Color Underwater Camera advice please!

[DaveZman14q]

Looking to buy an underwater camera with color display. I will be using this for both ice and open water fishing. Basically I want to be able to see green weeds, and view the screen in the sun. Anyone have some suggestions for me? Don't mind spending some money but dont want to break the bank either. Ideally find a nice used one. Thank you in advance!

[MNHuntress]

I am in the same boat. Vexilar just came out with theirs this year and it is priced about the same as a Marcum.I had the chance to borrow a Vexilar and here's what I was told as the difference between all of them out there, and I was looking at the C store models also. The Vexilar and Marcum use the same underwater camera (Sony), this is what will make the diff. These are the cameras that are used in the high security operations so they give good quality, the C store uses some other. The vexilar is high def. it automatically switches from high def to regular (color to b&w) in low light conditions. I was in 35 feet of water, low light conditions and had high def with the vex on Mille Lacs. The vex has a nifty little bag system that makes it easier to manage cords and all the little do-dads that come with it, Marcum does not. Believe me the bag system is nice. Marcum just came out with the automatic pan for the camera, which can be used with the vex (same camera). The vex uses less battery than the marcum. The vex has a longer warranty than marcum. Both brands are more interested in customer service and servicing the product than the C store is.

The C store considers theirs a throw away model, rumor has it that there is a 40% failure rate with them. You go to the store if you have a broken one and they hand you a new one. Just read the reviews on their HSOforum. Also go the bargain cave you will see a ton of them there. But if it hits a year and yours busts, you're sol. Also the C store brand takes alot of battery and then you have problems charging them up because the battery drains below the amperage of the charger.

Now as far as fish go, nothing is bothered by the LED light on the camera except tullibee and whitefish. This may be because of the bigger eyes they have. I had a buddy who was 5 yards away and catching tulli's like mad and I couldn't catch one to save me. Same lure, bait everything. I guess eelpout love the camera. So I don't know.

This may sound like I am partial to Vex, but it is the only one I've tried and I have an offer to try a Marcum but I am running out of time for Mille Lacs. Vex is not offering any different models for next year since they just came out with what they have.

Hope this helps, the used models for both are far and few in between. I would try and get a re-conditioned model from Vex in May. Also a friend said that last year he went thru every model made (7 or so) and returned them all to the C store before he settled on the marcum, vex was not out at the time.

[Random guy]

If you are going to use it in the boat you almost have to go with the Marcum Solar Intelligent® screen making it daylight viewable. Plus the Marcum cameras will give a temp reading, depth reading and relative direction arrow that is always dead on.

On top of all that Marcum utilizes Darkwater Technology for low light viewing conditions and it does make a big difference on those dark days or in stained water. Not to mention the Marcum also switches from color to black and white automatically along with a camera system that works like the human eye adjusting to the light condition. I have been using my Marcums in the boat and actually running them on the down rigger cables with great luck.

[Esox_Magnum]

Vex and Marcum do not use the same cameras, Vex uses the sony cameras Marcum used to use, Marcum uses a newer version of the Sony.

[Random guy]

Marcum uses the Sony Super HAD II system, the top of the line for low light veiwing.

[Ed Carlson]

At this point for daylight view-ability, the Solar Intelligent screen system has the edge in the sun on currant production UW camera systems.

QVGA light level sensing displays with L-E-D back lighting will be the next step to gain true bright clean color sunlight view ability. This will add more cost per unit. But it's the best proven system now available to solve all around day/night display concerns.

Garmin already utilizes this QVGA display on marine sonar/gps units, such as the 5208, 5212, 5215. When you hook a Sony Had CCD camera to the Garmin network the results as stunning.

[PerchJerker]

MNHuntress ---- you have a few details mixed up between the cameras.

The Marcum 825sd and 625sd use a better sony camera than the sony camera used with the Vex --- the better camera captures a better image with less light in the water.

The Marcum 825sd and 625sd are the cameras that switch from color to b/w when the light conditions get too dark for good color viewing. The SD stands for Switchable Display, ie. color OR b/w. Color is great when you have good light conditions in the water, but color grays out or browns out quickly when the light fades. In those conditions you'll get a better picture in b/w than you will in color.

Both brands come in a soft pack to manage the battery, cords, etc.

I agree 100% with you on the C-brand cameras. Underwater viewing systems are a perfect example of "you get what you pay for".

[DaveZman14q]

Thanks for all the replies. Am I safe to assume the Marcum 825sd and 625sd are the exact same camera except for the size of the screen? Are there any MAJOR disadvantages to getting a 6 inch screen vs 8 inch? Obviously a larger screen would be nice, but the price difference is making me lean towards the 6 inch. I just want to make sure I dont regret not going with the 8. Do these ever go on sale? How long have they been out for?

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have not seen them on sale.. BUT CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE THE SAME EXCEPT FOR SIZE.. I am almost positive the 8" have a better resolution screen than the 6".. I had talked to a MarCum sales man earlier this year and I am fairly sure that is what he told me.. but I could be wrong.

[PerchJerker]

Not 100% sure but I think the 625sd has slightly better resolution than the 825sd. That's pretty common with electronics, to get a little better resolution on a smaller screen. I've used them both and I like the picture you get on both of them. I'm looking forward to using it in my boat this summer --- I've tried using other cameras in my boat and you just can't see the screens in the daylight, but the new displays on the new Marcum cameras are much better in daylight.

The 825 comes with the camera panner, which is $50 if you buy it by itself. Very nice for ice fishing. The 625 does not include the camera panner.

You can check out both cameras and our pricing at Underwater Cameras At Pro Fishing Supply if you want.

[Random guy]

Difference in screens? I can tell no difference and I run them side by side often. I do notice as I get older the 825 is easier on the eyes...