If you never used the DFX or the V3, they both have about the same learning curve.
I used the DFX for a little over a year and sold it. I had used a White's 6000Di Pro for many years and just felt like I was losing a lot of detecting time with the DFX, every time I wanted to change programs or settings. I didn't like the constant rebalancing I had to do every time I made some minor tweek to the settings. I found the menu screens hard to get thru.
Whe the Vision came out (V3) I bought one of the first units.
I found with my experience with the DFX allowed me to learn the Vision fairly easy.
I liked the signa graph and the analyze mode. I dug a lot less trash with the V3 than with any other detector. I think the target ID is the real added feature to this machine...not necessarily an improvement to depth. Detecting seems easier.
I was able to pass over pennies and focus on silver with ease.
The menu screen was very user friendly and allowed for easy tweeks on the go without the constant rebalancing.
I loved the ability to get under power lines I was never able to get close to before....even with the DFX.
I'm sure if I had a new E trac in my hands, I'd be able to beat it with my Vision. Why? Because I have experience with the Vision and not the Etrac.
Most machines, with practice, will perform excellently.
And really, brand new, the Vision is only a few hundred dollars more and you get on-the-go tweeking with a much easier menu screen right at your finger and better target ID with the added frequency. Plus it comes standard with a 10" coil...but a nice, small double D is great on them.
I read on another post that the V3i is simply an (I)nternational version. Not some upgrade.
Al
