I am looking to get a new/ better fish finder and would like to stay under 300.00. I am looking at the elite 4x dsi but open to other suggestion.  I have and old unit know that works half the time...

If your near a Bass Pro or similar store........go down and look at them and get some button time in on them to see which one meets your needs.

 

I never advise which model someone should buy. Lowrance and Humminbird both make quality products.

My preference is Side Image first (expensive), Down Image second, and 2d last.

 

I'm sorry I am not more help on this.......but it tends to be a personal preference thing.

If you are not in a hurry......you can watch for someone that is selling their previous unit because they are upgrading. That way you might be able to get more for your money. But keep in mind that is will not be new and will have no warranty or guarantee...........sometimes you can get a square trade warranty on items purchased on ebay.

I was not impressed with the DSI on the Lowrance Elite 5 DSI, so when I upgraded I went with the traditional color 2d sonar/gps combo Elite4. I also didn't like the fact that the Lowrance DSI units are JUST DSI, no option for regular 2d sonar. IMHO unless your going to really spend some money and get a unit that can do down, side and sonar, 2d is still the way to go for, from what I saw of the DSI it's good for giving you a better picture of what it is your sitting on top of. But putting around looking for stuff like bait, schools of fish,bottom comp. changes, etc....it left a lot to be desired. And I deffinatly could not get used to fishing in the "cone" with it. Could be both the guys I know with it don't have it set up right, but still it's 0 for 2 in my book. Actually 0-3, I also know a guy with a Humminbird unit who is not all that impressed with it's down imaging as well, and still uses his bow graph on 2d most of the time, but he idles around looking for stuff on side imaging with his console graph.

thanks for all the info