need advise i have a chance to get a whites prizm 3

[digger4t]

hello,all i need your advise on this.i have a chance to buy a whites prizm three,but i used to have a prizm two and it didn't seem to work that well for me.it just not would not pinpoint very well at all.and the depth just wasn't there.and it would not Discriminate very good either.i wonder if the prizm three is any better than the prizm two.if anybody has any advise i would appreciate it.thank you all.and GOD BLESS.
ben.

 

[seeker41]

there are probably better detectors out there new for the same price?

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

condition and price.

 

[gvanvekoven]

I have one. My second detector. The first was a bounty hunter quick draw II. I gave the bounty hunter to my brother on a visit last year and went to the whites dealer in hope to get him into the detecting craze. I had a choice between the DFX, MXT, and 3 prism models. The price swayed me into the prism line. Within weeks of my purchase of the III came the four, and (recently) the five. I can't really say too much about the machine without having some knowledge of more than the two I have owned. In own view, the prism III was about on par with the bounty hunter. I find it necessary to to move 90 degrees off and scan in the left and right mode instead of simply trying to X a target by moving the search coil it came with forward and back over a potential target. I think it has something to do with the way the stock coil is made. Will read fine side to side, but for some reason - not as well forward and back over the same target. Might just be me. The pinpoint is OK on the III - but not an exact science. The sound level will creep in and get louder as you draw closer to center coil - but at around 6 inches - the tone is always the same pitch. Only a quick sweep looking for the "blip" works well for me. I use a vibro probe for the exact pinpoint job in most cases anyway. Depth is not so great with the standard coil in tight dirt, You only have one option to upgrade the coil (the 950). The prism III I also do not believe has any ground balance feature. At least I have not read that it does in my users manual and there is no knobs or buttons for it on the machine. You can adjust the sensitivity level - but that wont do much for you in highly mineralized areas. I would say - the prism III is a good "beginners" machine, and like me - I feel you will be looking to upgrade to something better shortly. The prism is very light and easy to use. I don't really understand why it's important to have a great pair of headphones with it though - as it does not provide audio target ID. Three tones - high med and low and that's it. It's either there or not. A cheap pair of mini headphones from Wal-Mart will work as good on it than an expensive pair of detector phones. If you are tied in on the prism price ranges - shoot for the newer models and leave the prism III on the shelf. On this site - I started a thread regarding how to spend my yearly bonus on a new detector with the Whites DFX, Garrett GTI 2500, or the Minelab SE being the choices. So far - the SE is the all out winner in the opinion poll. Several returned very honest opinions. A good comment on the whites from an avid whites person. Some who recommended the SE told me it would be a challenge to learn - but worth the effort. You know quite honestly - sometimes it does boil down to the old saying - you get what you pay for. The better the machine, the more it will cost. If you can get a 300.00 machine for 150.00, it's your gain - but when it all comes down to it - you still will have a 300.00 machine to work with. Now if you can get a 1200.00 machine for much less - that's another story all together Buddy. I guess it all boils down to how much you can spend and still feel enjoyment in the field with it after you spend your hard earned cash on a machine. I feel guilty spending a dime on myself and it takes me some time to work through it. This one time - I am going to be a bit selfish for myself for a change, and will probably feel guilty about it for some time to come. A personal problem of sorts and one I hope you don't have to deal with. Good luck Dude. Happy hunting.

 

[Pete in MI]

I think we all from time to time feel the way you mention. We are unworthy. But then again there are so many times I gave up a lot of things...and still do..for the family and for others. I do not regret getting this Minelab Explorer II. Sure I could have spent the money on something else yet again for someone else's benefit but for once I did this 'for me'. If I had been selfish all my life and helped no one...then yeah I really should feel guity about doing something for me. I don't feel that way. I do feel that God has blessed me with a very fine detector. Got it at a very good price...see I try to be a good steward of money He gives me too and He makes ways for me not to waste what He gives me. In return for getting satisfaction with this detector, I am placed where I can talk to others both Christian and non-Christian about detecting and about God. Who loses? I am blessed and I admit that. Thank you Father God.

As mentioned I do not know enough about the Whites or Garrett's top of the line detectors but I am more than impressed with my Minelab Explorer II. It may be used but it works great and came with the stock 10.5 inch coil, and also it has an 8 in Sunray coil, a 5 inch EXcellerator coil, and a Platypus, plus carrying bag and the items needed to charge the battery pack in my car or at home.

I saved a lot of money buying it used and with these accessories included. So it didn't come brand new and doesn't have a warranty but it pretty much does everything the Explorer SE would do. So would it make sense to get a good package or a warranty and just one coil? I opted for the accessories.

I also bought the X-1 probe. I don't know how I got by without it....even though I had a handheld pinpointer the X-1 is far superior in quality and in the depth it detects to. If I could afford it I'd put a Sunray probe on my Garrett ACE 250 but instead since I don't use that that often it would not be a good thing (again trying to be a good steward of what God gives me) and use the handheld whenever I use the ACE 250.

The Minelab Explorer II can be set to many sounds...100 if I remember correctly so one can hear each signal as it really is or can be adjusted to be very simple with very few sounds like you mentioned the Prism has.
Joe G, Mike from MI, Greg from MI I know all have had their Minelabs longer than me. They could probably tell you much more than I can. I do hope you find the detector you want and get a great deal on it. If you get the Minelab you will have questions and there are lots of people (and other Minelab forums too - both here in Findmall and elsewhere) where you will get straight answers. Good luck, God bless and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.