which one do you prefer and why? looking to getting one and I would appreciated your input thanks!!!!!

What's your budget, what kind of fishing will you be doing with it?

500-700 and mostly lmb

500-700 and mostly lmb

They both work, it's like a Ford vs Chevy question. The differences will be in things like the menus, graphic user interface, tech support, etc. Play with the live displays at the store.

The major difference is 2d vs 3d and maps/menus, humminbird rules 3d and 2d goes to the Lowrance the rest is preference. You should include Raymarine Dragonfly in this discussion too as they have similar features and are within your budget.

I'd want somethin with GPS, down imaging and side imaging. Humminbird has a combo unit in your budget but I'm not 100% sure you can get into side imaging with lowrance at the price. So for me, I'd have to go humminbird even though I like my Lowrance.

HUMMINBIRD, mainly because their Side Imaging is better in skinny water, they are very easy to learn how to use and I could get the features I must have (Side Image and mapping) within your budget.

Raymarine Dragonfly

For the 500-700 range; the most bang for your buck is the Humminbird 598ci HD SI. It's been discontinued, so there are some really good deals out there. Seen it for $499 (without the map chip/map SD card)

Keep in mind Sonar and DI has very limited use in water 10' and less. SIde Image is a must IMO.
The 598 and the Helix 5 both have models with SI in your price range. There are also some really good deals on used Fish Finders.

Regardless of which unit you get there is a learning curve that takes a little time. If you don't invest the time necessary to learn your unit you might as well have a weight on a string and a pocket thermometer, IMO.

I agree with both of Pelican's posts above. I fish Texoma almost exclusively and am always looking for fish shallow first, except in the very cold months. It's just what I like.

I had a HB 998 for a couple of years and decided to "upgrade to a Lowrance HDS-8" last spring (and sold my original 998). The HDS-8 is a great graph, but I ended up taking it off (and selling it) and going back to a 998 HDSI last October. One reason, shallow water (<10') performance. The HB will let me see out to the side in really skinny water (2'). It is harder to interpret what I'm seeing, but I've caught a lot of fish knowing where to throw because of that graph. No chance with the HDS-8 in water that shallow. I'm not sure why, but what I see is a completely saturated display in shallow water, especially under about 6'. I tinkered with every setting on there and could never get the performance I had with the bird. Another point is that the bird has more settings to dial in to get the SI screen I want.

My preference is to ALWAYS use SI, so that's what my thoughts are based on. The Lowrance DI is better, the 2d (normal sonar) is a wash between the two units, IMO. And the SI is good on the Lowrance if you get in deeper water. So my opinion on those two units is that it's only Ford vs. Chevy IF you don't fish shallow... If you spend a lot of time in less than 6', go Bird...

These are higher end graphs, but several folks found 998's on clearance for $800 or less. I paid $900 for mine when Academy first started clearing them out. I was thrilled with that price since it was about $300 less than I paid the first time I bought one. I'll always want a SI graph, and can't recommend them enough. The Helix looks great to me. If you buy one and don't like it, sell it and try another one. No biggie...

If you fish shallow I like my hummingbird, still getting use to si .The good thing is it is user friendly and I have learn a bit from some post on this site . Also good videos on YouTube to learn how to fine tune it for your water and type of fishing.

Hummingbird seems to be the way to go

Thanks!!!! For the input help ill keep yall posted on what i get Seems like hb fits my need more