Almont....you happen to know the Kincade family? I moved from Shelby 5-years ago and had a lot of friends in the area.
Anyhow, both are great machines and in auto mode the differences are negligible. Also, I'd opt for the larger 10" coil as it will help you cover more ground and gain more depth than the 8". For pure depth, the Excal can be switched to P/P and gain an extra 40-50% depth....some users even claim they can hit a quarter at over 15". So for depth, the win goes to the Excal.
The Fisher takes the win on durability. Its rugged and the controls are designed different so you don't have to be as gentle with the machine. In contrast, I recommend buying a knob guard for the excal so you don't accidently, bump and crack a knob or the case.
Ergonomics...bleh...the factory setup stinks on both units. Yes, you can remove the CZ housing and hip mount it or throw it in a backpack but I still don't like the feel. The Excal you could do the same, but honestly, if you buy the long, straight shaft, you can mount the controls behind/above the elbow and it darn near balances the weight perfectly. With that setup you'll have less fatigue and find swinging much more enjoyable.
Price....not sure what a dealer will do on a new CZ buy my authorized ML dealer sells the Excal for under $1,200 delivered. You can then run down to Sunspot's factory near Oakland mall and pickup a Stealth 720 scoop and still be well under your $1,500 budget. BTW, stealth is warranteed for life and Chuck (owner) gives the forum folks a couple of bucks discount. Just ask!
http://www.stealthscoop.com/
