New Camera: Marcum or Vex?

[Chode2235]

Not trying to stir up that old debate, but I am in the market for a new camera this fall and see that Marcum has a new one and that Vexilar has one out this year too.

Other than that I can't find a ton of information about them. How do they compare spec for spec?

Pros and Cons? Thanks.

[DTro]

What specs are important to you in how you fish?

Marcum has been in the camera game for a while now and there are plenty of vids on YouTube showing real world vidoes of the camera in action.

They have added some cool new features including being able to switch between B&W and Color and also a new auto panning device. Also on screen displays such as water temp and camera direction.

Mostly though what it comes down to bottom line is the optics that are used, and the SONY CCD optic has been a proven performer on the Marcum cameras.

Competition is always good for the consumer, and I'm sure the Vexilar unit will be a quality item (all of their products are), but because it is new, you won't get many real world reviews or thoughts until people start buying them and putting them to use.

[Northlander]

Ya I never buy any big ticket item the 1st year or 2 they are out. I like to see if they are reliable before I toss my hard earned money at them. With that being said the Marcum cameras are proven and I would have no problem buying one of them.

[CNY Tim]

I have only seen MarCum cameras on the ice so I can't comment on other brands. Picture quality, daylight viewable and performance are with MarCum. I would look at the VS625SD with the Sony Super Had II CCD optics camera and the Solar intelligient technology daylight viewable screen. MarCum 625SD has a mail in offer for a "free camera panner" $50 value until 31 Dec 10.

[Chode2235]

I am mostly looking for a good camera for a good value. Something that is light weight, durable and performs well.

Have the cameras come along far enough that they deal better with the particals yet? I remember seeing and old aqua-vu and the light was right in front of the camera and all I could see was floaties.

[Hawg]

I'm not an expert on optics and tech stuff but I've used them as much as anybody. It seems to me my friends Marcums see a little better at dusk and dawn than my Aqua Vu, but keep in mind that means about 5-10 minutes tops. It also seems my Aqua Vu has been more dependable than the Marcums, both had the local service though so that was about equal. I'd say it's a toss up between those two. Those spots are going to be on all of them, in fact the brighter the lights the more predominate they will be.

[PerchJerker]

I'm also a fan of Marcums cameras, I think they're clearly the best camera out there. No Ford vs. Chevy in this debate IMO.

The new SD cameras this year let you choose whether you're viewing in Color or in Black/White, so you can fine tune to your specific situation. They're the only camera that has this option.

Their new monitors are daylight viewable --- really bright and clear --- it can be used out on the ice, or in your boat in the summer (try that with any of the other cameras out there, you just can't see the screens in the daylight).

The new Marc cameras this year are using the Sony Super HAD II camera module, which does not need as much light in the water to capture a clear, bright image as the Sony Super HAD module that they used previously. Some of the other cameras use the Super HAD, but no one else uses the Super HAD II camera module.

And like has already been mentioned, if you get one of the new Marc SD cameras, you get a Free Camera Panner worth $50. This lets you rotate the camera via remote control so you don't need to keep hopping up to fiddle with the camera cable.

I've seen the new Vex camera and it's nice and bright when there's a lot of light, but as soon as the light fades the camera grays out / browns out --- and the display can't be seen in the daylight.

Hope that helps. You can check out them out at Underwater Cameras At Pro Fishing Supply if you want.

[Jack Peterson]

Last Christmas I got a new Marcum Camera from my folks, and the next week I took it out on Minnewaska fishing. Froze in the hole, so I tried chopping out the ice, made a rookie mistake, and cut the cord. Yay me.

Don't do that!

[LMITOUT]

I had my eye on a MarCum camera last year but decided to wait. Now they are offering the 825SD with the option of viewing color or black/white and I might have to pull the trigger on that unit.

[Northlander]

Last Christmas I got a new Marcum Camera from my folks, and the next week I took it out on Minnewaska fishing. Froze in the hole, so I tried chopping out the ice, made a rookie mistake, and cut the cord. Yay me.

Don't do that!

How did you let it freeze in a hole that bad? Wow that was a expensive mess up! Did you get a new set up yet? How much was just that end of the camera?

[Jack Peterson]

How did you let it freeze in a hole that bad? Wow that was a expensive mess up! Did you get a new set up yet? How much was just that end of the camera?

It was below zero on the lake, and I wasn't thinking! Actually, it didn't cost me anything to fix the camera. My dad is very good at splicing wires, so we spliced it, wrapped it, and it works just as good as new.

I looked into buying a new camera and cable, but I couldn't find any of those parts. I was pretty bummed. Luckily it still works just as good.

Jack.

[Ice_Ice_Baby]

Guys:

Don't forget about Aqua-vu, they are putting out cameras again this year. Looks like they up graded their cameras with better components and they look to be quite a bit cheaper than Marcums. Gonna check out both companys before I pick one.

[tip_upclyma]

Let me help you out.....CAMERAS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. And if you still decide you HAVE to have one....go on c-list and buy one for $50 from someone that has found out the hard way that cameras BLOW......this is of course just my opinion

[Ice_Ice_Baby]

Tip: I could not disagre more. The first two winters I saw a camera in action, I learned more about fish behavior then in 20 years of fishing. They are not good for guys that move often but if you are a stationary fisher or only move a few times per outing they are great tools. Plus I would rather watch fish bite my baits instead of looking at little colored lines going up and down. but that's just me. One other thing, if you take kids out with you they love the cameras and will stay interested longer. My buddies 7 year old used to get bored 30 minutes after they started. Now he will not complain about getting bored for a few hours or more. Ice

[Esox_Magnum]

I have owned Vues and after getting a Marcum gave the Vue away. We use ours more than our flashers. If you have the water clarity to use them you can learn alot buy watching and here on a certain lake without a camera your not catching as many as those that have one.

[speedbump]

I picked up a Marcum last winter and wouldn't go out on the ice without it. It has really helped me fine tune my fishing by finding the "spot on the spot". I use the camera to scout out spots where I have caught fish in the past. In several of those spots I have found better, yet very suttle, structure changes nearby which held even more and bigger fish. I never would have found those spots without the camera. I also use the camera a lot in the summer on the boat to look at bottom structure. No matter what the brand, an underwater camera is a great tool to have with you when out on the ice or open water!!

[croixflats]

With the new features this camera looks to be awesome then again you pay for it.

[chippy]

Have you guys ever used camera's on a not so clear lake? I mean like in Bald Eagle Lake (White Bear Lake, MN) I think it's a bit too murky or and dirty to even buy a camera.

I fish here about 99.9% of the time, but with the water clarity not being so good.. Is it even worth it?

[Chode2235]

The other thing I am wondering about is how usable these are in the summer, and which models would be best for use out on the boat?

[MN BassFisher]

.....I mean like in Bald Eagle Lake (White Bear Lake, MN).....

I fish here about 99.9% of the time....

I live like a minute off the south end of Bald Eagle and I plan to be out there a lot this winter! Found a couple spots I think are going to be good this hardwater season. Maybe I'll see ya out there, look for an older Clam Base Camp.

[PerchJerker]

The other thing I am wondering about is how usable these are in the summer, and which models would be best for use out on the boat?

They work just as well in summer as in winter. The problem with using them in the boat is that you can't see the screens in the daylight. But the new Marc models for this year come with daylight viewable monitors that are 3x brighter --- they will work in the boat and in the daylight. The Vex and AV displays will not really be viewable in the boat, unless you can shade out the daylight.

[Jack Peterson]

Let me help you out.....CAMERAS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. And if you still decide you HAVE to have one....go on c-list and buy one for $50 from someone that has found out the hard way that cameras BLOW......this is of course just my opinion

I use my camera all year to find fish. I don't necessarily use it to catch them, just to make sure I'm fishing in fish holding areas. Camera's don't blow. They are quite useful.

[Chode2235]

Does anyone know what the screen resolutions are for the Marcum 6" and 8" screens?

[thatoneguy]

Let me help you out.....CAMERAS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. And if you still decide you HAVE to have one....go on c-list and buy one for $50 from someone that has found out the hard way that cameras BLOW......this is of course just my opinion

Waste of money? My Aqua-Vu is an indispensable part of my ice fishing arsenal. It saves a LOT of time plopping the camera down to see what's swimming (or not swimming) below the ice. Plus, it's really fun (and educational) to watch how fish respond to different lures and presentations.

[tsande00]

Let me help you out.....CAMERAS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. And if you still decide you HAVE to have one....go on c-list and buy one for $50 from someone that has found out the hard way that cameras BLOW......this is of course just my opinion

Let me guess you bought one of the cheapest models you could find... Thought so.