreciate the difference.
Just a thought.
FC
