HugoBorchardt
Senior Member
I am a 25-year detecting veteran from Tennessee and Mississippi. I read the forum a lot and apologize that I do not post very much. I am especially crazy about the "Help ID my Finds" board!
I own these four detectors. (GTP 1350, GTI 2500, F75 and E-Trac). I have pretty much been a Garrett guy the last few years but after finally wearing out both my Garretts, I decided to try a MineLab, and bought the F75 for my wife. I'd like to share some notes, pros and cons for each of these machines in this post. For some additional context, keep in mind that I am 80% coin shooter, and 20% battlefield relic hunter.
Before I get to my comments on each machine, I would like to share the following advice with those trying to select their first detector:
In my opinion:
Which detector you choose doesn't really matter as long as you purchase a quality detector designed for what you plan to hunt for. Buy a quality detector that you can afford, read all the tips and watch all the youtube videos that experienced users have posted and spend the time in the field to master your detector! In my opinion, successful metal detecting is comprised of something like 10% detector, 30% research and site selection, and 60% knowledge/technique!
I've personally seen an expert with a $200 Garrett Ace 250 wipe the floor with an intermediate user swinging a $1500 MineLab e-Trac. Using his experience, the Ace was digging more holes, choosing smarter targets, and covering more ground more effectively than the e-Trac user. Hard to believe, but until you master your detector and your technique, trust me a extra few inches of depth and some bells and whistles are not going to yield you significantly more quality finds.
A better detector certainly has additional benefits, but generally these benefits only apply to a very experienced user, and can even confuse or frustrate a new user.
With that said, there are some things I wish I had known about each of these models prior to purchase, and that is what I will attempt to share here.
I have well over one hundred hours on each of these detectors and feel like I know them extremely well. To be fair, I want to point out that that the GTP 1350 is around $600, the GTI 2500 and the F75 are approximately $1000 detectors, and the e-Trac is around $1500.
There are plenty of reviews of each of these detectors so I will not rehash those. I just want to point out specific advantages I feel each of these detectors has, and the things I do not like about each of them - which I will be very harsh about. Apologies if I offend other owners of any of these models - feel free to add comments or disagreement! All of these detectors IMO are great machines that I am happy to hunt with.
Garrett GTI 1350: < $600
Summary: This is an excellent machine for a new or advanced user. It is not very complicated, yet has several very useful advanced features. My wife, who hunts casually, generally with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, mastered this one with minimal training, most of which was just general discrimination and swing technique. She has found a boatload of cool stuff with this machine.
Specific Advantages: My wife avoids digging tin cans using the Target Size/Profiling feature, although sometime it will ID a deep can as a shallow coin. This detector is built tough with high impact type plastic. It feels almost bullet proof. Easy to switch discrimination on and off to double check targets. Clear “ding” noise and target id is generally very accurate for coins.
Cons: The one design issue we have with this machine is that the Profiling feature does not automatically cut off. You just have to press a button, but this is irritating. You constantly find yourself noticing you are hunting in profile mode, especially when you are tired. This may elicit an occasional foul word from your mouth, at least under your breath.
Garrett GTI 2500: ~$1000
Summary: I bought this machine as an upgrade to the GTI 1350 and am very pleased with it. The advantages definitely “outweigh” (pun intended) the cons if you can wield this machine.
Specific Advantages: This machine has astounding depth IMO. I found my deepest quarter ever, a standing liberty at over 10”, and recovered a large gold ring at well over 12”. I call this machine a nickel magnet. I have never found more nickels with anything than I have with this machine. Generally if it says it is a nickel, it is a nickel. The target size/profiling automatically cuts off on this machine. I imagine the engineers rectified that problem in this model. The machine is very easy to use. It is not only a good coin shooter, but also is a great relic hunter.
Cons: This machine is extremely heavy. I purchased it on eBay from a retiree who said he couldn’t carry it. The first time I used it, I had to go back and recheck the box to see if it included wheels, or perhaps someone to help me carry it. I literally find my right arm suffering from muscle failure after about an hour with this and will swing it left handed for a while to spell my arm. Before I bought the Minelab, I was thinking about getting an anchor tattooed on my right forearm. And with the large search coil on it, I hit the ground so much with it my wife says I look like I am trying to make crop circles. Seriously, I can’t believe in this day and age Garrett couldn’t make the box and batteries smaller on this one. I have tried but am not comfortable clipping the battery to my belt, or using a sling. Again, this is a killer machine if you can wield it.
Fisher F75: ~$1000
Summary – This is a very, very smart and well-designed machine. After using the Garretts, I was shocked to find one button, one knob and one switch on this one. You can just turn this one on and go. At first my wife did not like the target identifying number system, but after using it a while she actually finds it easy, as she will just dig everything over a number she decides is appropriate for the site we are hunting. She got over the lack of target size function by learning the “lift searchcoil” method to identify a tin can.
Specific Advantages: Unlike my Garretts and the Minelab, which use 8 AA batteries, the Fisher only requires 4 AA batteries, and they seem to last forever, even with a backlit screen that is always on! I am always changing batteries on my MineLab and my wife seems to rarely need to do so. This of course dramatically reduces the weight and size of the control housing. When setup to do so, the machine is very quiet and just makes a calm “tick” “tick” noise when you hit targets. The depth on this Fisher seems to be very, very good. I was shocked when she pulled a deep mercury dime out of a tough gravel hole I had advised her to give up on, thinking it was a deep can.
Cons: The pinpointing function on this metal detector sounds like a broken chainsaw. I absolutely cannot stand it. My wife can be 1000 yards away from me and when she pinpoints a target I cringe and can hear the noise in my spine. I just want to scream. It is embarrassing if there are people nearby. I find it hilarious that the engineers at Fisher developed such an amazing design and actually incorporated that noise into it. We do not hunt with headphones for safety reasons in the areas we hunt. With headphones this would be a great replacement for water-boarding at Gitmo. Also, we do not like the "pumping" ground balance function. In trashy areas, it can be difficult to gb without displaying the dreaded “Cannot GB” error. Also believe the “Notching” function is unnecessary and clutters the menu system, although I appreciate its function for setting up custom discrimination. With certain setups that seem to provide me the best depth, the machine will “chatter” a bit, which is ashamed as it can be so quiet otherwise.
MineLab e-Trac: ~$1500
Summary: Despite the tough learning curve, this is an excellent detector. It is very advanced, and I would not recommend the e-Trac as someone’s first detector. This is currently my primary detector and I am extremely happy with it.
Advantages: IMO, the primary advantage of this metal detector is in how it reduces the number of nails/iron targets you erroneously dig up thinking they are coins. I absolutely love this and it makes going back to another detector very difficult once you get used to it. I no longer dig up those old nails that have a lump in the middle of them and show up as non-ferrous targets on my other detectors. This enables me to dig fewer bad holes, and instead to dig more good holes. The two-tone ferrous mode also helps me to pick out good targets that are mixed in with iron or nails. The noise cancel function on this detector is also simple and great. It seems to adjust automatically to your swing speed. It comes with a regular battery pack and a rechargeable battery pack!!!
Cons: I believe the engineers at MineLab could slightly simplify the interface and have the computer do a little bit more work for you. The learning curve to really use this detector effectively is difficult to exaggerate and I bet many of the e-Trac experts out there are not 100% certain they have their detector set up optimally for the situation at hand. Whether you are using 8 AA batteries or the battery pack, the batteries do not seem to last very long. You get no warning before the batteries go out, which kind of sucks. Always carry extra batteries, and buy a car charger for the battery pack.
Even with all the reading I have done, the expert functions (Recovery Deep, Recovery Fast, Trash Level and Ground Type) seem very confusing, especially when used in combination. Many users leave them on all the time. I’d like to see some better documentation on when NOT to use them. For example, It seems like the “Difficult Ground” and “Trash Level” could be controlled by default by the computer, since it monitors the ground in real time.
Changing coils on this thing is a chore. I have to use a wire or string to fish the cable through the shaft, even though I absolutely love how the wires go inside the shaft instead of wrapping it. New search coils should come with their own rods, and I recommend buying extra rods for extra coils you plan to swap regularly.
I think the numbering system is acceptable, yet a little silly, as almost all good non-iron targets have a “12” for the first number. Special thanks to those who have written reference charts for what many common targets read on the e-Trac!
Closing Thoughts
In general, I think Minelab, Fisher and Garrett do a great job on performance and the electrical engineering side of their respective models. I do think they could do a much better job on user experience and interface design. It is 2012, and all of these metal detectors, even the new Minelab 3030, seem to have screens that resemble one of those handheld LED video games I had back in the early 1980’s. In fact, some of the graphics are stenciled on the detector screens permanently. Seriously, look at your metal detector, then look at an iPhone. Sorry but I see 30 years difference.
These are just my opinions, and I hope they are helpful. Other users feel free to chime in if you feel I've been unfair or have anything to add. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your next hunt!
Clark
I own these four detectors. (GTP 1350, GTI 2500, F75 and E-Trac). I have pretty much been a Garrett guy the last few years but after finally wearing out both my Garretts, I decided to try a MineLab, and bought the F75 for my wife. I'd like to share some notes, pros and cons for each of these machines in this post. For some additional context, keep in mind that I am 80% coin shooter, and 20% battlefield relic hunter.
Before I get to my comments on each machine, I would like to share the following advice with those trying to select their first detector:
In my opinion:
Which detector you choose doesn't really matter as long as you purchase a quality detector designed for what you plan to hunt for. Buy a quality detector that you can afford, read all the tips and watch all the youtube videos that experienced users have posted and spend the time in the field to master your detector! In my opinion, successful metal detecting is comprised of something like 10% detector, 30% research and site selection, and 60% knowledge/technique!
I've personally seen an expert with a $200 Garrett Ace 250 wipe the floor with an intermediate user swinging a $1500 MineLab e-Trac. Using his experience, the Ace was digging more holes, choosing smarter targets, and covering more ground more effectively than the e-Trac user. Hard to believe, but until you master your detector and your technique, trust me a extra few inches of depth and some bells and whistles are not going to yield you significantly more quality finds.
A better detector certainly has additional benefits, but generally these benefits only apply to a very experienced user, and can even confuse or frustrate a new user.
With that said, there are some things I wish I had known about each of these models prior to purchase, and that is what I will attempt to share here.
I have well over one hundred hours on each of these detectors and feel like I know them extremely well. To be fair, I want to point out that that the GTP 1350 is around $600, the GTI 2500 and the F75 are approximately $1000 detectors, and the e-Trac is around $1500.
There are plenty of reviews of each of these detectors so I will not rehash those. I just want to point out specific advantages I feel each of these detectors has, and the things I do not like about each of them - which I will be very harsh about. Apologies if I offend other owners of any of these models - feel free to add comments or disagreement! All of these detectors IMO are great machines that I am happy to hunt with.
Garrett GTI 1350: < $600
Summary: This is an excellent machine for a new or advanced user. It is not very complicated, yet has several very useful advanced features. My wife, who hunts casually, generally with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, mastered this one with minimal training, most of which was just general discrimination and swing technique. She has found a boatload of cool stuff with this machine.
Specific Advantages: My wife avoids digging tin cans using the Target Size/Profiling feature, although sometime it will ID a deep can as a shallow coin. This detector is built tough with high impact type plastic. It feels almost bullet proof. Easy to switch discrimination on and off to double check targets. Clear “ding” noise and target id is generally very accurate for coins.
Cons: The one design issue we have with this machine is that the Profiling feature does not automatically cut off. You just have to press a button, but this is irritating. You constantly find yourself noticing you are hunting in profile mode, especially when you are tired. This may elicit an occasional foul word from your mouth, at least under your breath.
Garrett GTI 2500: ~$1000
Summary: I bought this machine as an upgrade to the GTI 1350 and am very pleased with it. The advantages definitely “outweigh” (pun intended) the cons if you can wield this machine.
Specific Advantages: This machine has astounding depth IMO. I found my deepest quarter ever, a standing liberty at over 10”, and recovered a large gold ring at well over 12”. I call this machine a nickel magnet. I have never found more nickels with anything than I have with this machine. Generally if it says it is a nickel, it is a nickel. The target size/profiling automatically cuts off on this machine. I imagine the engineers rectified that problem in this model. The machine is very easy to use. It is not only a good coin shooter, but also is a great relic hunter.
Cons: This machine is extremely heavy. I purchased it on eBay from a retiree who said he couldn’t carry it. The first time I used it, I had to go back and recheck the box to see if it included wheels, or perhaps someone to help me carry it. I literally find my right arm suffering from muscle failure after about an hour with this and will swing it left handed for a while to spell my arm. Before I bought the Minelab, I was thinking about getting an anchor tattooed on my right forearm. And with the large search coil on it, I hit the ground so much with it my wife says I look like I am trying to make crop circles. Seriously, I can’t believe in this day and age Garrett couldn’t make the box and batteries smaller on this one. I have tried but am not comfortable clipping the battery to my belt, or using a sling. Again, this is a killer machine if you can wield it.
Fisher F75: ~$1000
Summary – This is a very, very smart and well-designed machine. After using the Garretts, I was shocked to find one button, one knob and one switch on this one. You can just turn this one on and go. At first my wife did not like the target identifying number system, but after using it a while she actually finds it easy, as she will just dig everything over a number she decides is appropriate for the site we are hunting. She got over the lack of target size function by learning the “lift searchcoil” method to identify a tin can.
Specific Advantages: Unlike my Garretts and the Minelab, which use 8 AA batteries, the Fisher only requires 4 AA batteries, and they seem to last forever, even with a backlit screen that is always on! I am always changing batteries on my MineLab and my wife seems to rarely need to do so. This of course dramatically reduces the weight and size of the control housing. When setup to do so, the machine is very quiet and just makes a calm “tick” “tick” noise when you hit targets. The depth on this Fisher seems to be very, very good. I was shocked when she pulled a deep mercury dime out of a tough gravel hole I had advised her to give up on, thinking it was a deep can.
Cons: The pinpointing function on this metal detector sounds like a broken chainsaw. I absolutely cannot stand it. My wife can be 1000 yards away from me and when she pinpoints a target I cringe and can hear the noise in my spine. I just want to scream. It is embarrassing if there are people nearby. I find it hilarious that the engineers at Fisher developed such an amazing design and actually incorporated that noise into it. We do not hunt with headphones for safety reasons in the areas we hunt. With headphones this would be a great replacement for water-boarding at Gitmo. Also, we do not like the "pumping" ground balance function. In trashy areas, it can be difficult to gb without displaying the dreaded “Cannot GB” error. Also believe the “Notching” function is unnecessary and clutters the menu system, although I appreciate its function for setting up custom discrimination. With certain setups that seem to provide me the best depth, the machine will “chatter” a bit, which is ashamed as it can be so quiet otherwise.
MineLab e-Trac: ~$1500
Summary: Despite the tough learning curve, this is an excellent detector. It is very advanced, and I would not recommend the e-Trac as someone’s first detector. This is currently my primary detector and I am extremely happy with it.
Advantages: IMO, the primary advantage of this metal detector is in how it reduces the number of nails/iron targets you erroneously dig up thinking they are coins. I absolutely love this and it makes going back to another detector very difficult once you get used to it. I no longer dig up those old nails that have a lump in the middle of them and show up as non-ferrous targets on my other detectors. This enables me to dig fewer bad holes, and instead to dig more good holes. The two-tone ferrous mode also helps me to pick out good targets that are mixed in with iron or nails. The noise cancel function on this detector is also simple and great. It seems to adjust automatically to your swing speed. It comes with a regular battery pack and a rechargeable battery pack!!!
Cons: I believe the engineers at MineLab could slightly simplify the interface and have the computer do a little bit more work for you. The learning curve to really use this detector effectively is difficult to exaggerate and I bet many of the e-Trac experts out there are not 100% certain they have their detector set up optimally for the situation at hand. Whether you are using 8 AA batteries or the battery pack, the batteries do not seem to last very long. You get no warning before the batteries go out, which kind of sucks. Always carry extra batteries, and buy a car charger for the battery pack.
Even with all the reading I have done, the expert functions (Recovery Deep, Recovery Fast, Trash Level and Ground Type) seem very confusing, especially when used in combination. Many users leave them on all the time. I’d like to see some better documentation on when NOT to use them. For example, It seems like the “Difficult Ground” and “Trash Level” could be controlled by default by the computer, since it monitors the ground in real time.
Changing coils on this thing is a chore. I have to use a wire or string to fish the cable through the shaft, even though I absolutely love how the wires go inside the shaft instead of wrapping it. New search coils should come with their own rods, and I recommend buying extra rods for extra coils you plan to swap regularly.
I think the numbering system is acceptable, yet a little silly, as almost all good non-iron targets have a “12” for the first number. Special thanks to those who have written reference charts for what many common targets read on the e-Trac!
Closing Thoughts
In general, I think Minelab, Fisher and Garrett do a great job on performance and the electrical engineering side of their respective models. I do think they could do a much better job on user experience and interface design. It is 2012, and all of these metal detectors, even the new Minelab 3030, seem to have screens that resemble one of those handheld LED video games I had back in the early 1980’s. In fact, some of the graphics are stenciled on the detector screens permanently. Seriously, look at your metal detector, then look at an iPhone. Sorry but I see 30 years difference.
These are just my opinions, and I hope they are helpful. Other users feel free to chime in if you feel I've been unfair or have anything to add. Thanks for reading and best of luck on your next hunt!
Clark