Mono depth finders viewability?

keithdog · 04-23-10, 09:55 PM

Not sure viewability is a real word but it works, lol. I need to know how well one can view the screen on a mono depthfinder verses a color screen durring daylight hours. Looking at the mono screens in the stores, they seem to pale when compared to color as far as how bright and clear the picture is. I'll be buying a depth finder this weekend hopefully and am torn between the Hummingbird 570 which is mono, and the Hummingbird 586C which is a color unit. This unit will be used on a jonboat powered by a trolling motor so high tech and fancy is not needed. Cost is a very important issue as well. Things are tight right now and saving $150.00 by buying the 570 sounds very appealing. But I don't want to be dissapointed in the long run. I'm just not sure what to expect as far as viewing the screen of a mono depth finder durring daylight hours?

Tavery5 · 04-23-10, 10:03 PM

I fish with a 570, very good definition with this unit. Never had any problems, even on bright sunny days, just adjust the contrast and all is good.

BassinNC · 04-23-10, 10:22 PM

I have color units on my new boat but I had mono on my old one. Never had any problem with it. If money is tight I would save the 150.00.

keithdog · 04-23-10, 10:57 PM

The guy at BPS mentioned that there could be issues when viewing mono units while wearing polerized sunglasses. Not sure that sounds right to me. Has that been an issue for you?

Rebbasser · 04-24-10, 01:37 AM

Keith, I wear polarized lenses all the time. Never had a problem.

BigBassin144 · 04-24-10, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithdog

The guy at BPS mentioned that there could be issues when viewing mono units while wearing polerized sunglasses. Not sure that sounds right to me. Has that been an issue for you?

Actually, the mono screen on our Hummingbird is one of the few things my polarized sunglasses don't mess with. (They do however, make funky designs on car windows, ipods screens, cell phone screens, the screens at gas stations that tell you much much gas you've put in and the total, etc.)

BB

nofearengineer · 04-24-10, 10:15 AM

Your polarized sunglasses don't care if your LCD screen is monochromatic or color. It's still and LCD, and as such can still have some polarization effects. Regardless, I haven't found them to be a problem on either my mono or color fish finders.

The real problem during the day is glare. There are numerous shield-type products available commercially that will eliminate the glare from your LCD screen, most of them available for around $10-$15. They also protect the screen from scratches. A wise investment.

Rebbasser · 04-24-10, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

Actually, the mono screen on our Hummingbird is one of the few things my polarized sunglasses don't mess with. (They do however, make funky designs on car windows, ipods screens, cell phone screens, the screens at gas stations that tell you much much gas you've put in and the total, etc.)

BB

I've noticed the same thing, BB.

3dkicker · 04-27-10, 03:58 PM

I've had issues with some of the older lowrance and other models with my polarized sunglasses but with my Garmin (6 years old) it isn't a problem. I doubt the new models will be a problem.

I still use my black and white Garmin and it works fine. I'll see if color is of any benefit when I get my Humminbird working. Also you got to remember that color blindness is a male thing. I can't see some light shades of green and red. Not a good thing for color depth finders. If you haven't been tested check it out online and see if there are colors that you can't see.

keithdog · 04-30-10, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3dkicker

I've had issues with some of the older lowrance and other models with my polarized sunglasses but with my Garmin (6 years old) it isn't a problem. I doubt the new models will be a problem.

I still use my black and white Garmin and it works fine. I'll see if color is of any benefit when I get my Humminbird working. Also you got to remember that color blindness is a male thing. I can't see some light shades of green and red. Not a good thing for color depth finders. If you haven't been tested check it out online and see if there are colors that you can't see.

Thats a good idea. I've noticed that when I look into dimmly lit places, like inside my wallet, I can't see the color green!

04-23-10, 09:55 PM	#1
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	Mono depth finders viewability? Not sure viewability is a real word but it works, lol. I need to know how well one can view the screen on a mono depthfinder verses a color screen durring daylight hours. Looking at the mono screens in the stores, they seem to pale when compared to color as far as how bright and clear the picture is. I'll be buying a depth finder this weekend hopefully and am torn between the Hummingbird 570 which is mono, and the Hummingbird 586C which is a color unit. This unit will be used on a jonboat powered by a trolling motor so high tech and fancy is not needed. Cost is a very important issue as well. Things are tight right now and saving $150.00 by buying the 570 sounds very appealing. But I don't want to be dissapointed in the long run. I'm just not sure what to expect as far as viewing the screen of a mono depth finder durring daylight hours?

04-23-10, 10:22 PM	#3
BassinNC BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: albemarle, NC Posts: 788	I have color units on my new boat but I had mono on my old one. Never had any problem with it. If money is tight I would save the 150.00. __________________ 138 bass in 2K10. Biggest 4LBS 14oz.

04-24-10, 01:37 AM	#5
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,142	Keith, I wear polarized lenses all the time. Never had a problem. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

04-24-10, 10:15 AM	#7
nofearengineer BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest IN Posts: 5,630	Your polarized sunglasses don't care if your LCD screen is monochromatic or color. It's still and LCD, and as such can still have some polarization effects. Regardless, I haven't found them to be a problem on either my mono or color fish finders. The real problem during the day is glare. There are numerous shield-type products available commercially that will eliminate the glare from your LCD screen, most of them available for around $10-$15. They also protect the screen from scratches. A wise investment. __________________ Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.

04-27-10, 03:58 PM	#9
3dkicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 4,483	I've had issues with some of the older lowrance and other models with my polarized sunglasses but with my Garmin (6 years old) it isn't a problem. I doubt the new models will be a problem. I still use my black and white Garmin and it works fine. I'll see if color is of any benefit when I get my Humminbird working. Also you got to remember that color blindness is a male thing. I can't see some light shades of green and red. Not a good thing for color depth finders. If you haven't been tested check it out online and see if there are colors that you can't see. __________________ Smitty www.smittystubes.com

04-23-10, 10:03 PM	#2
Tavery5 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,427	I fish with a 570, very good definition with this unit. Never had any problems, even on bright sunny days, just adjust the contrast and all is good.

04-23-10, 10:57 PM	#4
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	The guy at BPS mentioned that there could be issues when viewing mono units while wearing polerized sunglasses. Not sure that sounds right to me. Has that been an issue for you?

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