Tell the truth... those who know, will an Explorer make any finds that an F75 misses?

[jbow]

Under any circumstances? Will the SE find anything that the F75 will not find? Or will the Explorer make a good target at depth more likely to be dug than the F75 will by Iding it better or anything? Has anyone hunted with both, marked deep targets and tried the other machine?

I am wondering because the SE is harder to learn, heavier, and slower. But is there any case where it will out-perform an F75?

Now I know, we all have opinions and those are ok for answers but if it is an opinion, say so. I want to know if anyone has done comparisons but I am interested in those opinions also.

I know some people say yes, the SE will make better finds. I am inclined to think that the SE will ID better at depth but i'm not sure, what do you think? Oh yes, one more thing... the tones on the SE are much more pleasing than the tones on the F75. Going straight from the SE to the F75 is like going from listening to a Pioneer SX-1010 to a cheap-o transistor radio...but that really does not matter does it?

I have not had the chance to do any tests like this due to time and lack of a good site but I will when I can.

Thanks,

Julien

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

All I can say is any detector can miss targets. I hunted my back yard up in the gold country with the F75 worked one area and found with each year that passed I would find something different and cool. The ground is always changing I have heard the minelab is better in turf for silver but I have always got my silver deep in both grass and dirt. The F75 is so light that I would not be still detecting if I still had my minelab.

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

Julien,

This afternoon spent an hour or so with the F-75 at a very trashy front lawn site, got a V nickel, Indian head, and three wheaties. I had hit this yard hard with the explorer and got a few barber and newer silver, plus indians.

I've been going back to a few sites that I have pounded with my Explorer many times with a variety of coils. These are sites that are very trashy and have yielded hundreds of silver and Indian heads. I was really hoping to see alot more coins pop out when I hit them with the F-75. So far that is not the case. Each time I've made a few good finds with the Fisher, but probably about the same amount if I had detected the same length of time with the explorer. My belief is that the Minelabs do not leave much behind, at least coin wise, that the F-75 will find.

Having said that, I'm not sure if I had pounded the sites with the Fisher that the Explorer would have found more; my gut feeling is yes but that may be due to much more experience with the Explorer.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that the ID capabilities of the explorer are much better than the f-75. The two axis smart screen along with the tones give MUCH MUCH more info than the display/sounds on the Fisher. I'm wondering how tight Minelab has this feature patented. I've been digging lots of iffy signals with the F-75; just when I think I'm on to something the next target proves me wrong. The Fisher ID is good on shallow signals but in heavy trash it can be just as jumpy as on the explorer, but gives less info. Really do believe that they behave very much the same, just need to swing one slower in trash.

I think the F-75 has a slight edge on small non-ferrous targets, if I was at a colonial or battlefield site where I was going to dig every target that was not small iron think the Fisher might be better.

If I'm anywhere else that has seen some modern trash think the explorer is better.

If you don't want to spend the time learning the explorer: The F-75 is probably easier to learn, lighter to swing, great battery life, pinpoints well.

I'm definitely not getting rid of the Explorer, and will continue to test and learn the Fisher. Will keep everyone posted.

Chris

 

[jbow]

The weight and ergonomics really make a huge difference don't they. I am 55 and have some arthritis in my spine so I know exactly what you mean. There is no way I would take off into the woods for an extended time with the Explorer. I like it best in the turf where I can ride the coil on the ground but still the ergonomics make it hard to handle. Even the Sovereign, though heavier, is easier to use because of the box being under the cuff. I can pivot the weight with my forearm while sliding the coil on the ground . In the oods though... it's a man killer.

Julien

 

[jbow]

If you don't want to spend the time learning the explorer: The F-75 is probably easier to learn, lighter to swing, great battery life, pinpoints well.

I do want to spend time learning it but not if it is for nought. I love detectors as much as I love detecting and I bought the SE to compliment the F75. I whole heartedly agree on the SE having a much better TID. I tend toward using the digital screen. I figure that the numbers are better if I can learn them, and I can. While I am not good at any knid of math, I can remember numbers easily... go figure.
I find that the numbers are very good indicators of the difference between, say a nickle and a square tab. Especially at shallow depth. It is hard for me to tell the difference on the crosshairs when the numbers are close and when I use the crosshairs I am constantly flipping over to digital to check, so I am going to just learn the numbers.

So, the peupose of my question is to see what users of both machines think about the comparison. I know that everyone misses stuff no matter what machine.

In talking to Tom Dankowski before I bought the SE he told me that in heavy mineral the SE will out-perform the F75 but in high iron the F75 will out-perform the SE. So far, I agree and I guess that is the thing. One will be better in one site and the other will be better in another site.

Then there is the Tejon with a 5.75 coil... It has a magic that neither the F75 nor the SE have in high trash in a relic site. It is HOT on small buttons.

I think I am going to settle on these three machines and master all three, (not much to mastering the Tejon).

Thanks for the help. I'd like to know what you think as you learn. One thing is that once you have hunted a site hard with any good machine, there is not going to be much left... I have found that out from experience. I have one site that gave up bunches of CW cavalry relics... I hunted it hard with the Tejon and a T2. I keep going back with the F75 and the SE to no avail... but I know there is still stuff there. A lady lost a three carat diamond ring there that has not been found. I am hoping that the SE is going to find it.

Julien

 

[Streak!]

All machines have their strengths and weaknesses. I'm certain that in certain circumstances, the Exploder might very well finds things the 75 wont, but I'm also sure that the F75 will find MANY things the Exploder WONT!!!! This was demonstrated a few days ago when a friend of mine used his EX2 where we were hunting, and didnt do very well at all. (and this guy probably knows that machine as well as anyone on the planet). Eventually he switched to the 75, and (in his own words) was freakin amazed at what he had been missing. All of a sudden there were targets everywhere. This kind of testimonial speaks for itself. Given what I know about both machines, that 75 is without a doubt the hands down winner, ESPECIALLY once the F75 user gets his sea legs. Like any machine, the 75 has its own language, and despite what some may tell you, it DOES take a bit of time to learn it. A few months digging everything at the very least. (this applies to most machines). So far (and I've used a LOT of machines) the F75 is THE most productive machine I've ever used, bar none. it gonna be hard to top THIS one........... Streak!

 

[cspene]

my F-75 is one awesome machine!

 

[jbow]

I am having to make myself use the SE so I can learn it but if I have a new good site with limited time... I will go straight for the F-75. I'll have to agree about the finds, I consistantly find more with the F-75. I am hoping that it is just because I do not yet know the SE, which is why I am spending a lot of time with it. Time will tell. I think, in the end, I am going to find that, for sure, the F-75 is overall best but on certain sites the SE will excell...

Thanks Streak! (watch for a PM)

Julien

 

[Jeb NWR]

I agree with streak on a lot he says. . The F75 Will almost certainly find things the Explorer will not . The reason ? it has a Much much faster recovery speed and if an explorer Nulls over a biggish piece of Iron it will stay null ed for a few seconds . in that time a Gold or silver coin may well be sitting right next to that piece of Iron and it will MISS the Coin while under the Null. Now the F75 has such a fast recovery speed that no sooner has it picked the Iron target up and then gone off it ,as the coil passes that it will almost certainly pick the Coin sitting next to it up ,and give the target signal straight away enabling you to be able to hear that signal.
Hence the F75 gets what the Explorer misses. I`ve used the Explorer and now use the F75. I will not go back to the Explorer as its heavier and doesn`t out do the F75 as i said if anything the F75 will when used by a competent user, out does the Explorer.

 

[jbow]

n/t

 

[argentum40]

we over in the UK dont use the displays as a definitave yes or no on whether to dig a target... the VDI is just an aid and should in no way be taken as truthful on every occasion. i too have an SE and F75 and unlike you lads i find the SE is wrong alot of the time compared to the F75.

having said that i dont look at the screen much on the F75 and use the tones and whether or not its a 2 way target. for me the F75 is deadly on roman minims and sceats etc as well as medieval hammered silver where as the SE has a wishy washy audio and always sounds like it is half asleep where as the F75 is razor sharp with its audio.

where the explorer will outgun the F75 is wet sand and general beach work but on inland sites i would prefer the F75 to the SE up to now...