Underwater Camera Tripods?

[wayzata]

I love to use a underwater camera, but I have always had a hard time keeping the camera view on my bait. I know that there is tripods that you put the underwater camera line through and it keeps it steady. Is it a wise investment? And what kind would all of you recommend? Just thought it would be nice going into the Ice Fishing Show knowing what to look for.

Thanks

[Crappiechopper]

I wouldn't use a camera without one. Once you get used to working it its a snap to aim a camera.

[PerchJerker]

Check out the Automatic Camera Panner from Marcum . I used it all last year and it is awesome for ice fishing ....... especially if you have 2 or more holes that you want to see from time to time.

[leech~~]

I forget who makes it but there is a disk that I have that worked way better then the tripod for me.

[Brad B]

I forget who makes it but there is a disk that I have that worked way better then the tripod for me.

you must be thinking of the Marcum camera compass. it is a black disk that holds the cord in a zigzag pattern and you have to turn it by hand. this is what I used last season but I just bought the Marcum Auto panner that perch talked about. they are nice and with the touch of a button on the corded remote you can spin the camera 360 degrees.

[wayzata]

Alright thanks a lot for all the info, really starting to get the itch and the Ice show is not going to help!

[leech~~]

you must be thinking of the Marcum camera compass. it is a black disk that holds the cord in a zigzag pattern and you have to turn it by hand. this is what I used last season but I just bought the Marcum Auto panner that perch talked about. they are nice and with the touch of a button on the corded remote you can spin the camera 360 degrees.

Yep that's it. I really wish I could afford to get the Auto panner but I move around to much and the compass works really well to keep the cord in place at a really cheap cost.

[Deitz Dittrich]

MarCum Camera compass works well, Though i think if I were buying right now.. FOr $60 you can get the Aqua Vu mo-pod3

[Nordern]

Call me a cheap bast*rd but I have a length of 2X2 that spans the hole. I give a few wraps around it with the cord and once the camera settles down it is just a matter of slowly turning the 2X2 until the camera points where you want it.

[aczr2k]

I like the new marcum cammer panner, it works very well. Best part it was a free promotion with the camera last year.

[B@ssmaster]

I haven't tried any of the automatic toys out there, but I have used both the tripod and the disk. The disk is the way to go! I modified mine to put a short handle on it, so I can adjust the camera position without getting up out of my seat. As that cord untwists over the first hour or so, it seems like I'm always adjusting it. The handle makes the adjustments way easier. The disk also has another advantage over the tripod. It covers up the hole. One less place to drop stuff into the lake. It's a cheap, easy and effective.

[TruthWalleyes]

Call me a cheap bast*rd but I have a length of 2X2 that spans the hole. I give a few wraps around it with the cord and once the camera settles down it is just a matter of slowly turning the 2X2 until the camera points where you want it.

Thats sort of what i did a few years ago before the tripods. I've been looking at the tripods since, but just don't use the camera enough. Maybe i should get one because it is fun to see the jigging motion and fish reactions on camera.

[leech~~]

I haven't tried any of the automatic toys out there, but I have used both the tripod and the disk. The disk is the way to go! I modified mine to put a short handle on it, so I can adjust the camera position without getting up out of my seat. As that cord untwists over the first hour or so, it seems like I'm always adjusting it. The handle makes the adjustments way easier. The disk also has another advantage over the tripod. It covers up the hole. One less place to drop stuff into the lake. It's a cheap, easy and effective.

I need a pic of that handle do-hicky!

[B@ssmaster]

Can't get you a pic right now, but here is a quick sketch and description. I just used what I had laying around the garage, a piece of wooden closet rod and a few drywall screws. It took about 5 minutes. Quick and easy. Cut two verticals the height you want the handle, then cut a horizontal long enough to tack across the verticals. Run a drywall screw up through the disk into each vertical, then through the horizontal down into the verticals. A couple of drops of wood glue on top of the verticals before you set the horizontal across couldn't hurt. Done. (I think I even took the horizontal and split it on my table saw just so that it sat nice on the verticals.) If I recall, there are even a few raised semi-circles on the top of the disk to help you locate the verticals.

[leech~~]

Ah, I get it. Nice sketch! I may have to give this a try. Thanks.

[Biggerfish]

Check out the Automatic Camera Panner from Marcum . I used it all last year and it is awesome for ice fishing ....... especially if you have 2 or more holes that you want to see from time to time.

These work great.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I've use the underwater camera's for a few years now. I started with the plastic tripods and the rubber knob that goes on the line.

I would recommend not using the Tri Pods. For a couple reasons.

1st- The knob that goes onto the camera line which then is set on the tripod can fall into the ice hole quite easy.

2nd-The rubber knob gets streched out over time and doesn't wanna hold the cord like it should.

3rd-The tripod doesn't cover the hole, and can actually slip down the hole if the legs aren't put out flat.

The Marcum camera compass is the way to go. I bought one and replaced the tripod with it. Best investment to use for the camera. Plus you don't have to worry about having it go down the ice hole.

If you're gonna buy one, I would suggest the plastic camera compass disk. I havent tried the marcum camera panner that is electric though. I don't really have the disire to either. Every once in awhile it is nice to get up and turn the camera by hand to strech out.

What I would suggest to a person though is just getting a scrap sheed of plywood or the new poly stuff. With a saw some screws/nails/metal hooks I think a guy could make a marcum like camera compass cheap, and you can make it to the disk size you want it.

[Nordern]

I am going to ditch my 2X2 and make my own camera compass disk. Thank you for the information!

[B@ssmaster]

Another option I have thought about, but have not tried, for a "make it yourself" version of the disk part is instead of cutting the disk out of plywood might be to use a 5 gallon bucket lid (or bottom). Pretty much the same diameter as the Marcum. It may not be as stiff though, not sure how it would work. It wouldn't have the little hooks for the camera cord, but you could probably make those too somehow.

The advantage to using a bucket lit/bottom over plywood is that it would be lighter, and wouldn't soak up moisture. Probably wouldn't freeze down as easily either..... The disadvantage is that the little screw in hooks that you could use on plywood to weave your camera cord around wouldn't work in the plastic very well. Personal preferences come into play here.

Just some thoughts for you to mull over.

[B@ssmaster]

Wayzata,

Sorry about the thread hijack.

B@ssmaster

[SkitterPopper]

Quote:

The disadvantage is that the little screw in hooks that you could use on plywood to weave your camera cord around wouldn't work in the plastic very well.

I made a homemade panner just like yours. Instead of the little hooks to weave your camera cord around just go to a marine outlet and buy a boat cleat. I did this and it works very good. You could even drill holes in the plastic and attach the cleat with two very small bolts and nuts. I used wood so I just attached the cleat with wood screws.

[Dave]

What I would suggest to a person though is just getting a scrap sheed of plywood or the new poly stuff. With a saw some screws/nails/metal hooks I think a guy could make a marcum like camera compass cheap, and you can make it to the disk size you want it.

Five gallon bucket top might work well.

[PerchJerker]

I like the new marcum cammer panner, it works very well. Best part it was a free promotion with the camera last year.

Last year it was a promotion with a few of their cameras ...... this year it is a promotion on ALL of their cameras. In other words, buy a camera get a free camera panner. It's a great deal.

[JEK]

Two years ago I won a Mono pod,which is a tripod remote control so you can turn your camera. This thing works great,you can turn the camera 360 and see everything.It cost around $120 bucks so if I was going to buy one it woulden't be in my things to have ,but it sure works great. Jerry

[FlagsDown]

There's always a guy in the Trail's End Bass Pro booth selling a home-made tripod that sits on the bottom of the lake. Umm, yeah.

The Aquaview plastic tripod that sits above the hole works, but it's a pain, especially the rubber cable stopper. The camera compass disc(or home-made version) is probably the most cost effective. The downside is having to bend over constantly to adjust it. Sometimes I like to put the camera down a few feet away, which means its outside of the porty, so it's even more of a pain to adjust. The water I fish most has a little current, so frequent adjustments are needed.

The Marcum panner is the ticket. No bending down constantly, and you can easily run the camera farther away. Downside-it's $50. The only problem I had with mine was about 1/2 way through the year the screw holding the cable securing assembly came loose, and I just about lost the assembly down the hole. Check the screw regularly.