How Much Is Down-Imaging Worth?

[Unknownwaters]

Been looking at quality portable fish finder for awhile now and I have limited down to three options

1)Humminbird 570 http://store.humminbird.com/products/356211/570_Portable

2)Humminbird DI 570 http://store.humminbird.com/products/410764/570_DI_Portable

3)Humminbird 385 combo http://store.humminbird.com/products/410764/570_DI_Portable

They cost roughly 250, 350, and 450.

The humminbird 570 and the humminbird DI 570 are completely identical except for the addition of Down Imaging.

The 385 combo has GPS and several other features significantly more expensive then the other two.

My question is are all of the features worth the increase in price? I currently fish a wide variety of lakes, from 50 acre neighborhood lakes to deep mountain reservoirs. Due to personal circumstances, I do not know were I will be fishing in the future and could use a good quality portable fish finder that I could use on a wide range of lakes for several years. I cannot test them out for myself without buying them, so I would appreciate any advice or personal experiences anybody could provide. Overall price is not necessarily an issue as much as getting a good deal for my money.

[Wayne P.]

<p>Bottom line is, any imaging is better than no imaging. It shows details a lot better than traditional sonar.

This is an example of a Down Imaging image of a bridge support:

[Darren.]

That's pretty sweet, Wayne.

So DI, to your question Unknownwaters, DI is worth a $100 diff (the 570 to DI 570), and if I could see what Wayne posted for that $100, I'd spend it in a nanosecond ... If my wife would let me...

[Wayne P.]

Been looking at quality portable fish finder for awhile now and I have limited down to three options

1)Humminbird 570 http://store.humminb...11/570_Portable

2)Humminbird DI 570 http://store.humminb...570_DI_Portable

3)Humminbird 385 combo http://store.humminb...570_DI_Portable

They cost roughly 250, 350, and 450.

The humminbird 570 and the humminbird DI 570 are completely identical except for the addition of Down Imaging.

The 385 combo has GPS and several other features significantly more expensive then the other two.

My question is are all of the features worth the increase in price? I currently fish a wide variety of lakes, from 50 acre neighborhood lakes to deep mountain reservoirs. Due to personal circumstances, I do not know were I will be fishing in the future and could use a good quality portable fish finder that I could use on a wide range of lakes for several years. I cannot test them out for myself without buying them, so I would appreciate any advice or personal experiences anybody could provide. Overall price is not necessarily an issue as much as getting a good deal for my money.

Read the PM I sent you for a better unit at a better price.

BTW, any unit can be set up as portable.

[Fishn4-5]

There worth every penny i got the 898 front and back and thetre great

[TommyBass]

Personally, I can tell alot more using the traditional sonar than down imaging. If money is no option, yes, it is nice to have that option and can give great detail. But when I am fishing a tournament, 9/10 times my bow HDS-7 is set to standard sonar. Bottom hardness and make up show much better, and it seems more 'real time' to me for some reason. Drop shotting using downscan is much harder as well.

Now side scan is a different story, its pretty much worth it all around