Elite 5 down scan vs down scan on HDS units

I was walleye fishing with a friend who had an HDS 10 with down scan showing neat stuff and separating shad vs blob on 2D. I also recall the walleye under the bait a bit elongated as compared to bait. I didn’t think I would utilize side scan so bought an Elite 5 DSI on Cablea’s Black Fri sale for $379 along with Lowrance Insight Prochip.

I’ve used the new unit only a couple of times and honestly more focused on fishing then the unit. Software settings used same as buddy’s HDS with contrast at 70% on Sepia and 800hz frequency. I liked what I saw as I’m using it side by side with my old 337CDF. I can see a tree on DSI vs blob on 2D and bait vs tree vs big fish on bottom much more easily and feel I’m interpreting accurately.

However it seemed to me the down scan on the HDS easier to read than the Elite. I called Lowrance and they didn’t enlighten me only to say better processor, better transducer crystal and you get what you pay for. I did ask how big the “slice” was that I’m seeing on the screen say in 30fow. The slice is 50 degree so about 14’ out each side of the boat. That could account for sometimes seeing things and 2D and not DSI and visa versa.

Does anyone have anything to add re HDS vs Elite and down scan capability?

I’m happy I bought the DSI and think it will help discern what I’m fishing over. If money were no object I would pop for an HDS with scan. No surprise the Elites were on sale as Lowrance just launched the new Elite 7. It has a 7” screen and includes chartplotter, down scan along with 2D pulse sonar (83/200) that gives it the ability to use HD mapping cards.

Thanks,

Michael

When I spoke with Lowrance I didn’t get an answer that cleared up my questions. I decided to write an email and got this response:

Thank you for your inquiry.
The technology between the two is exactly the same. The structure scan may have a slightly higher output but that is only because it has the sidescan in with it. The transducers will only see forward and back as much as the transducer is long. Its a thin beam that sweeps side to side and not forward and back. There are many factors as to why the hds fish may have appeared more elongated. Speed of the boat, size of the fish and speed at which the fish is swimming. At 30 feet you are getting a coverage of about 28 feet with both units. The Elite-7 HDI is only different due to the fact that it can do both traditional sonar and down scan imaging at the same time with the same transducer. No other unit can do that. However the DSI is still the same technology as the other 2.

Thank you for choosing Navico products!