Fisher F-75 LTD Field test.

[ldhrelics]

I'm getting ready to head to the woods with my new Fisher F-75 LTD. I've studied the manual, watched YouTube videos, read for hours on the forums, etc. I'm going to a site that has been pounded to death by a lot of people including me. I've hunted this site with several "top of the line" detectors. I'll let you know how I did later tonight. Anybody got any pointers/advice?

 

[cometguy]

Don't worry about cranking it to the maximum. The LTD will pull deep targets at 50, 60, or even less on sensitivity. Don't be afraid to run some discrimination. Cranking it too high and running wide open is a formula for mental fatigue. You have to be able to respond to what it is telling you, so don't beat yourself too death on your first outing.

Don
HH

 

[ldhrelics]

F-75 field test did not go very well. The detector was very erratic and noisy on all settings. To make a long story short, the detector was bad. The dealer has agreed to take it back and refund my money. As I wasted an entire day on a couple of very good sites, I've decided not to pursue the F-75 at this time. I'm sure the Fisher F-75 is a great machine, but I just can't take a chance on getting another faulty one this late in the season. Maybe next year.

 

[rick in mi]

Wow you are jumping the gun,I had the same first impression with the ltd....but I hung in there,took my time,listend to all the great advice on this forum.Now I think its one of the best hottest machines out there.JMHO..rick in mi......

 

[ldhrelics]

This has nothing to do with jumping the gun. I've had great success with every detector I own. I'm probably one of the few that actually understands what is going on with the detector. The F-75 LTD was very simple for me to learn and understand, but all the learning in the world is no good with a defective machine. So, I guess I'm not "jumping the gun", I'm just "gun-shy". I don't want to go through this again right now. The electronics may be great on the F-75 LTD, but the overall design is a little weak (much room for improvements). It will be hard for me to find a machine better than my Minelab E-Trac, but I keep an open mind. That is why I bought the V-75 LTD in the first place to make a comparison. I'm detector poor right now, but I'm going to buy a couple more in the near future because I love to learn. I will probably try an F-75 LTD again, but not anytime soon. I wish you well with your F-75 LTD.

 

[rick in mi]

My bad Idhrelics,I over looked,or misunderstood your statement.I guess there are lemons in everything and it sucks that you might have got one.And my season is getting shorter also,so I wouldnt want to have to wait for a repaire either! hh rick in mi.

 

[Jason in TN]

They are noisy if you crank them up. That is the way they run they will dig relics way deeper than the E trac I have owned both. The LTD is
A different type of detector for sure I run mine at 99 a lot of the time in all metal and it pops sings cracks but pulls some targets most detectors will
not touch. It is a proven great relic hunter and won last years relic hunting competition. Could it be built a little better sure. The pinpoint trigger and
Control housing could have been put together a bit better the trigger just screams cheap. But the electronics and depth are great.


Jason

 

[rick in mi]

I hear you Jason, that trigger scares me.I have bumped it a couple of times putting the machine in and out of my truck,maybe a shorter one or a push button would be safer.I wonder if any one has broke one yet???

 

[Willee - Texas]

Judging the F75 based upon the performance of a defective machine is a bit hasty ... In my personal opinion.
I suspect thre were other things you did not like that has put you off it.
Weight - balance - design - menu could be the real reason.

All machines no matter who makes them or how much they cost can arrive defective.
It happens ... you were just the unlucky one this time ... your turn in the barrel.

I prefer the Minelab Explorer series detectors but because I hunt a lot of salt water beaches that might be the main factor why.
Just started using a new F-75 LTD for coin hunting and so far I do like it.
Whether it can out perform an Explorer is yet to be seen as I have not the experience or knowledge setting it up for max performance ... yet.

Perhaps someday in the future another F75 will come your way and you will get a chance to evaluate one that is working properly.
I would be interested in how you would compare it to the other detectors you use.

 

[marcomo]

If you want to try a real good machine then try a whites V3I buddy !! ive had the F75 and T2 and im like you ive used other machines over the years.The f75 is way too sparky way too unstable and build quality is cheap and plastic which is why sales of the f75 has taken a sharp nosedive and bringing out the boost process was just a gimmick to try get people buying the machine again.The ebay prices on these machines speak for themselves and they can be picked up cheap now.If fisher want to really make a good machine then maybe make one with two or three frequencies and move with the times like whites/minelab/xp have done.HOWEVER....in the hands of somebody whos had an f75 for some time and gotten used to it the f75 is a reasonable machine but for the money i want an awesome machine.Side by side testing i found the omega 8000 with 11" coil on deeper and more stable and in actually face the fisher f4 was better too !!

Omegaman, I don't doubt that the V3 is a fine detector. You're obviously quite happy with it, since you only first used it in the field a few days ago. One thing I've found is that original impressions of a detector can and will change, for better or worse, as more hours of usage accumulate with the machine.

As far as the F75 goes, I can't let your knock go unanswered. Nothing against the F4, but saying the F4 outperforms the F75 tells me that you did not take the time, or have the desire, to realize the F75's potential.

Used prices have dropped, but I think that's more a matter of supply catching up to demand.

As far as moving with the times goes, I don't get that comment since FT has been at the technological forefront with their detectors.

I will agree with you that the F75 is a "sparky" detector and not for everybody. For anyone looking for a silent search type of detector, I wouldn't suggest even considering the F75.

But for me, my F75 LTD has not been a "reasonable" machine, it's been an "awesome" one.

 

[Roland58]

Rick, I have loaded my F75 Standard in my truck many times and have never bumped the pinpoint/GB switch.....is the LTD's switch in a different place? Being between the main housing the the "S" shaft, it wold seem unlikely to get hit, what did you hit yours on?

Omega, it is hard for me compare the quality of the F75 to other machines, as this is the only detector I have ever owned, but, you mention it is constructed of "cheap plastic." Isn't the plastic used for weight reduction? What constitutes "cheap" plastic? Isn't the display head of the V3i made of plastic, as well? BTW, I went to the White's site and watched the customer videos by Capehart137 (http://whiteselectronics.com/v3i.html).....no offense intended, but, if you close your eyes and listen to him, he sounds just like Gomer Pyle!! I know that White's has been around a long time and has an excellent rep.....I know 3 simultaneous Tx frequencies are supposed to be better than one, so, is this why you think the White's is superior to the F75? There are machines now that put out 28 frequencies, wouldn't these be even better?

The bottom line for me is that I am very satisfied with my F75 Standard and I have found it very user friendly, intuitive and easy to use. This may be because it does not have 25+ different color screens, I've learned to 'listen' to my F75 and learn more of its' language every time I use it (I've only been at this about 3 months). Even though I'm a newbie, I can honestly say that the best 'anything' is the one that is right for YOU and that YOU are happy with. You have your right machine(s) and I have mine, as does, apparently, everyone else.

HH to everyone!

 

[jak135]

Hi All -

I have enjoyed all your comments. I can identify with several of your experiences with the F75 LTD. I placed an order for the new black one in Feb. this year and did not receive it until Sept. So in the meantime, I bought an ETrac in April. Before this I had used only White's detectors (Eagle II, Eagle Spectrum, XLT, 5900D) for 22 yrs. Just thought I'd try something different. I really like the ETrac. I was finding good stuff in old trashy sites that I had hunted many times before and was no longer finding anything. Then the F75 LTD arrived. I took it out and hunted the way I did with the White's or ETrac. I hated it. I thought it was defective. It was the most NOISEY, chatty detector I had ever heard. I was digging mostly trash. I couldn't tell what was a good target.

Long story short....I kept playing with it...reading other people's experiences....taking it out and trying different setups. It wasn't until I went back to one of my "old fairground fields" that I hunt 3-4 times each Fall that I fell in love with it. For the last 3-4 yrs my friend (DFX) and I have only found three coins in this field. Even twice with the ETrac....nothing. After three half day searches, I have found 7 IH pennies, 1 flying eagle cent, 5 shielded nickels, 2- two cent coins, 1- 1850 flower button and a small gold broach. This field has 3 inches of soybean shafts sticking out of the ground, as well. I've read the F75's depth is not affected by three inch air gaps.

So what was different? I learned that the noise/chatter was actually the F75 telling me that it had detected something but I have the disc. set not to hear it. But it's still letting me know it was there. I learned not to pay attention to it and listen for good hits. Of course I had to learn what a good hit sounds like. This is quite different than my experiences learning a White's or ETrac. But to gain that extra depth and sensitivity, I can put up with the chatter.

I also did an air test between the ETrac and F75 LTD in bp mode. No disc. and both set to max sensitivity. I taped a yard stick from the bottom of the coil along the shaft so I could see the distance clearly. Using a silver dime, I got 12 inches with the ETrac and 14 inches with the F75. It is very sensitive.

So for me, I NOW like the F75 LTD. It recovers quicker than the ETrac, more sensitive and lighter in weight, so I can hunt faster and longer. Nice.

But I really hated it at first and almost sold it. So I understand those that don't like it. Been there ..done that. Be patient.

 

[cometguy]

I think we all get caught up in reading other people's experiences with machines. I know that when I got my LTD I was convinced I had to run it hot and put up with a lot of noise. I found myself leaving it at home and taking my old detector. I finally forced myself to carry it and eventually I began to hear what it was telling me. I still have cheater notes for different situations but have found my own kind of peace with the LTD. It is amazingly light and responsive. I seldom run my sensitivity over 75 and it rocks. I have had it pull me over to the next row of a field because my left or right swing got it close enough to find something in the next row. My field hunts this year have been fast and covered a lot of ground and produced. I will tell you that going back to a heavier machine weighs on you in a hurry. I have been doing four and five hour field hunts and living to swing again the next day. Something that wouldn't happen for me with a heavier machine. My advice, tune it down until you used to the LTD. The boost process reaches through the weeds, stalks, and tall grass and gives you great signals. I keep telling myself I have to turn the discrimination down and the sensitivity up and experiment with all metal but hey, I am happy where I am. I will experiment more in time or when I quit finding cool stuff.

Don
HH

 

[shooter]

That a boy Ron, Great comment.

 

[Elton]

Not saying their bad (V3i),, Their not,,but the 75 is better for me.. Deeper by a lot... and oh so much faster recovery..


PS>> Maybe not Larry IL with his V3i LOL...he's pretty darn good with it.. Hahahahahahahaha.....He might hang right in there or even out do me...

 

[Elton]

5 & 15 .....working at the same time.. Cz6 Cz5 Cz7 Cz7a and Cz3..................