Ahh I posted on your other post whether you were joining as a metal detector or not. I guess this answers the question. Ummm I am kinda shorter at 5' 8", but I know both of my detectors can really extend out a good amount.
Which detector is definately the question. You will get a lot of great information from many experienced peps here. Atleast I hope many of them get a chance to read your post and give you thier experience.
There are so many detectors and many good ones in many price range. My first was a Bounty Hunter.. My second a Fisher. My second one appears to be higher end to middle. It was probably higher end when it came out, but some of them Minelab explorers and the depths peps find stuff at is pretty awesome. However, a lot of peps say they are complicated and lose interest fast. You can find some fairly reasonable now on ebay starting at about 600ish or so for the Minelab Explorer 2 up to $900, I would not pay higher at the moment since I have seen many go in that range recently with peps buying the new Explorerer SE and selling their older Exp 2. Anyways, I don't know if getting that machine as a first machine is good for everyone. I would not suggest you buying a newer bounty hunter. I had some good finds with mine, but I am definately way happier with my other detector the Fisher CZ-6A.
Since there are so many good detectors and so many suggestions possible, I would suggest this first. Take a look in the section here for local states and clubs. See if one is near you. If one is near you perhaps you can get in touch with them and get a chance to go with them on a hunt and get to use a few different machines for a little bit of time.
I also found that there are a lot of Metal Detectors in some Pawn shops, where peps have for one reason or another had to pawn them and never get em out. The pawn shops here all said they had no problem with taking out a few detectors and showing them to me. I don't know if they would do that where you live or not, but might be worth a shot. I found that most all Pawn Shops Employee's here had Metal Detected at least a little bit, so they could probably know their way around enough to show you.
NOW I can't think of a Pawn Shop that will give you a good deal unless they are in real need of money or space. SO I do not suggest buying one from them, but would be nice to see someone getting to take advantage of their services for once in a positive way for you.
I am not saying Pawn shops don't help. Yes I needed money bad before and had to Pawn. I am glad they were there to help. I basically mean getting something good from them and for once its not an emergency or something.
Anyways please tell us the amount that you are thinking of paying and I am sure the members here will have some excellent suggestions for the price range you are talking about, and a great suggestion of where to buy them at.
Good luck. Once we know what you want to spend I am sure you will get steered in a good direction or many LoL. Will check back on this post, hope to see what you choose.
Postalrevnant
I have an MXT that I think is GREAT, but most everyone here will have their own idea of 'great. 
Probably depends on what you want to spend on one and what you are going to be hunting for. 
