Nature vision Showdown

[Dabignorski]

Has anyone tried the new Naturvision Showdown..i was just wondering what people thought about this i was thinking about getting one??

[thirtysomething]

I picked one up at the show. Haven't tried it yet but am pretty pumped. I have a Marcum, but want to try the digital water column look. I first heard of it from a sales guy at Joe's, then did some extensive research on this forum. Seems pretty solid, spent some time with the rep at the show and it was all I needed to hear.

[Dabignorski]

yea i stopped in at the joes booth at the show too and the guy did have alot to say about it and it did sound like a pretty good piece of equipment i was just wondering what a customer was thought about it compared to what a sales person had to say

[polarsusd81]

If you picked up the In-Fish ice guide this year, the dvd that comes along with it has a pretty good section on using that exact piece of equipment. Tony Roach shows it off and it seems to me like a great tool. If I were looking to buy a new depth flasher, it would be at the top of my list. And at the price they are going for it seems pretty tough to beat.

[blueroof]

I used an upgraded VPG this evening for the first time. Ran it for a little bit setting depths on a deadstick. It was nice, was able to run it alongside my Marcum without any major noise problems. The grayscale screen is much easier on the eyes in the dark compared to a color flasher.

LB

[johncolson]

I am in the market for my first flasher. Should I consider the showdown instead of a Marcum?

[polarsusd81]

You should at least take a look at one if you are looking to purchase some type of flasher. If I didn't have the trusty old FL8, I would be looking at this for my first choice. Blueroof mentioned this as well, and I didn't even think of it until he said it, but the flasher eyes from the multi-color flashers is somewhat bothersome over a long day. But take a look at all the options and pick what is right for you. Maybe a new marcum is right up your alley.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I bought an old VPG unit for $89, and sent it in for the $10 upgrade which turns it into the new showdown unit.

1. I was concerned that the gray shades would be hard to tell apart. Not so, they are very easy to tell apart.

2.Really like the virtical display. Yes,for myself it is easier to tell the depths and orientation of things with it.

3. What about when it is cold. The heating element keeps it going just fine.

4.What are the down falls? Only one I could find is that when you zoom in with it, you can only see the zoom part. where with a vex or marcum you can see the zoom on one side and the entire colum of water on the other.

johncolson I would recomend this to you for your first flasher. It is cheaper then the vex and marcum, and still gives you the same data to ice the fish with. Some members are die hard brand guys, and will tell you diffrent. I think it's a heck of a product for the price and does what you need it to. Also, it comes with a nice case that would cost you extra if you got a vex or marcum.

[jbird68]

I bought the VPG last year and I really like it alot. The display not being color didn't bother me one bit. I did have some interference one time while fishing next to someone using a VEX. But I sent it in to Nature Vision for the FREE software upgrade which is supposed to remedy this issue. They also added a few automatic modes. I don't know why they changed the name from a VPG to SHOWDOWN. I can't compare it to a vex because I've never used one. But compared to my old Lowrance LFP-150, it's 1000X better. The 1/2" seperation is incredible.

One other thing, The arm that supports the transducer isn't that great(Plastic). Mine broke. NatureVision sent me a new one. But I just let the cord hang outside the bag and into the hole. I must say that NatureVision has excellent customer service. They also sent me two FREE battery covers fo my BuzzStix. The tabs broke off when changing batteries.