the new lowrance vs the new humminbird

[russelln114]

http://www.topfishfinders.com/2010/10/inexpensive-down-imaging-di-from-humminbird-2011/

http://www.sportfishermen.com/shop/lowrance-mark-5x-dsi-portable-fishfinder-mono.html

Hey guys I've listed both the new lowrance and the new humminbird. they both have down imaging. Which do you guys think is better. The only difference i can see is that the humminbird has both the 2d sonar and the down imaging on all their units while the lowrance has only downward imaging. If this is true what the heck does this mean? I can only buy one unit for all my fishing needs. I fish mainly crappie in 30ft of water. Will one of these units help me find the fish. I know that these are stupid questions but this will be my first ff purchase.

 

[John_S]

Re: the new lowrance vs the new humminbird

I do not have any experience with either unit. I do have some from DI with HB SI units. I seldom use the DI only screen. The prefered one, is 2D over DI. DI alone relys on a very narrow beam to display the details. 2D is better for locating objects, finding fish, etc. So, on the over/under screen I mentioned, the 2D attracts your attention to an object, the DI provides finer details to correctly identify it.

If you are sure the Lowrance does not have 2D with DI (seems odd), that would lean me to the HB. Since the HB is new, make sure it has that over/under screen display mode.

 

[russelln114]

Re: the new lowrance vs the new humminbird

I do not have any experience with either unit. I do have some from DI with HB SI units. I seldom use the DI only screen. The prefered one, is 2D over DI. DI alone relys on a very narrow beam to display the details. 2D is better for locating objects, finding fish, etc. So, on the over/under screen I mentioned, the 2D attracts your attention to an object, the DI provides finer details to correctly identify it.

If you are sure the Lowrance does not have 2D with DI (seems odd), that would lean me to the HB. Since the HB is new, make sure it has that over/under screen display mode.

I looked again at both models closely and humminbird is the only one that has both. Humminbird also has whats called switchfire. Is that what you mean by over/under screen display? Here is a link for switchfire and a link to 2d

http://www.humminbird.com/leading_innovation/humminbird-sonar/switchfire.aspx


http://floridasportfishing.com/maga...onal-2d-and-down-imaging-sonar-in-one-package

 

[John_S]

Re: the new lowrance vs the new humminbird

I looked again at both models closely and humminbird is the only one that has both. Humminbird also has whats called switchfire. Is that what you mean by over/under screen display? Here is a link for switchfire

http://www.humminbird.com/leading_innovation/humminbird-sonar/switchfire.aspx

No, switchfire is not the split screen mode I was talking about. Once HB posts the new user manuals you should be able to see if they have that mode. My guess is that they do.

Some examples from a HB forum site:

Switchfire, which my 798 has, is just a different algorithm on how to display the data in the 2D screens. If you like large fish arches, the switchfire MAX mode is more appropriate, otherwise just use the CLEAR mode.


I am surprised that the Lowrance only has DI. Great for getting fine detail directly under boat, but if looking for suspended fish / tree tops for crappie fishing, the 2D display will help find them, when off to the sides.