Anyone use a DI/DSI fish finder for Side imaging?

I am looking to purchase a new fish finder a Lowrance Elite 4 HDI, I currently have a Lowrance Mark 4 DSI and am wondering if anyone has any info or experience with using one for side imaging. Side imaging is currently out of my price range for a toy for the boat. I realize I would only be able to view off to one side (whichever side I point the transducer towards) and it would track from right to left on the screen instead of from top to bottom. I'm interested in seeing what anyone knows.

I have a lawrence and Hummingbird down imagining on my boat and recently Garmin has asked a few of us to start testing their new down and side imaging so I have seen all three on one boat one after another. Here is my current opinion Lowrance is by far my least favorite of that two. Hummingbird has the clearest image so far but the Garmin is a very close second and their new updates may be the best of them all by spring. I might wait a month or two and see what hits the market.

What is it about the Lowrance that you don't like?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Springhill Duckman

I have a lawrence and Hummingbird down imagining on my boat and recently Garmin has asked a few of us to start testing their new down and side imaging so I have seen all three on one boat one after another. Here is my current opinion Lowrance is by far my least favorite of that two. Hummingbird has the clearest image so far but the Garmin is a very close second and their new updates may be the best of them all by spring. I might wait a month or two and see what hits the market.

---

Purely my opinion but Garmins gps and mapping blows the other two out of the water and isn't even close. Lowrance's gps is the worst of the 3 and it's not close. Hummingbird's down imaging picture is clearer and shows more clear detail but I am being told that the new units this spring are going to be the best ever so I will be excited to see where the rubber meets the road.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I've heard rumors of Lowrance coming out with something new. It will be interesting to see what new technology is coming in the future.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Springhill Duckman

Purely my opinion but Garmins gps and mapping blows the other two out of the water and isn't even close. Lowrance's gps is the worst of the 3 and it's not close. Hummingbird's down imaging picture is clearer and shows more clear detail but I am being told that the new units this spring are going to be the best ever so I will be excited to see where the rubber meets the road.

---

You are correct Sah, Lowrance is coming out with some cool stuff. It's going to be here very soon.!! Thats all I can say at this time.

Something else to spend money on. I wish they would work on updating what we already have at a reasonable price. This new stuff every 3 years gets to much. 3000 bucks a pop is asking a lot. Of course that is how they get our money.

I think lowrance needs to put out a book like locaters for dummies??

They do and it called Doctor Sonar by "Doc" Bruce Samson. Its DVDs for us that don't like to read... http://www.doctorsonar.com/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shane

They do and it called Doctor Sonar by "Doc" Bruce Samson. Its DVDs for us that don't like to read... http://www.doctorsonar.com/

---

Anything like this for us Humminbird users?