down image or side image?

Which do you prefer>
Im looking at the helix 5 & 7 and it looks like they come in side imaging or down imaging, not both. Which in your opinion is better for finding brushpiles?

Side image for "finding" piles, down image for really seeing whats "in" the piles, after you find them. Save up the extra coin and get a unit that has BOTH.

I like down imaging to "see" the brushpile, but find a lot of brushpiles with sidescan and go back over it with downscan for a better look.

Side imaging is better hands down if you have to choose one. Both is better as down imaging gives you a clearer picture of the piles.

BOOOOOOOOOOOTH

Eric

Go for both, if you can.. I'd have to have SI if I had to choose..

Good fishin'

They both have their strengths & It all depends on your preference on which is better but I`ll agree with REDGUN! If you buy one with SI,that doesn't have DI, you will probably end up buying another with DI anyway so don`t be in a hurry Save up your money and get a decent unit, be it Humminbird or Lowrance,that will offer you both technologies.

Side imaging works like down scan if you know how to adjust it.

Set the scan width to the water depth and you get a good down scan image.
These images were made with sidescan.

All Humminbird Side Imaging units have a Down Imaging view.

The Helix MEGA SI, ONIX, and SOLIX have true DI that is created from a Down Imaging crystal in the transducer.

All the other Humminbird Side Imaging units have composite DI that is created by blending the two SI pulses. That started on Jan 12, 2010 with a software update for all SI units ever made.

Ernest what unit are these images from?

This!

And This

DI it is.

If you're looking for BPs, better to cover a larger area of the bottom with SI and see more than just the area right under the ducer. As Wayne P said, DI is there on the SI unit. I would definitely get SI for searching capability. The other feature to get is GPS on the SI unit so you can get back to that best BP next time on the water without searching around again. You don't necessarily need DI to look at the pile, just 2D sonar will tell you when you'er over the pile. If there's crappie there wanting to bite, you'll know in less than 5 minutes.

Sorry, duh, I meant SI it is. Thought one thing & typed another.

I never use down imaging, just side. Side imaging allows you to eliminate water at a very fast pace. Once I mark a pile, I simply go back, directly over it as Mr. Paty stated. Side imaging will show you what is in the pile.

Glad to see the change. You won't be sorry.

Those images were from a Humminbird 998.

I now use a Lowrance HDS-12 Gen 3 but all the newer units will be fine.

Ernest,

That second picture is a hell of a shot at 100 feet deep!

That is scanning out 100' on each side.

It only 24 ft deep the 100 is the range of side image

These letters and numbers will help you catch more fish:

SI, GPS, 2D, Xi5

di front of boat si di back of boat.

IMHO...
If you really know how to read it, side scan is by far the most useful. Especially if you are "looking" for structure. Down scan produces great views that show fish and what depth they're at, but you can get most of that with Side scan...like I said before, "if" you know how to read it. If I had to do without one or the other, I'd give up the down scan without a question.