First Texas......Long

[detectorbill]

I know I may be opening myself to ridicule here, but I really want to know the views of everyone here. I have tried several diffrent detectors, spent thousands of dollars and found that Fisher, in my opinion, makes the best detectors period! DFX....thousand, minelab se......thousand and yet my Coinstrike (old technology) beats them hands down in my experience. Here in lies the rough. I will never give up the C$ but due to the tendinitis in my elbow I need a lighter detector. Bill Ladd's video on the F70 and his previous videos that included the F75 sure peeked my interest. I don't know Bill Ladd from Adams house cat but I sent him a PM to ask when the video on the F5 would be appearing on youtube so I can see all the new detectors in the field and make my decision as to which one I will purchase. I was informed that he did not receive a demo from Fisher to test!!!! I must admit that I had bad thoughts when First Texas acquired Fisher but I believe that everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves before criticism enters the picture. I know that the people who received the F5 as a demo, Andy.NM you did great with yours, were deserving in several respects, but I really expected Mr. Bill, Bill Ladd and NASA Tom and others to have one also to give their evaluations. The idea that Bill Ladd had to post a tutorial of the F70 on youtube and the actual field test is, in my opinion, revolutionary. It gives you a real world snapshot of what the detector can do. I know that there is a transition period involved here but I would like to take the opportunity to address First Texas and Mike Scott that as a loyal Fisher user I would like to keep the people that made Fisher great to stay in the loop. Together I believe that would make a winning team focused on improvements and innovation. I am not bashing Mike Scott in any way but would like to address my concerns in an open forum where all of our ideas are communicated.

 

[Digger]

Times, they are a changin'! For those of us who have followed the written field test reports of Andy Sabisch or Joe Patrick, or read the information provided by the likes of Bill Ladd and Tom Dankowski, we don't understand why anything should have to change. Change is difficult. And those methods have served us well in the past. But today, we browse the internet, watch videos and read forum posts of the new detectors. It appears many of the "early" F5 posts have been made by folks chosen (by First Texas) to receive one of the first detectors. And, many of those people chosen by FT to get the early F5's were Fisher dealers. For example, AndyNM and Clyde McFadden (both Fisher dealers) have been among the first to post comments about the new F5. That doesn't necessarily make it a bad idea. Just different than we are use to. On the one hand, dealers have direct communication to the manufacturer and should be able to "iron out" any problems before the commercially available product "hits the street". But on the other hand, some might wonder if more credibility would be found in reviews made by folks who don't profit from sales of the new models. And maybe that is your point? Have we gotten so "comfortable" with Bill Ladd, Bill Crabtree and Tom Dankowski that we just expect them to always be among the first to introduce us to the new products? Probably. I know Bill Ladd's posting the F70 tutorials on YouTube has had a very positive response from detectorists. Gary Brun used a similar manner to help introduce the Minelab X-Terra a couple years ago. And White's DVD's have served their customer base for years. How much more convenient could it get, for those of us sitting at home, than watching a DVD or browsing YouTube? Someone shows us the operational capabilities of a new detector model. Then we decide if (and where) we want to buy it. Ah, technology! Yep, times are a changin'!

Concerning the F5.......I've used dozens of Fisher detectors over the past 35 years. And dozens of Minelabs, Whites, Tesoro and Garretts. Early on, most were purchased after trying them "first hand" at a local dealer. Now, without any detector dealers nearby, I make my metal detector purchase decisions based on information I find online. Having purchased my last two FT products after reading "glowing" initial reports on the forums, let's just say I am cautiously optimistic about the new F5. Should I have waited until there were more people using them (and telling us about their experiences) before I bought one? Some folks might think so. But I didn't. I took the plunge (like several others), and should have my F5 by the middle of the week. I figured the best way for me to determine if it is a detector that I can benefit from, for my style of hunting, was to buy one and try it myself. And even though internet technology is amazing, you can only determine so much watching YouTube or reading posts. There comes a time when you just gotta kick the tires! JMHO HH Randy

 

[markg]

n/t

 

[oneton]

The fisher cz-3d will hang with all the new first texas detectors.Try one you will be supprise.

 

[Larry--IndianaHVAC]

I'm with you on this one Randy, I'll be kickin the tires too

 

[bigolhorns]

The fisher cz-3d will hang with all the new first texas detectors.Try one you will be supprise.

I disagree. The 3D is better for me in my ground. I have yet to find a spot that my 3D won't trump my F75. No frustrations turn it on and go. The only thing I have found better about the F75 is weight.

 

[Dan-Pa.]

After using the CZ3D and F70.....both are good units however...F70 can cover much more ground as it can be swung faster with no loss of depth, is much faster and not easily masked, has excellent ID and not linear notch disc with 6 choices for audio, two programs you can save and is easily as deep and with proper conditions deeper not to mention excellent ergonomics and lightweight..Sure I have used a CZ since 92 and a F70 for a week and they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks but sure going to try..
I do know a CZ is excellent on saltwater beaches is user friendly and loves deep rusty nails. My advice if a CZ fits your needs go for it but if you wish to learn a new unit with the ability to excell just might try a F70.. Never used a F75 so I can't comment...And again just my opinion...

 

[jmaryt]

f-75!..f-70!..one two knockout punch!..the proof is "your lookin' at it in your pouch!"

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[Digger]

Mine should be here tomorrow and I plan to put it through the same tests I put all my detector through. Stability, sensitivity, depth of detection, target separation, range of adjustment, TID accuracy, audio tone definition, quality of construction, ergonomics, etc. If it "passes" and I feel it is an improvement over any of the 6 - 10 detectors I keep around, I'll post the reasons why. But if it falls short of the others, or provides less than "expected" performance, I'll share that too. For $500, there shouldn't be any surprises. HH Randy

 

[Dirt detective]

as everyone knows they will say whatever hype they have to make a sale like the F5 is deeper than an X5. gimme a break- you get what you pay for

 

[Jackpine Savage]

That was quick! Was it not suitable for your conditions Randy?

Tom

 

[Big Red]

LOL! Bill you seem a lil bit BITTER!

 

[Tinfoil]

n/t

 

[vlad]

n/t

 

[sumrtym]

Let's just say I know a certain representative of one of the metal detector manufactures famous for his demonstrations of a detector.

Visiting personally with him years ago, he then recommended me to NOT buy the detector he espoused in his demonstrations, that he thought an older model was much better and proceeded to tell me why. Having those in the industry or as dealers doing these "here they are, the next best thing" videos is NOT to be taken worth a grain (no offense intended). Only those with no personal bias / stakes in the sales of the detector should be counted on for opinion.