Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

[mtorts]

Hey guys after several days of research and debating i'm still not 100% sure of which fish finder i should buy. The two i am looking at are the hummingbird 581 i hd di and the lowrance elite 5dsi.

The hummingbird is black and white with down imaging and gps. People have mentioned several times that the down imaging often doesn't mark fish as accurate or often but on these units you can use the split screen one side down imaging the other your standars 2d which is nice. The gps seems pretty basic but it is good enough to mark your way points and is very accurate. I have also heard that the customer service is excellent with hummingbird. The screen is the large 5"

The lowrance is in color 5" screen with what appears to have a more detailed gps map. This also has the down imaging however there has been several complaints that the unit does not mark fish. It is basically used to mark structure only and if you have a second unit on board u have to look at that to see fish. This unit does not have the opion of viewing the split screen or in the standard 2d. This is some what of a problem to me. I also heard many complaints of the customer service of lowrance however i believed this changed over recent years.

I know this discussion of hummingbird over lowrance probrobly has been brought up a million times but i am looking for input on these two units to make more of a educated decision. Im not trying to start a fight between people who use lowrance or hummingbird. Thanks
P.S with the lowrance on sale the price difference between the 2 is only $100 lowrance being more expensive.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

How much is the comparable color Humminbird model? Most people can process color information more easily than B&W.

 

[mtorts]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

The HB in color in the 300 series is $100 more if I stay in the 500 series it would be around $250 more. The 300 series one has a smaller screen 3.5"

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

More than the B&W Humminbird or more than the color Lowrance?

 

[mtorts]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

more than the Humminbird. So i can get a humminbird 386ci hd di with gps for the same price as the lowrance or $100 more than the B/W hummingbird. Like i said that one has the smaller screen. Or i can move up to a Humminbird 587ci hd di with gps which i just found for $150 more than the B/W humminbird only $50 more than the lowrance. I found that to be a great deal it is more than i originally had planned to spend but a very fair price. I'm not sure if i will get flagged for mentioning the prices otherwise i would tell you exactly how much these units cost??

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

I have always used lowrance and Humminbird locators. Truth is they both work well and are reliable. I tend to lean toward Humminbird because I like their menus best. Thats just me and what I like. You will be happy with either unit. The only advice I might give is that the larger the screen size the better, thats a big deal when you start splitting screens to see two things at once. Color is always better to my old eyes anyway. So get the largest screen you can afford in color and whichever brand is the best deal. IMHO

 

[dingbat]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

I have no opinion one way or another, but a couple of things to consider
1. DI doesn't work unless your moving.
2. DI doesn't work when moving faster then 7 kts.
3. A 5" screen is small to begin with let alone expect to use one in split screen mode.
4. You wouldn't buy a b&w TV to save a couple of bucks.......

Personally, I'd buy the unit with the largest screen size with DI or not.

 

[mtorts]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

So would the DI work while drifting or does the boat need to be moving at a faster speed than that?? I agree with u guys on the larger screen and I think I will regret if I don't get color

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

I have an HDS-7 (1st Gen) with the LSS-1 StructureScan. Below is the specifications on the "Down Imaging" feature (not Side Imaging):

Frequency: 455 or 800 kHz
Depth range:
300 ft./92 m @455 kHz
100 ft./30 m @800 kHz
Bottom tracking: up to 55 mph/88 kph
Mark baitfish-large objects: up to 35 mph/56 kph
Optimum imaging: 2-10 mph/3-16 kph

You'll get an image while drifting, but the accuracy of what you're seeing will be probably be affected.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

I recently bought a Lowrance combo with normal 2D. Many of my friends are guides, some sponsored by Lowrance, they use 2D most of the time unless they actually want to see what the bottom structure looks like rather than suspended fish. I need to know where the fish and bait are more than I need to know exactly what the bottom structure looks like, in some types of fishing exact bottom detail can be very important though. When I asked them about their opinions on which way to go, they all said go with normal 2D if you can only have one. I wasn’t buying a higher end Lowrance unit with both, so I went with a the 2D. I didn’t like the stock GPS mapping in the Humminbird, the Lowrance was much better.

Personally I would never go with DSI only, it's not versitile enough and has limited depth on the lower cost units.

The Lowrance customer service issue is real, it can be tough to resolve a warranty problem, or even communicate with them, but like you said, it may have improved some.



PS. Color all the way.

 

[sightsrv]

Re: Need help to make a decision on which fish finder to buy

Just my op. Have no options since am in NC. Seperate the 2. I'm mapping my area with this stuff. Nothing at all can buy on ebay.
So its an example only for my area with limited "very" limited funds and no off the shelf mess. Finder..Ya want detail to the
extreme look for a humminbird 981c. A yahoo search can see some pics. Side scan or one its a 7" can detail a sunk wood
boat at 200'. GPS should be only for your area, make, model, cards..etc..Screen size given what area your in can be a
concern. You should 1st be concerned what part of the states you live in. Then find 1st what options any finder/gps
has whatever the make. I have most of nothing in NC theres not much at all. Screen size..etc..is great but if have no
charts..sd cards...etc..No good at all right? GPS is great my area have to map. Want 2 know in extreme detail
whats under ya..Spend more on ur finder.