Question about underwater cameras

[Kidd]

A question: I will be buying one of those camera compass gadgets and I've noticed there are two kinds. One that looks like a bucket cover, and the other is a small tripod looking thing. My question: do any of you have opinions on which is the better/easier to use?

Thanks in advance.

[DTro]

Both work good. The Marcum compass is nice in the sense that it will take a lot of abuse (tough to break). Also it's hard to drop it down the hole.

[Kidd]

Also it's hard to drop it down the hole.

That's a great point, one I never would have dreamed of. Thanks

[Gus]

The camera compass is a winner. So simple yet so effective. And as dtro mentioned, it won't fall down the hole.

[ameyers41]

I've had both, and I now use the compass after dropping the little rubber stop that comes with the tripod down the hole last year...

[DTro]

Also a lot of guys have fabricated their own with some pretty simple materials.

For the price of the compass though it was a no brainer for me.

[cliffy]

I have both and like the tripod better...however, like the other poster said, if you loose the rubber stopper, you are SOL. The good news is that I have found the rubber stopper for a vex cable works well..and you can pick one of those up almost anywhere they sell vex stuff.

Cliffy

[Morneau132]

I have both and like before mentioned i dropped the rubber stopper down the hole. I have since purchased the marcum cover style and it works great. Last year i remember posting asking what could be used as a makeshift stopper and numerous people stated they have used a 20 oz. pop bottle cap with a slit cut into it

[afishrmn]

I prefer the compass instead of the tri-pod. I always used to worry about bumping the tri-pod and causing it to tip.

[buzbunni]

They oughta make rubber stops that float!

My favorite holder is the Marcum Tech Ice Arm w/Clip. I like it because it packs down tiny.

I also use the Nature Vision tripod. It also packs down rather well, but it really shines in permanent shacks, because the legs will span the gap in the floor, and so there is no need to reach "way down" to ice level to adjust the camera cable.

Negatives? Note my first statement. It's a good idea to carry an extra stop for either unit.

[buzbunni]

I always used to worry about bumping the tri-pod and causing it to tip.

The tripod that I use lays flat, spanning the hole, and will not tip over.

[Dave]

Marcum's Camera Compass works slick for an inexpensive, tough, hole-covering, cable holder. Runs about $10-$15

If you're thinking you might "rotate" your camera more often, Nature Vision's motorized, remote control Mo-Pod tripod would be the ticket. Runs about $95 Allows you to sit back in your house and rotate the camera with a push of a button.

[TimBuck2]

I made my own to fit over a 5 gal. bucket using a piece of Luan (sp) Plywood I had left over from paneling the perm. and some 1" polyfoam insulation also left over. Pulled a cleat off of the boat and presto. Cut a slot to the center for the cable and it works good. I saw the camera compass at the Ice Show a couple years back and asked them if they made it in a size to snap into a catch cover hole. Nope, but they liked the idea. I haven't seen that variation yet.

[Kidd]

Thanks for all the reply's fella's. So I have a choice to make, versitility with the Tripod, versus ease of use with the bucket cover design.

[PerchJerker]

I use the Marcum one, very simple and works great.