F5 or F70?

[binder]

I am an absolute rookie. Never, ever used a metal detector or even really handled one. I've read good things about the Fishers but have also been looking at the price equivalent Whites machines. I plan on doing coin and relic hunting with the occasional bit of gold hunting when I make it out to Colorado to have a go at some of the nearly untouched old mine sites that I've found hiking and four wheeling in the backcountry. I read about big learning curves but also don't want to get a machine that will make me think is not searching deep enough. Locally I'll be hunting my own property, homesteads and other old sites I've already gained permission to hunt. I also got permission to hunt a cave on a friends property that was said to be used by Billy the Kid(doubtful but interesting). Anyway, considering my cluelessness but willingness to learn, which machine would be recommended? I know you get what you pay for but I also don't want to spend a goodly bit of hard earned cash on something that will cause more frustration than anything. I read most of what you all write up on here and it's like latin....or maybe latin makes more sense. I want to find silver and gold and create my own cache from other caches....

 

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[njnydigger]

Cannot go wrong with either White's or Fishers, they are FANTASTIC detectors. Your question is a bit difficult to answer. Kinda like if you asked; should I by a Honda Civic or a Mercedes? Anyways...

Both the F5 & the F70 will perform great and find what you're looking for. However, with the F70 you'll get a bit more depth and more control. More options. This might not be such a good thing though since you are brand new to the hobby. The F70 might be a bit over your head. You may even get discouraged.

A large number of people get involved in metal detecting, try it a few times and never return. So, I'd say start with the F5 and see if this is for you. Believe me, the F5 will get MORE than enough depth for you to start with. You'll have a ball with it. It will do everything the F70 can do without the huge learning curve. And you'll save yourself $500 or $600.

Pick up an F5 and learn it well. It'll do you good. Then, when and if you need to upgrade, you can always purchase the F70 later

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Sent you a PM Binder. Love to help answer questions for you!

 

[Lowbatts]

Get the F70 if you have any tech savvy what so ever. You probably have some tech savvy because you posted a note on a forum with good punctuation and spelling. Learning those traits was far more complex than turning on an F70 and figuring it out.

It will find you goodies faster than the F5 and that will keep your interest. Pick a group of settings that will stay with you for the first 100 finds. Keep a wheel book of your first 100 finds in the 5-7 inch range. All aspects the find. Depth, target id/readout, bounce range in numeric terms, etc..

Does not matter what you dig the first 100 times, it matters that you learn how you interpret what the machine is telling you.

After that, if you get some of the readings you have become familiar with, change settings and see how the machine reacts to the target(s) indicated. Then it's off to the races.

 

[binder]

Thanks everyone. I decided on the F5 mainly because of money as I'm not terribly sure how much time I'm going to be able to devote to this new hobby being that I'm a small business owner/operator heading into the busy time of year. The F5 appears to have good reviews, a good learning curve with room to grow and it fits a budget better. As has been said, if I get rolling with this I'm sure I can upgrade and then bestow the F5 on one of my boys who had BETTER take an interest in their roots, the value of history and the thrill of bringing forgotten items back from the grave.

 

[sqwaby]

The F5 will not disappoint you. There are other deeper machines, but for a newby/midrange machine to develope your hunting and recovery skills, it will do great. Use it, learn it inside out then decide if you need to move on to another machine. Ck out the many videos for the F5 on youtube etc, or any of Mike Hillis's posts on Finds forum.

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

sqwaby had great advice! Search Mike Hillis posts! He REALLY knows how to run the F5!! Thanks again!! Let us know how you do!!

 

[binder]

sqwaby had great advice! Search Mike Hillis posts! He REALLY knows how to run the F5!! Thanks again!! Let us know how you do!!

Bart,
I should be thanking you for working with me last night. You went way above and beyond there and because you did that I'll have the thing by Friday and not Monday! Can't wait to get started on learning this critter.

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Hey I like talking about detecting and different machines. Way more fun than doing paperwork! Lol call anytime! Let us know!

 

[Streak!]

Actually.....I think you made the better choice. Depth isnt THAT much of a concern (very little difference in depth between the machines anyway)....and the F5 has a manual GB (as well as a phase lock) that the F70 doesnt have. I like the interface better too on the F5.
considering the price point...performance........and ease of use...............especially for a newcomer...............I think you made the right choice. Not suite sure why some seem to think the F70 is harder to operate though. BOTH machines have easy intuitive interfaces....and are easy as heck (even for a newbie) to operate. I just prefer the interface on the F5. Streak!

Thanks everyone. I decided on the F5 mainly because of money as I'm not terribly sure how much time I'm going to be able to devote to this new hobby being that I'm a small business owner/operator heading into the busy time of year. The F5 appears to have good reviews, a good learning curve with room to grow and it fits a budget better. As has been said, if I get rolling with this I'm sure I can upgrade and then bestow the F5 on one of my boys who had BETTER take an interest in their roots, the value of history and the thrill of bringing forgotten items back from the grave.

 

[gleaner1]

I think you played a smart move. The F70 may soon be your next machine if you get the silver bug bad. My bud has an F4 it's one year old, his first machine, total newbie, he hit the twenty silver coin mark his first year, first machine, self taught. I gave him the five minute lesson and off he went.

 

[Bobby Bridge]

To all I'm an F5 guy and "binder" You won't be disappointed. I kinda think that if I was just getting started, like I am
in my 2nd year--I feel you did good.
If I would have bought the F 70 I would have probably been upset that I didn't get the F 75!!!
Good Job.

 

[binder]

Amazing finds today on my first outing with the new F5. Not that bad to get used to. Messed with the ground balance, gain and threshold and began to figure out all the beeps, blips and grunts. Haven't even come close to figuring out where it's pinpointing and had to dig some decent size holes to find my old .22 short casings, beer cans and old shotgun shells. Found an area riddled with old barbed wire that made my head explode. I threw some coins in some of the holes and realized that the sound is much different and much more positive. I was surprised at the depth some of the old .22 short casings were found. One was well over 10" and I didn't think it'd find anything at that depth...although the signal was faint-ish. I'm really looking forward to detecting in some of the old homesteads now. Maybe there's more to find than the .22 shorts, shotgun shells and beer cans.
Thank you for permitting the nonsensical rookie report on my new tool.

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Thanks for the report! Keep us posted on your finds. As you have figured out already coins or rounds targets usually give way better sounds and lock in better.

 

[Lowbatts]

Hey Binder,
Bart posted a video showing how to determine certain target information using the pin point function on the Garret AT Pro over in that forum lineup. Well worth the look as it's a fundamental that all beginnners need to understand without regard to brand or make.

As to a 10" deep .22 short, there are many likely scenarios including the possibility that you overdug the hole prior to absolutely id'ing the target and locating it first. Scrape the ground to the side and recheck the signal when you're in small shell case country. You'll find most of them are very near the surface and if you dig first, you might end up spilling one or more deeper into the hole. I suggest that because I've pulled tons of them out of the ground and they tend to disappear after about 5-6" on most all machines.

You might want to consider using a pin pointer if you can get one. It makes locating those pesky .22 shorts a lot quicker! At one site last year I had to remove a dozen or so before I got the actual target located, it was a nice 1857 dime about 5" deep in a bed of them critters.

 

[Texcam]

Get the F70 if you have any tech savvy what so ever. You probably have some tech savvy because you posted a note on a forum with good punctuation and spelling. Learning those traits was far more complex than turning on an F70 and figuring it out.

It will find you goodies faster than the F5 and that will keep your interest. Pick a group of settings that will stay with you for the first 100 finds. Keep a wheel book of your first 100 finds in the 5-7 inch range. All aspects the find. Depth, target id/readout, bounce range in numeric terms, etc..

Does not matter what you dig the first 100 times, it matters that you learn how you interpret what the machine is telling you.

After that, if you get some of the readings you have become familiar with, change settings and see how the machine reacts to the target(s) indicated. Then it's off to the races.

Wow what a great post! Thanks for sharing this is great information and will help with learning any new detector. Wish I would have read this about 5 years ago.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

HH
James