The Prizm series, is there something I dont get??

[B.T]

Hello to all here on this forum. I read a couple of posts here about sort of gripes against the Prizm's. Recently I have run a couple, the 2 and the 4, to see how they go. I did notice that they didnt have the depth of a Minelab Terra 70 (my main coin and relic machine) but I was surprised at the extra finds I made with the Prizm's in the super trashy areas where I tried them out. Two places where I had absolutely given the ground multiple hammerings with the Terra, I found some pretty good finds with the Prizm's. Ok, the Terra got the most, it went first so you would expect that, but I found some things where I was convinced there was no more to find. No way am I saying the Prizm is a 70 killer, that would be an outright dumb thing to say as the 70 is a trojan but it seemed the Prizm had some merrit amongst the super thick junk. Just me or does anyone else think the same???

 

[khouse]

The Prizm series replaced the Classic series. As it turn out the Classics are a tough act to follow. If you post on the general detecting forum I'm sure there would be more to say.

 

[B.T]

Thanks for the reply Khouse. Hard to get a response here about the Prizm's at all. Thanks for taking the time mate.

 

[dirtfisher]

The following comments are just my opinion and opinions will differ from person to person. The Prisms were a good idea because Whites needed something in their detector lineup to compete with the Garrett Ace series. The more experienced detectorists will use a good quality top-of-the-line detector for general deep hunting in low trash areas. But that leaves a need for a light weight target ID detector with tone ID for the more trashy areas. So here is the problem with the Prisms (based on what I have read and heard). First of all the name sounds goofy. Most hobbyists enjoy this hobby down to the finest detail and that includes the name on the detector. Personally, I would prefer "eagle", "patriot", "maverick", and yes,... even "ace" for a name. I want to be proud of the name too. Next the Prisms look awkward and out of balance. Most hunters I know don't like more than 3 tone ID catagories and the Prism V has 7 ( I think). Also, there is the price. Why would anyone pay more for a certain name brand when other companies have produced detectors that will do the same exact thing and some even have more features? Why would I pay $199.00 for a low end Prism when I can get a new Fisher F2 with a free 4 inch coil plus stem? Or a brand new Ace 250 for the same price with 4.5 inch coil options? Most importantly, if a hunter needs a unit for trashy areas then he will need a 4, 5, or 6 inch coil. There are absolutely NO accessory coils available for the Prisms! ( Someone correct me if I'm wrong). I am not the only loyal Whites fan who is disappointed. There are a lot of us who are just waiting to see what Whites will come up with next. If they are to be successful they should listen to the comments from actual detector enthusiasts (both positive and negative). I believe they already do that and I really like the Whites conmpany a lot. I just think they can do a lot better. Thanks for listening and Happy Hunting, DF.

 

[B.T]

I understand where you are coming from. Over here in Oz its a different ball game and coin and relic detectors take the back seat getting little or no advertising and little interest full stop. Myself I love coin and relic hunting, as well as nuggets, but unfortunately we get next to no info on it. In fact there is almost no promotion of that type of detecting here. We hear very little also of other detectors such a Fishers (who have gone completely off the radar) and Tesoro or accessories that go with them. All the dealers, bar the one I work for, promote nothing but Minelab and if you go into their shops and ask about anything other than Minelab you get ridiculed for asking about an inferior detector or that detector itself will get bagged(hung crap on).
Thanks for the info.

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Steve(MS)]

BT, if you can try to locate a IDX-Pro as it will do very well in trashy areas and has a full compliment of coils you can get for it. Maybe you could find someone in the US that would sell to you? Are there any IDX's floating around over there you could try before buying?

 

[B.T]

Thanks for that Steve. I recently started work for the New Aussie distributer for Whites and was trying to understand why the gripes.
When I took the 2 and the 4 to a heavily junked old miners camp site I thought they were OK. Fair enough they don't set the world on fire with depth, not too many cheap machines do, but I'm beginning to think that our different requirements and hunting styles over here don't show up what over there you guys see as flaws for what you require in a machine. We don't have anything like the history waiting to be dug like the US does nor anything like the population you guys have had lose things over the last few centuries either. I think you guys have more people in one particular state than we have in our whole country. So I guess what your needs are are nothing like ours in many ways. We do our best to offer honest advice to the customers and I was a bit perplexed sort of when I checked up on the US sites that they didn't like them.
Thanks to everyone for the info and help.

 

[steve herschbach]

Hi B.T.,

I have sold quite a few Prizms, and they are not bad little units. But probably the one unit that most put a hurt on the Prizms is the Garrett Ace 250. For about the same price as a Prizm II you get features that you'd have to buy a Prizm IV to roughly match. Except the Prizm IV cost $200 more! Plus, the Ace has a better selection of accessory coils.

So it is not that there is anything wrong with the Prizms, it is just that they fail in the bang-for-the-buck as compared to other units. The Prizms are better built than the others, however, and you can literally pour water over the control panel when a Prizm is turned on and not have problems.

If White's dropped the Prizm II and lowered the price on all the Prizms by $100 they would perk up sales.

Steve Herschbach

 

[robert roy]

Amen to that.
Well said![size=large][/size]
Robert R

 

[B.T]

Thanks Steve. Like I said we are limited over here and most of the other distributers have the mind set of "lone wolf with us or against us" mentality.
Demo days dont exist, trial machines(whats that?), propper tutition(you got the manual what are you stupid or something!) etc etc etc
I worked for two different ones over here in the past and quit both jobs in disgust with their attitudes both towards other companies as well as their customers.
I was happy as a pig in the proverbial when offered the Job with the New Whites guy. He has forgot more than I will ever know, is honest, treats everyone like royalty and is a kicker of a prospector who knows his game inside and out. No this isnt a plug for him, its just a fact and credit given where credit is due.
Have a good one. By the way, is it cold enough over there

 

[steve herschbach]

Hi B.T.

At least our sub-zero temps are behind us, and we are even getting some days over freezing, so spring is on the way. Despite all the hue and cry over global warming we had our coldest winter in many years. I'll finally get to go detecting by the end of April or early May, depending on how fast the snow melts.

Be sure and check out the post at http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,669914 since we are in it!

Steve Herschbach

 

[Treasurechic]

Global Warming....What Global Warming!!! could have fooled me, Anyway I agree with you, if anything once Spring comes we will appreciate it more than we have in years!!