Best fishfinder under $200

[Whitecap]

I have a Lowrance X-51 on the console and Eagle 320 on the bow, have not had any problems with either.

[danny]

just put a 565 on the front of my boat like what im hearing about it.

[GRIZZ]

What about the lower cost color units like the Humminbird FishFinder 141c and the Eagle FishEasy 320c, and does having color make a significant difference? Its been about 12 yrs since I bought a fishfinder. I see humminbird has a high rez version of the 997. Its called the 1197c SI Combo NVB and is $3000 - sheesh. The sonar image is nearly photographic in quality. Are all you crazies you spent 2k for last years model going to upgrade?

[ERNEST PATY]

you said under $200.00

Color does make a difference but get at least a 480 pixel count.

[GRIZZ]

True, but after looking around a little more I wonder if the color makes a significant difference or not on these lower cost units.

[Outlaw1&2]

Humminbird 565 or 575 hands down.

[Sandwich Maker]

Grizz, There's a pretty strong trend right now that's going away from the color units. I've read a lot of posts on this and other boards where a lot of the big time guys (guides) are going back to b/w. Most comments are that the b/w are easier to read in the sunlight and the detail on comparable units is better on the black and white vs color. I have both, like the black and white (Garmin 250 and Eagle 420) a lot better for the same reasons as above.

[GRIZZ]

Grizz, There's a pretty strong trend right now that's going away from the color units. I've read a lot of posts on this and other boards where a lot of the big time guys (guides) are going back to b/w. Most comments are that the b/w are easier to read in the sunlight and the detail on comparable units is better on the black and white vs color. I have both, like the black and white (Garmin 480 and Eagle 420) a lot better for the same reasons as above.

Interesting - Thanks

[scoremaster]

don't mean to but in but i've been doing alot of loking at the finders and it seems unless you put alot of money into one the colored ones just don't have the pixels mostly 140 or 128 some of them i have a 525 on my v bottom and it a 320pix thinking of going to the 565 or 575 just got me a 16 bass boat and would like to have some sonar up front but not enough money for a side image ..

thanks,
Scott

[SUNDROP]

Seems to me from what I've seen once you get to $150-$200 bucks there isnt much difference in any of them until you break $500. Kinda like all the $99 one seem the same. As far as the lower priced color units, all I see is you can find thermoclines easier but that isnt worth the extra to me when I am looking for low price and best quality. I'm big on Lowrance/Eagle and Garmin because they seem to hold up well and have had good customer service. I see some companies (Garmin for one) have changed hands lately so I don't know how this will work out now. If I bought new today it would be Garmin up to the $500 range.This is the first website I have seen with so many 'Bird fans...I'm still using the Eagle Fisheasy 250 and it does what I need right now . But I do have an old 'Bird LCR4000 portable that still works like new so you 'Bird fans may be right?? I've just heard/seen alot of horror stories with Birds the last couple of years.