Another +1 on the vortex's. I am going to get a pair of 6.5x32 Raptors soon. they had the best views even when compared with a number of 8x42s. (YMMV). Vortex has a no questions asked warranty and have some really good glass.
I have also heard good things about Zen Ray. For under $300 you are just on the edge of when a roof prism might be in your price range. Much below that a a good porro will actually better because you wont get ED glass, and it does make a difference. I have heard a lot of folks like the Nikon Monarch line, but before you punch your ticket, look through them and compare them with something else, like a Diamondback Vortex, or a Zen Ray if you can find them. My past experience has been that Nikon and Bushnell have really some nice feeling and externally looking binos, but when I compared them to others, the glass just did not add up to some of the others now on the market.
