nero_design
New member
I was initially hesitant of buying yet another pinpointer (I already have two of the EXCELLENT Garrett probes... one for me and one for my wife) but I have had a problem or two in the past with both my Garrett Pro-Pointer probes - in that they would either beep when pressed gently against the ground whilst probing the soil, or they would react to random coils then using it on my Minelab GPX detectors. Note that many other people with the Garrett probes experienced similar random reactions to their coils and detector, even when the pinpointer was turned off. You certainly couldn't fault Minelab because it was a Garrett product that was randomly incompatible with the Minelab Pulse Induction detectors. And Garrett probably didn't expect their pinpointer probe to be so popular with Minelab users.Minelab's new pinpointer claims to address interference and falsing when used with Minelab detectors. They call this feature DIF: Digital Interference Free technology. Like the Garrett Pro-Pointer, the Minelab Pro-Find 25 is sensitive throughout the length of the probe, from the tip to the LED light that is embedded at the junction between the handle and the protruding tip.
Some photographs and a couple of video clips of the new Minelab Pro-Find 25 pinpointer probe are below...
The Minelab Pro-Find 25: The case appears to be injection-molded. Buttons feel strong enough to be used with thick gloves. The rear cap does not screw in all the way flush with the base of the probe so there's a small 3mm +/- gap which you can spot in some of my photographs. Inside the end cap there's a small rubber buffer to press the battery into place. The single 9volt battery bay is a Drop-In type, the very same technique used on the Garrett Probe... and this is a far superior method to the two-pin press-on connectors that often snap or break with repeated use. This is also useful for removing your battery conveniently after a trip out without wearing out the contact clips.
The size difference between the two probes is minimal, with the Minelab probe being an additional 7mm longer than the Garrett. The grey finish on the Minelab will show less scratches and soil marks than the black probes, not that this should be a concern with an implement designed to be used in the dirt. Whilst appearances are similar, the same could be said about Garret/Minelab security wands & metal detector construction etc so I'm sold on the design.... but not so much (and this is only my personal opinion) the holster....
Holster Comparisons:
* The Minelab holster is a thinner, flexible material with a (closed) stitched belt loop
* The Garrett holster is both hard and quite inflexible with an OPEN belt loop composed of Velcro and a press stud.
Now I like the Velcro tab on the Garrett Pinpointer holster because some people anchor the strap over wide belts, through harnesses or, in my case, through the front 'spare' D-Ring on my Harness (see picture below). I can't do that with the Minelab holster because the belt loop is stitched closed. I've opted to retain my Garrett holster where it is on my rig and use it to retain my Minelab probe. I might be alone in this but it works for me so I'll continue to anchor my pinpointer to the same location.
I have four different probes that I use. The Minelab Pro-Find which will be my main pinpointer from now on and will replace my Garrett Pro-Pointer/s. I can't help but get irritated when the Garretts reacted to pressure near the tip when pressing it into the soil gently or react to a random coil. I can still recall sitting on the ground after we found a small nugget and spending nearly half an hour following an imaginary signal that turned out to be interference from the detector.
I like the new Minelab Pro-Find 25. I didn't think I would because I've spent a few years with the Garrett probe and recommended it from the start... but I do like the new Minelab probe - it feels both sturdy and responsive. I'll still keep my Garrett Pro-Pointers because they still work fine and they work exactly as designed. The sensitivity of the Minelab Pro-Find 25 is adjustable and the unit is washable under running water (according to the brochure). It also has an Automatic Power-Off feature.
The Minelab pinpointer is manufactured in Ireland (it says so on the back of the box!). Note that most Minelab dealers have received limited stock for the initial release.
MINELAB PRO-FIND 25 Pinpointer
Price = RRP is AUD$185
Warranty = 24 Months (2 Years)
Length = 9.3 Inches / 237mm
Weight with battery = 6.87 oz / 193.5g
Battery Life = 30 hours of nominal use
Below are two very short video clips showing a very simple comparison that I made between the Minelab and the Garrett pinpointers in relation to selected targets that migh be encountered on the Australian goldfields. I don't beleive the Garrett Pinpointer was designed to ever have to seek out tiny nuggets of gold smaller than quarter of a peanut so it was perhaps inevitable that we needed something that wouldn't interferre with the Minelab PI machines and was slightly more sensitive to subgram gold.
(Guvner, ads have been disabled as per your request prior to posting)
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0-Y2kl0GBM[/video]
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XUV5VWc8QQ[/video]