I know this is a Ford or Chevy answer but not really looking after the first of the year I need a new unit want side scan down scan and sonar looking to spend 1500 to 2000 as I get older I want one that is easy to use have a HDS 8 now and keep it on auto most of the time but now on side scan screen stays black most of the time it works but you can’t see it unless you are three inches from it sometimes you can get it to work by putting it all the way up to 98. I had to put new sonar transducer on for sonar when it stopped working. Don’t want to get the ford or chevy answer as much as something easy to use that will get the job done guess most bang for the buck Tks

Surprised the you haven't had a slew of responses yet. I got a Lowrance Elite 9TI a few years ago. I think they have upgraded the model twice since. I am a medium user and it does all that you ask at a high quality. The touch screen makes it easy to operate and I wouldn't want one that doesn't have that feature. I usually use a split screen that has map, down scan and side scan when looking for fish, but it is easy to switch between combinations quickly once you have them set up.

I just bought a Lowrance Elite FS with the triple shot transducer. I like the side scan. I need to really learn how to dial it in. I haven't done that yet.

The best money I have ever spent on a graph was having it dialed in by Slade Dougharty. I would suggest buying the largest screen within your budget and having someone like Slade dial it in. After he set mine up, I just use the presets on my Helix 9 and don’t change any settings. I only use map, 2D and down imaging. My side scan works great, but it is just not something I ever use with my style of fishing.

Get the biggest screen possible! Eye strain on a small screen will make you not want to scan very long especially if your over 40! I love my Helix 12.

I would help you dial it in Tim but I haven’t owned a Lowrance in over 20 yrs buddy. I’m a Humminbird MinnKota guy all the way!

imo - humminbird is much more user friendly as opposed to Lowrance or Garmin. It's been a minute since I used Lowrance, so that could have changed, but I recently used Garmin and went right out and upgraded with another Bird. As others have said, biggest screen you can afford. If you can toss a bit more $$ and walk away with the G4 Helix 12, you won't be disappointed.

Best side scan - hummingbird
Best down imaging - lowrance
Best live gramin

As far as easy of use I think a touch screen is the fastest to switch pages but really it’s all the same to me. If that’s your biggest want go to a store with displays and play around a little.

I am a H-Bird guy with MEGA imaging

My current set up I started with a single Hbird Helix 7 Mega SI GPS g3.........I usually had the screen split between 2d and nav or SI.I picked up a second Helix 7 2D,gps,G3N used from a member here,actually new in box as it was an unopened replacement for a detective unit.Anyway they now ride side by side at the conso!e and honestly with both in full screen I think the 7's are large enough.Plus instead of a couple grand in fish finders I have two for under a grand..........but I must admit that second unit was a steal........not to mention he also threw in a used Helix 5 that is in the top of my closet,just needs a transducer and it's in business.Anyway my point is if you run in split screen you might try two smaller units in fullscreen..........it works for me

I have an older Humminbird 788 on the dash of my boat, and a 9" Lowrance Elite TI2, also at console. Also had a Humminbird 998 side image that I took off and put the new Lowrance on. Newer Lowrance unit is much better at everything than the older Humminbird. I will agree with others, newer Humminbirds are the best at side imaging. Lowrance is ok, but all of them can be touchy to get set up right. And I am still learning to adjust it. Touch screen is nice, except in cold weather I have to lick my finger at times to get it to work. Cold dry skin not the best for touch screens... LOL

I just bought, not even out of the box yet, a 10" Garmin with transducer and Livescope... I like to crappie fish some, along with the blue cats. Looking forward to getting this stuff all set up... but know there will be a big learning curve with new brand of equipment and complexity of Livescope. Wondering how the Livescope is going to work with Blue catting... Have some ideas I am looking forward to trying. But can not give any good first hand feedback on the Garmin stuff yet.

Will say the store demo guy at the BASS expo in Ft. Worth last summer was a big selling point on the Garmin. I looked at the Lowrance live option, and Garmin both walking back and forth between their booths, and I liked the Garmin. Was impressed with the demo of their side and down scanning. Know the maps will be good with Garmin, but I also like the maps on my Lowrance. One of the deal breakers on the Lowrance was that you had to buy a new head unit to use their live option. I had a 2 year old, very nice Elite TI2, that will not work with their live option stuff, and they told me they would not be offering any software updates ever to make it work. Had to buy a new unit to use live stuff. That did piss me off.

Size matters as all have said. 9" is nice, but I am surprised how much bigger the 10" is vs. my 9" unit. Looking forward to getting it all set up.

With what ever you go with, get on youtube and or find someone that is good with it, and dial it in. Mine could still be better, but I got real lost and had to reset and start over with the TI2 a couple of times. Too much adjustability maybe for an rookie like me!

Tight lines!
Ken

With the deals out there on the Lowrance Elite TI2 12 inch, for under a grand, it's nearly impossible to touch it in a comparison. I love mine, and don't feel I need anything else. Best thing about them, all I had to do was configure the screen I wanted. I've never had to touch any settings, other than color palette.