lx7 possible future?

[Boydric]

So I was at work today pondering important ice fishing stuff and it dawned on me that it would not take marcum much to add a camera into the LX7.  I don't know if this has been discussed already on IS,  but it would not be to hard to have the LCD screen have a split screen for a camera or any other combination of flasher/camera.  Just imagine seeing a fish on the camera and knowing the depth and distance from the flasher part.  I think this would be the pinnacle of ice fishing electronics.   

[CMMahy]

Vexilar launched one last winter, the Fish Scout Double Vision. They look impressive, but I think it'd be almost an information overload with all that in front of you. I can barely manage glancing between my flasher and down the hole sight fishing.....

[Boydric]

Yes they did but you were still looking at two different items.  You were looking at a vex with a camera screen mounted over it.  Marcum could use the same screen to be able to either use it as a camera or a flasher.  Might even be able to have both up on the screen at the same time.  Your price point could be lower to due to shared components.

[icejunky]

Im up in the air on if the unit would be better as one or two.. two units in one, mean twice as much can go wrong, and you will be without both units when it does.. that being said it will be lighter and a split screen would be nice.

You are kidding yourself if you think the manufacturers will lower the price point.. they charge for innovation and connivence, so that price would go up for sure.

[Boydric]

You are probally right on the price point.  They would just increase their margins and be more profitable. 

[Gillgrabber]

Im up in the air on if the unit would be better as one or two.. two units in one, mean twice as much can go wrong, and you will be without both units when it does.. that being said it will be lighter and a split screen would be nice.

You are kidding yourself if you think the manufacturers will lower the price point.. they charge for innovation and connivence, so that price would go up for sure.

I agree with IceJunky.  I'm not in favor of putting all your eggs in one basket.  If my flasher or my camera breaks I can still fish with the other.

[Boydric]

Just a question and not trying to be prickish or anything but how often have people had their underwater camera or flasher break?  I do not know of any one have one break.   If you a buying a quality piece of equipment it should last a long time as long as you take care of it.

[icejunky]

dude when your dealing with electronics in cold weather and snow, there could easily be an issue, I think the camera is bound to have more issues then a sonar, but going to a LCD sonar you are now increasing the possibility for issues.

ask the guys who bought season 1 humminbirds.. they had many issues with that. Personally I had my monitor go on my aqua-vu one season. I shipped it to them and got it repaired, cost me $ and time on the ice with it.

The reason I did not buy the Vex with the camera is that I use my sonar way more then the camera and did not want to carry that extra weight when I knew It would not get used. If Marcum made them a two in one, it would help with the weight for sure

[Boydric]

Fair enough on having issues.  Humming bird was buying from a company that had not made flashers before that was trying to do something fancy.  Buying the humming birds was a risk reward situation.  They turned out to be more of a risk. The LX7 could turn out to be a turd for a year or two.  The original showdowns were so so.  The 5.6 units are pretty darn good.  (My old man has one) Marcum has the experience with LCD Cameras, Showdown, and now the LX7 soon to make this potentially reliable unit in the future.  Everyone just needs to figure out the right equipment for them.  I would like to see the two combined because it would work well with my style of ice fishing.  Every item is not for everyone. 

[FISHFORPIKE]

Well, I'm sure if they thought it would be profitable, they would build it.  I would not want the combo unit, myself; so that would drive me away as a customer.  I think they could sure build the LX7 as an expandable unit that you could add a camera to though.  GPS on a flasher is also useless to me.
It's all good that we have all these choices and options - myself, I think an lcd panel is more weather resistant (or can be made that way) than the technology in a flasher.  Time will tell.

[Boydric]

I would not want a gps built in with my unit either.  It is much easier to use my hand held going around the lake than having a flasher unit lugging around when I am looking for my spots.

[AdamT]

I am hoping that Marcum makes this unit upgradeable. If they put a USB/HDMI port in it then they could easily make it a split screen camera.
What I would love to see is an icefishing version of structurescan. Maybe Vex and Lowrance could get together and give Marcum some competition for their new machine.

AdamT

[filetandrelease]

I am hoping that Marcum makes this unit upgradeable. If they put a USB/HDMI port in it then they could easily make it a split screen camera.
What I would love to see is an icefishing version of structurescan. Maybe Vex and Lowrance could get together and give Marcum some competition for their new machine.

AdamT

 Lowrance hd5 has the scan ,don't have use for a camera have 1 and it stays home ,well at least for perch and eyes ,o and has both a spinning wheel and graph ,and they have a memory maybe marcum can see if they can put that on their drawing board

[Kevin23]

I am hoping that Marcum makes this unit upgradeable. If they put a USB/HDMI port in it then they could easily make it a split screen camera.
What I would love to see is an icefishing version of structurescan. Maybe Vex and Lowrance could get together and give Marcum some competition for their new machine.

AdamT

I do not think vex will do any more big updates.. they want to keep that same look and feel that they have had for 60 years, that is their only selling point now that the competition has put out better units.

Down scan (down imaging) would not work in the ice as it needs to be moving at a certain speed to work, similar to side scan.

[ice dawg]

I do not think vex will do any more big updates.. they want to keep that same look and feel that they have had for 60 years, that is their only selling point now that the competition has put out better units.

Down scan (down imaging) would not work in the ice as it needs to be moving at a certain speed to work, similar to side scan.

The last thing I would expect Vex to do is roll over and play dead.

[Kevin23]

I didnt mean it as they are never going to update.. I meant they PROBABLY are not going to go to the fancy LCD screen and high-tech gadgets. They will improve their target separation, and add a couple more features, but for the most part I think they will keep the vexilar flasher look.

[FISHFORPIKE]

Oh boy - that's a "limb" I would not want to get on with you.  What ever the demand is, is likely where Vexilar will go.  They won't quit making the models they have, just come out with new stuff to keep up with the competition.

[easy 1]

when you have the best or maby the only product to do the job you become complacent or lax. vex like checkered cab has had the same product with very little improvement. now they have a little competition maby they need to start spending some of there profit on in-novaton or become second rate.i bought my first one and the only one i seen on the ice for 10 or so years and they didn't call it a vex. my first one was the fl8 then another 8sle and then the 18 and then another 18 with the dual transducer than the 20 and i only have the 18 left. gave two to young people one to a fellow down by dary and the 20 to my nephew. i will say i never needed a spare in all the years. the eight is as good as they come. now when my marcum comes if it is as good as i think then i will have a spare that i hope i will never need. i certainly can do without the noise. if they make a gas lantern that doesn't make noise i will have one. waiting for ice and the lord. go fishing and have fun.

[ice dawg]

I bought a Micronar FL8 which was old at the time twenty years ago and my son is still using it. For myself I have an FL18 and an LX5 and have no problem with either.

[easy 1]

i don't have any problems with mine other than the noise and not liking the flat screen. i think its time for something different. if you don't try the product than who knows. people need the work. i need the piece and quiet.

[filetandrelease]

 i have vexes and Lowrance ,fished with all the rest do like the brightness of the marcum great unit but all joking aside i can see a split shot fall for over 35 ft what more do you need i think the fish are bigger than that and the vex is a very durable unit get tons of years useage out of them so if its not broke why fix it  and you
 you do not need tons of power if the units are balanced properly , but with all that i prefer my Lowrance over all of them ,with the color and memory they just can't hide ,but alas the vex sets home and the Lowrance gets to go ,and with my Lowrance i don't have interference issues with any of them the only one that gave me any static was the hummy but each made an adjustment and it was cleared up , just sold my 8 to a young man and it's over 15 plus years and it was called a vexilar fl8 , how many other units are that old on the market    none !! lets all see in another 10, marcum has already had issues with there trans ducers not all but some because they over powered their Cristal's crapped and that was on a thread last year , I'm not brand loyal and my Lowrance is only 3 years old so I'm waiting and still testing if it gets over 5 years then its gets some consideration, now i have a question how long has marcum and humming bird been on the market so i don't have to look up the histories , and lets see how in another 10 how they all do ,but they all show fish but it is still up to the angler to catch them ,they are a tool not a catcher

[stumper]

I have an LX3 that is 10 yrs young.

[icejunky]

My Vex is about 6 years old, never had a single issue, if you dont count the time my cat chewed through the transducer cable. But seeing the LX7 Im thinking about it.. I love my Marcum camera so they have won me over.. again Im always hesitant when it comes to new technology in its first season

[ice dawg]

When I change WaxWorms or whatever bait on my jig, I will throw the old bait in the hole and can watch it fall all the way to the bottom in 30' of water with my FL 18. I carry dry oatmeal soaked with attractant with me and when I drop a bunch of that in a hole the FL 18 lights up like a Christmas tree while it sinks. I also have an LX5 and haven't had much chance to use it yet. I would like to try an LX7, but I'm gonna wait a year or two or three. I gave my son my Micronar FL 8 and it is a good unit, but the display is no where near as bright as the newer units which is actually kind of nice at night.

[dkfry]

I have an LX3 that is 10 yrs young.

Didn't the LX3 come out in late 2002 or 2003?

[stumper]

Didn't the LX3 come out in late 2002 or 2003?

Pretty sure I got it winter of 2001...

[icejunky]

For those interested the release date of the LX7 is in and around Thanksgiving. The first batch will be released early november and will be going to Cabelas and other major retailers, then wave 2 will be shipments to customers that had pre-ordered (like me!)