Leupold Olympic 12X 50 binocs. They are around $450, but with Bass Pro 10% discount for signing up for their credit card, puts you at $405. They are great for scouting in the preseason, and terrific from the stand. Also, the name Leupold speaks for itself. Good luck!

Monarch ATB, everyone loves em, monarchs etc.....though look through them and look through a pair of Pentax DCF SP, no comparison, Pentax all the way!

Leupold 10x42 Green Ring Cascades

I think the Alpen Optics line is well worth a look. I bought a pair last year and the clarity is unreal. I looked at a new set at the ATA show and you could look at the darkest part of the rafters in the ceiling and see what you were looking at. Unbeleivable light gathering capabilities.

Another vote for the Pentax DCF-SP series. I checked out these binos on the recommendation from Matt/PA and I compared them to as many others as I could get my hands on at Cabelas, Steiner, Swarovski, Leica, ZeissKahles, Bushnell, Nikon, ect... Out of all of these the Leica and Zeissseemed the best to me, followed by the Swarovski, and VERY close behind was the Pentax then the Kahles. They are pricey for a brand that most don't associate with upper end binoculars, but compared to the other bino's in its class, it is dirt cheap. I found them at www.hotbuyselectronics.com The 10X43's roof prism binos are $414.98 which is practically a steal![:-]

When i get to go on my first mule deer/elk trip in the fall of 2011 i will more than likely be sporting a pair of Alpens i really like their glass!!!

Man, John, I got all ready to take you up on your offer ... then I saw that you were only jokin! BTW ... you got an Uncle Tootch?

Yeah as Jason stated I use the Pentax DCF-SP's Mine are 8X43 and man do I use them hard. A little too hard and I have scratched the crap out of theeye piecesover the last 5 years (Objectives still look great) but you can't tell looking through them. The light gathering is awesome on these and they are a real sleeper of a model.
They aren't too God awful expensive like the Euro stuff but they rate right with them.
I was one of those guys who tried to get by with inferior optics for too many years and when I finally stepped up I did the research and these are what I went with, best money I have ever spent. I use them for everything from scouting, to hunting, to 3D, to football games. They pretty much never leave my truck.

All that said the Monarchs and Bushnell Legends for the $300 range are tough to beat.

Just remember..........full size, phase corrected, roof prism, fully waterproof. Don't settle for less.

I was all set to spend about $300 for bino's but the Bass Pro Shop had a closeout on 10 by 40 Redhead bino's for $49 reg. $149 and the cheap side of me won out. They seem OK except at last light but the price was right. I'll get a better pair someday and leave these in the truck!

8x32 Leica