Also have had both and the last one's bought and being used now are the Vortex Diamondbacks. Great binoculars for the money and lifetime warranty.

I think those are a little over his budget

Leupold
Nikon
Vortex
If just deer hunting in Bama, 8x42

I believe the BEST answer to your question is more about the SIZE instead of the brand. All of them make excellent products in that price range. Is there a difference in $300 and $1,500 binos? I'm sure there is, but I can't tell in real-world hunting situations in Alabama. I "think" 99.999% of us would agree that 10x42 is the best all around size, especially if you wear the little shoulder/chest harness. So I'd find all the 10x42's in the $300 arena and then see if I could scour the interwebs for a special sale (opticsplanet.com) (eBay)

If you can buy a Nikon, Leupold, Vortex (and similar names) for $300, you'll be 101% happy.

i hunt alot of big powerlines and large pits 90 % of the time. i could use a recommendation as well. Im around the same budget as the OP

If you can't tell the difference between $300 binos and Swarovski EL binos, you haven't used them in 'real world's hunt I ng situations. The difference in clarity and edge to edge sharpness is startling.

6x32 if you hunt in the woods
10x42 if you hunt cutovers and plots

I have a pair 8.5x44 and 10.5x44. Depends on where I’m hunting which ones I take. Out of your price range but Kowa makes some great glass. I prefer them over my Swarovski EL’s

10x42 vortex viper hd. Awesome binos for the price

If you have a lot of deer get some if not just use your scope. That few seconds is all it takes for a buck to get a away.

I hunt mainly hardwoods, someplaces i can see 300yards gets darker faster in the woods looking for low light preformance

Sounds like a man with the plan

Definitly hasn't used top end glass. Fyi, we have compared SLCs and ELs 2 seasons in a row, other than the field flattener which is not that noticeable, pretty much same view with a $500 difference

I’ve compared Nikon monarch 3 bs Nikon monarch 5 vs Vortex Diamondbacks. All were pretty similar lowlight and clarity. I have to say, I’ve looked through all the binos in that budget range at the stores and the Diamondback always seem to be the clearest. Plus you can catch them on sale for 139-159 every once in awhile if you pay attention.

Also, get the 10x’s. That extra magnification comes in handy more often than the extra power will harm you. I hunt a good bit. I’ve never thought “I should have got the 8x’s”. But I have thought a couple of times that I could have used some 12x’s under a few circumstances.

I use 8x32 for bow hunting, turkey hunting and scouting, 10x50 on stand, both Pentax DCF SP. Check EBAY and you can pick up excellent used $600-800 binos for $400 or less. Pentax has great customer service and will stand behind them, from my personal experience. I personally don't find 10x50 uncomfortably big on a bino harness

I use 10x50 Vortex Diamondback and love them. Prefer the 50mm because that’s also the size of the objective lens on my scopes, so when I switch from bino’s to the scope I get the same view. Love the Vortex, can’t beat the price, and danged sure can’t beat the warranty.

We're talking $300 binos, not Swarovski EL's. The only thing I've ever noticed about idiotically priced "elite name" optics is how much the fellas who have them want to tell you about them. I used to hunt with a man who had a 56mm Steiner (I think that's what it was), for the rest of my life I'll remember that he paid $1,650 for it. "I could sit on the powerline at 8:00 tonight and see deer!!!" Great!...except we're not going to be doing that in a real-world hunting scenario. Was it extremely nice?....oh heck yes. Was it $1,200 better than my 50mm Monarch??...dear Lord no. THAT'S my point. And believe me, I am that guy who is in the tree 45 mins before it even remotely starts getting daylight, and I'm always the last one back after dark. Not ONCE have my optics been insufficient. I'm not in a goober shaking contest about my optics.

I know what the OP's topic is, but you're the one who said there was no difference between $300 and elite name binos in real world hunting situations. I was just responding to your comments, and I didn't even mention low-light performance either. The top end binos will also not cause eye strain as less expensive optics will when viewing for long periods. I have two binoculars, one expensive, top end 10x42 and the other a mid-priced 8x30 binocular. Both will get the job done, but there is a substantial difference in clarity, edge to edge sharpness, low light performance and eye strain between the two. The only advantage of the 8x30's is I prefer the small size when hunting the woods and treestands. Next time I have an extra $2000, I will upgrade these to Swarovski EL 8x32 binos.

You can get good binos for $300-500 which will serve your needs well in most hunting situations. But elite optics do have advantages. Is a $75,000 F-150 Limited worth twice as much as an F-150 work truck? The Limited is more powerful, better ride and more comfortable but both will haul material and get you from point a to b. Like anything else in life, its worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Vortex Diamondbacks are just fine for AL.