garmin fishfinder colour vs BW

[pellesmil]

I have a budget that gives me a choice between Garmin 160C or 90 or 140
My use is mainly hitting the right dive site (less than 50m) possibly find some wreck and of cource figure out the depth, all in saltwater . not really interested in finding fish (but loves fishing)
My last fishfinder was a garmin 80 and i was quite satesfied with it.
Since it is dead now (prob. high voltage from a broken battery) i need a new one.

what do y recomend for my use,
good BW or poor colour?

[codprawn]

Too be honest I often find a monochrome display gives better contrast etc. I don't think all the pretty colours really help much!!!

[pellesmil]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Too be honest I often find a monochrome display gives better contrast etc. I don't think all the pretty colours really help much!!!

Was my firs thought when i looked at the screen shots of the 160c

Eny other than Garmin BW in that price class +100$ that could be recomended?

[MikeCC]

For what it's worth, the FF140 came out best in a recent PBO magazone review of budget fishfinders.

[mike]

hi,
the 140 has a better resolution than the 160c by far, it also appears to blip faster. The 140 is I think the better bet as it seems to me that you can get them cheaper for a better resolution therefore more use.

read the comparisons and take the 140 as your benchmark then compare the 160c like for like I'm sure you'll go the same way as I did ie the 140.

mike

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Too be honest I often find a monochrome display gives better contrast etc. I don't think all the pretty colours really help much!!!

I absolutley disagree with that. I bet you can't read a mono display if you are facing into the sun and your eyes are shut down because of the brightness. I replaced a mono Garmin fish finder with a colour version and the colour is much easier to read in all lights and features are easily recognisable in the different colours. I've no idea how good it is a showing wrecks but yesterday we were looking at big weed columns with fish in them at 150ft.

[pellesmil]

Originally Posted by jwalker

I absolutley disagree with that. I bet you can't read a mono display if you are facing into the sun and your eyes are shut down because of the brightness. I replaced a mono Garmin fish finder with a colour version and the colour is much easier to read in all lights and features are easily recognisable in the different colours. I've no idea how good it is a showing wrecks but yesterday we were looking at big weed columns with fish in them at 150ft.

The colour display y are refering to is that the 160c ?
, it seams to be a quite difference from 160c and up to the better colour displays like 340 and 400.
I wish i had money for that but a small comfort can be that it,s larger and will cill the harmony on my crowded dash.

140



160


340



400

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by jwalker

I absolutley disagree with that. I bet you can't read a mono display if you are facing into the sun and your eyes are shut down because of the brightness. I replaced a mono Garmin fish finder with a colour version and the colour is much easier to read in all lights and features are easily recognisable in the different colours. I've no idea how good it is a showing wrecks but yesterday we were looking at big weed columns with fish in them at 150ft.

I manage fine with my Garmin GPS12 and my mates Eagle fishfinder. I find they are EASIER to read in bright sunlight!!!

[Downhilldai]

For a cheap mono fishfinder, you won't get much better than the Eagle Cuda 128. For around £70, it's a bargain. Top performer with accurate soundings at all speeds and very reliable.
Seen a few Garmins break down early in their lifespan....

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I manage fine with my Garmin GPS12 and my mates Eagle fishfinder.

I have a GPS 12 too but manage is the operative word. I can manage with a chart and a compass but I don't choose to.

I find they are EASIER to read in bright sunlight!!!

That's not what I said. If you are facing the sunlight your eyes will shut down and the GPS screen will be in the shade. It's not uncommon to be travelling into the sun when boating and I know I can't read a mono screen in this situation.

This has been discussed before and I posted pictures of a colour screen adjacent to a mono screen in subdued light. The mono screen is all but invisible.

However, to identify features on a mono sounder you need to be able to clearly see the shades of grey and this isn't always easy. The colour sounder uses contrasting colours adjacent to each other and reading it is therefore easier.