Color vs Non-Color FF

[mdunn]

Looking at new fish finders and my budget is around $350.00.
Comparing specs between color and monochrome and thinking that for my budget I'd be better off with monochrome. I say that because the listed resolution on the Eagle 500CDf color is 320V x 240H and on the Hummingbird b & w 737 it's 640V x 320H.
Is that apples to apples?
Color would be cool but I'm not hung up on having color at all.
I fish salt water in Puget Sound, maximum fishing depth maybe 200 but more typically 150 to 180.
Have a 17.5 Smokercraft and usually am sitting at the tiller of the kicker looking at the fishfinder mounted on the console 6-7 feet away.
Have a b & w low end Eagle now that came with the boat and it's really starting to act erratic so looking at a replacement.
Have the Eagle 502C GPS that I bought through Iboats and while it's a good unit the color res at 302 x 240 is ok I'm thinking I'll be happier with a higher res on ff.
Thanks for any and all input.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

Another question occured to me.
I don't see it now but would either of the units I am looking at be able to recognize my 10 or 12 pound downrigger weight?
Do any have that capability?

 

[whofan]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

I had the Lowrance x510c the graph had issues but besides that I didn`t really care for color much at all in a fishfinder. My previous graph was the Lowrance x75 monochrome. My new replacement for the x510c is the Vexilar Edge2 monochrome. I find I don`t need the back light on in the day time with the monochrome graph. I had to have the color unit back lit all the time in order to see it. My opinion color is nice for a GPS unit but I prefer a monochrome unit for a sonar.
If I were looking for a budget priced graph I`d go Humminbird 565 or the 737 as you stated. I have read that the Lowrance x96 gets good reviews also. My experience with the x510c has not been good or has the customer service and lack of a fix from Lowrance.
With the Humminbird 565 you will get a 640x320 pixel graph with a dual frequency transducer and come in $150.00 under your budget.

 

[whofan]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

Another question occured to me.
I don't see it now but would either of the units I am looking at be able to recognize my 10 or 12 pound downrigger weight?
Do any have that capability?

It all depends on your cone angle put out by your transducer. With a common 20 deg transducer
you would have to be in fairly deep water with your cannon ball set deep as well to see it on your graph. The deeper the water the larger area the cone covers as long as the water depth doesn`t exceed the depth range of your unit.
A dual frequency transducer will project a 20deg as well as a cone around a 40 deg angle allowing a larger area of coverage in shallower water.

This link will help you out; http://www.vexilar.com/pages/support/support_tips/article_006.html

Here`s another link from Humminbird;
http://www.humminbird.com/leading_innovation/humminbird-sonar.aspx

The 565 and I think the 737 both come with the dual beam plus transducer.
Some of Humminbirds larger transducers like the quad beam are subject to having rooster tails when up to speed.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

Thank you for your very thorough response!
Moree for me to consider and study which is very helpfull.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

Let me ask you this? Would you buy a B&W TV to save a couple of bucks? Why not? The same reasons would apply to a FF as well.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

I've had both and currently have a Humminbird 383c FF.

Really love the color screen for early morning/evening fishing. Much easier to read and view from a distance in the darker light.

Also, the image quality is great. I'd spend the extra $$$ for the color again.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

So am looking at the Hummingbird 777c2 now as a color fishfinder only. (have a GPS already)
Looks like pretty good resolution and power.
Comments on that model?
Thanks again for all input.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

I have a black & white PinPoint sonar at the bow and a color Lowrance at the helm and I actually prefer the PinPoint except during periods of waning daylight. Then I like the color. After dark the backlighting on the PinPoint becomes effective again and both become equally effective. Would I do it color again? I would seriously weigh the resolution vs color cost. I would much prefer more resolution in a black and white unit over a lesser resolution in color.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

Question: What does color do that a B&W doesn't?

Do the redder colors represent heat ?




Hell. I'd just be happy to find one that works at speed. : )

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

Colors merely represent what shades of gray mean on a black & white unit. Nearly any locator will read at speeds up to 50 MPH provided the transducer is properly installed.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Color vs Non-Color FF

In reality fish finders are actually measuring the absorption properties (i.e. density) of the objects under the transducer. On a monochrome unit these changes in density are displayed as shades of gray. On a color unit these changes in density are displayed using an array of colors.

Different machines use different color schemes but generally speaking the darker the color the more energy the object absorbed.

Once you learn how to read color sonar you can actually tell the different species of fish by the color and shape of their sonar returns.