Hummingbird Color Depth Finder Versus a Lowrance Color

[Avid Angler]

Hi guys and gals,

I wanted to get your opinions on this one. I am looking to finally upgrade depthfinders and want to know your thoughts. I am looking to spend under $1,000 for a unit and want to know the best deal for my money.

I have heard a lot of good things about the Hummingbird Units and also like the Lowrances, but know I am paying for the name here. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated.

Avid

[TruthWalleyes]

Under a grand, Hbird 798c SI...but i'd highly suggest splurging on the 898.

Anything less than side imaging and you might as well just spend $100 bucks on a cheapo until you've got the cash for a good depth finder.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Get the bells and whistles that you are looking for.. I have been very pleased with my Humminbird 997.. .

[PerchJerker]

Humminbird and Lowrance both make good units. There are some differences betwween them, primarily in networking and expansion capabilities, and that really only comes into play if you see yourself adding or networking multiple units.

If you're looking at using the new unit as a stand-alone unit, ie. no networking with other units or future expansion, then you have some excellent options with either brand.

One key factor to decide on is whether or not you want down imaging, or side imaging and down imaging, or neither. They're great features and very functional, they also push the price up higher.

Another key decision to make is screen size. Bigger is better, but the price goes up fast as you increase the screen size. The 5 inch screen sizes are popular and give a nice clear picture, but they get crowded and cluttered as you split screens and display more info --- especially with side imaging and down imaging displays.

If you're NOT going with SI and DI, then your best options in your price range are probably the Lowrance HDS-7 or the Humminbird 858. We're selling both of those units for about $900, so either of those units plus a map card would put your right at your $1,000 budget.

If you DO want side imaging and down imaging, you have a few other decisions to factor in. You can add it later to the Lowrance units, so you could do something like go with the HDS-7 now and the StructureScan later (StructureScan is about $550). Or you could increase your budget to about $1,300 and go with a Humminbird 898 right now. Or, if the $1,000 budget does not have much flexibility in it, you could go with a Humminbird 798c for a little over $900, or a HDS-5 and StructureScan for about $1,150 - $1,200. This is where you want to have a good idea about future expansion and networking --- the Lowrance system will be more expensive for the first unit with StructureScan, but then you have many more options and capabilities and a lower price tag for adding a 2nd or 3rd unit in the future. Humminbird will be cheaper for the first SI unit, but you'll be limited with your expansion options and will most likely be paying more money in the long run if you're adding to it later. But ..... that all depends on what your expansion plans may or may not be, that's why it's a good idea to at least have an idea of what you might want to do in the future.

If you want down imaging but not side imaging, Humminbird and Lowrance both have units that will do this and they fit in your price range. The Lowrance Elite units do down imaging only, not conventional sonar, whereas the Humminbird units do down imaging AND conventional sonar. These units run in the $600 to $700 range and have 5 inch screens.

Also, make sure you keep room in your budget for a good map card. They run about $100 to $140, or higher, depending on whether you want LakeMaster or Navionics Premium or Platinum, etc. A good map card will definately help you get the most out of the new unit you're buying.

Hope that helps you get started. Let me know if there's anything else we can do.

[Avid Angler]

Perch Jerker,

Thanks for the good information. I will have to consider my options closely. I am leaning towards having both the side and down imaging. I fish a lot of featureless lakes and any down tree or small type of structure can be a money spot. Those features will help me locate more of those types of things.

Thanks.

Avid

[TruthWalleyes]

Perch Jerker,

Thanks for the good information. I will have to consider my options closely. I am leaning towards having both the side and down imaging. I fish a lot of featureless lakes and any down tree or small type of structure can be a money spot. Those features will help me locate more of those types of things.

Thanks.

Avid

Go to your favorite lake with side imaging, and it will be like seeing a whole new lake. IMO