Tesoro Cortes

[ALOW1]

I am retiring my Fisher CZ-7a Pro and am looking for a new detector. I have looked at the DFX's and the Explorer 2's the Coinstrikes and The Excel as some of my options. I am currently looking at a Cortes.

How well does this machine compare to my CZ? I like my CZ but I feel it is time to try another brand and my CZ was my first "real" detector.

Guess I want to hear peoples suggestions....... and for the people that own the Cortes, why did you buy it and what do you like/dont like about it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DavHut]

I have the CZ7a Pro now and HAD a Cortes. Youll find the Cortes a totally different animal from the Fisher.
It is A LOT easier to swing for long periods and that makes a difference, IMHO. The balance is way different. It is also smooth and the VDI numbering is different from the Fisher. The coil covers more ground than the 8" on the CZ, too. These are the immediate things you notice.

Next youll see that the screen is small compared to the Fisher. Okay, "tiny" is a better adjective. But there is only one reason to have that screen - the VDI display. It's all youre gonna look at after a while, although the "graph" display is useful too. And, the Cortes has the audio/graphic "SUM" mode, a real boon when you get used to it.

Once you use it for a while, though, I doubt that youll be impressed with the depth of the Cortes compared to the Fisher. Not that it cant go deep enough. It suits my style, as Im a "cruizer", and it has enough depth for 80% of ANY hunting you'll do.

But, the Fisher is just hotter and it has adjustable GB. I think Tesoro shouldve given the Cortes a single turn Manual GB, though (all that 3 3/4 turn stuff is nonsense). It would have made a good unit even better.

But, bottom line, it isnt the deepest detector on the market and Id say it probably isnt in the CZ's class, even. So, if your after old buttons and little bits of rusty, half eaten relicy stuff from 12" down, well, better get a Tejon or Vaquero. Or just keep the CZ.

Personally, for my style of hunting, the Cortes is a better choice and I plan to get another. But if you want a detector that will be as hot in the relic fields as it is in the city park - keep the Fisher. Then get an Ace 250 to play around with and satisfy your need to experiment. Its a lot less money, does an unbelievable job and you can get 75% of your money back in a snap, should you decide to sell it later.

 

[ALOW1]

Thanks for the reply.

I am not going to keep the Fisher and just get something to play around with. I am giving the Fisher to my Father so we can detect together.

I would like to find a detector that will not let me down compared to my CZ that I am used to.

But from your post it sounds like the Cortes isnt very good for relic hunting, which here in the parts of Iowa where I live relic hunting dont do much for me.

The only reason i ask about the Cortes is I have a buddy who is selling one for $475 which seems like a good price to me.

I have looked at a few other machines also but just wanted to read some more opinions on this machine as it is the one I am looking at at the moment.

 

[rentasquid]

I would expect to see something in the 425-450 range with two coils! At least that was what they were going for when I traded mine.

J.

 

[DavHut]

But for that money look into a CZ-70.

 

[ALOW1]

My bad, I said I have a CZ-7a Pro, when i have the CZ-70 Pro, the only difference being I have a 4th tone.

 

[Mike Hillis]

The battery indicator bar on my Cortes has finally gotten small enough that I am seriously considering changing them. These are the original set of batteries and will be my first battery change. It

 

[DavHut]

fancied a Cortes but have just never managed to get one. Thathelps me a lot.

 

[ALOW1]

Thanks for everyones thoughts on this. I went ahead and bought the detector I was orginally looking at buying, a Coinstrike.

 

[Mike Hillis]

Nice machine. Seperate iron disc. Notching, computer assisted ground balance, ground tracking, averaging, backlight, 3 memory locations, salt mode, threshold setting is like a fine tuner. Fast response, goes deep. Like using a laser beam. Only thing missing is VCO pinpoint and a trigger to activate it.

Very underated machine.

Enjoy!

 

[ALOW1]

[quote Mike Hillis]Nice machine. Seperate iron disc. Notching, computer assisted ground balance, ground tracking, averaging, backlight, 3 memory locations, salt mode, threshold setting is like a fine tuner. Fast response, goes deep. Like using a laser beam. Only thing missing is VCO pinpoint and a trigger to activate it.

Very underated machine.

Enjoy! [/quote]

I enjoyed my CZ-7 so I think I shall like my C$ too, thanks Mike!

 

[Sven]

when living in Western New York with two coils as well as a White's MXT and two coils.

Both were great detectors and had about the same depth. Only reason I sold the Cortes it did not have manual ground balance and a few of the other features the MXT had. Wish I would have kept the Cortes tho. I really enjoyed hunting with the machine.

 

[Aaron]

Mike,
I found your post and enjoyed it. I have a Cortes on the way and appreciate your input. Aaron