Flasher or Sonar

Fairly new to Ice Fishing, I am now looking into getting either a flasher or sonar.
I was just looking for some input from users on this forum. I have had some interest in the new Hummingbirds and the Showdown. Anyone have any of these or know anywhere that has the Showdown in stock?

Thanks in advance!

I have the Showdown, and i love it!  It works great, and is extremely user friendly!  I ordered mine on the internet from amazon.com...it was the cheapest price!  If u google it, you will find places that have it in stock, and compare prices before you buy!

I have a Showdown it's a great unit and works flawlessly. Never used the other flasher units but I'm sure they also work great, everyone has there personal choice and you'll going to hear alot of them now. Which ever you buy it will be a very indispensable piece of equipment.
A link to the Showdown is www.showdownfishfinder.com

your going to get random answers from everyone. search and research what models you maybe interested in. The vex's have different models for different situations like the fl-8 wont have the bells & whistles the fl-18. Showdown wont have what marcum & vex will. Check out the transducers of what you'd like. I have a Marcum LX-5. Mine came with both 9 & 19 degree transducer. Some vex's you have to pay extra to get both. I don't know if Showdown has that option or not. Everyone who has the model likes there. Me I had a vex, liked it. I had the Showdown, took it back. Almost got another Vex but got the Marcum LX-5 and glad I made that choice. My buddy is getting the Hummingbird 67 I think and saw 1 of his friends using it this week fishing and liked it had the flasher option but also the liquid display like a fishfinder on his boat.
So to each there own. Just do some research and get your paws on some demo units at the stores or when on the ice, people walk & talk, ask questions. People always come up to me and ask how do I like my Marcum and they like to view it in action then they ask about my icegator auger.

can't beat that price, my Marcum does all that as well with the zoom as I can move it up & down to any depth with a 10' zoom focus and I pick up my pss-b split shot and my my marmish size 14 jig that is maybe 4" apart without the zoom extremely well and that was in 53'FOW at Maple Springs in Chautauqua Lake, but this unit is also spitting out 2500 watts.
My buddy is going to get that 67c, thats $125 cheaper than what I paid. He did say though his buddy had to keep the 67c in his hut because the liquid screen wasnt the best functioning out on the bucket in the open in the cold early morning when its below 10 deg. What degree(s) does those come with? Are they dual or not? Is the flasher part color?

The zoom on my MarCum will zoom in on any depth, it gives me a 10 foot range so I can take that 10 foot and zoom up or down wherever the fish are suspended while watching the whole water column on the right hand side. Now it takes the zoom and puts in on the left side of the flasher.
The MarCum is extremely bright, the newer ones with the 2500 watts like I have, use green in it to make it 3 colors now & no target blending, each is specific color and changes as it gets closer to center. Its colors are prolific enough to show the same out in the sun or in your hut without any problem. I have an interference button that I can press numerous times to swap if I get any interference but never had too with vex's close by. My transducer is 8 & 20 & changed by a push of a button.

Also have a Showdown agree that it works great and is easy to use. Plan to purchase another one when  they come available again.