I want to buy a Humminbird Helix 12 but seeing the Lawrance 3d structure scan has got me holding out. When is the big trade show for these kind of electronics? Has anyone heard any whispering about Humminbird coming up with an answer to Lawrance's 3d structure scan and Garmin's Panoptix 3d?

3d is a joke, it doesn't ever work properly.

Tell 'em what ya really think! The winners in this technology race are the suppliers. Those who refresh hardware constantly are just getting their pockets drained faster!

As to the premier trade show (ICAST), it's in mid July in Orlando this year.

Flippin knows this but the OP doesn't, I have 2 HDS gen2 12's and a gen1 7, so I'm not a troll like it might appear.

The only thing that has been said on a positive note about the 3d is that it gives better SI clarity & range, pizz poor reason to spend an extra $1k for better SI range. That's my opinion and it's worth the price you paid to get it. Oh and the spotlight scan was a joke too.

Thank you grout-scout, you saved me $1,000.

Yes to above. I certainly didn't want anyone to think I was saying grout-scout was a troll commenter. He knows a lot about the Lowrance gear first-hand as he has paid-to-play with the technology as I have. We've owned a truckload of gear between us, and have pushed every button a few hundred times, lol. If something is good/bad, practical/impractical, or just about junk, he's going to tell you straight up.

My honest thoughts are that Humminbird has and continues to lead the industry. They update there products every two years as need be and have only a handful of models to choose from. Unlike others that have a heavy selection of models and seem to update products every six months....

The Humminbird 360 is fantastic. Lowrance created the "spotlight scan" to compete with the 360 and it failed miserably. They can't even give them away. Now they have the "3D" which is another attempt to compete with the 360. If you want to play with your unit all day and move the screen around then get the Lowrance 3D. If you want to fish get a Humminbird 360.

Garmin...well they aren't even made in the USA just like Lowrance.

In a nut shell....Humminbird is Simply. Clearly. Better.

This is my opinion and solely my opinion but I have sold all brands (before going Humminbird exclusive) and Humminbird was always our top seller.