Opinions about underwater cameras

[carlcmc]

I was looking at info on the aquavu SC-100 which is the color lcd model.

If money was no object (i mean come on, we spend 800-1000 on a sonar/gps) what would recommend as far as an underwater camera.

Any opinions on the different aquavus? Advantages / disadvantages? I'm really tempted to pick one up.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Carl- I have not had a chance to use the spool series by Aqua-Vu yet.. but I can only immagine how nice it is. To not have to need a sun shield during bright day light would be so valuable. And to have a color camera to differentiat between live and dead weeds would also be key.

I myself just have a Scout, and an older MC2X... and for my uses, its really all I need.. But I too have dreamed about the color spool series! I just have not had the overhead to get it yet. I think it would be an awesome unit.

[Trouthunter]

Are they available yet? Who in town would have one? I bought my first camera this year and love it for sight fishing in shallow water.

BD

[andy j]

I could be wrong but I wouldn't think that color wouldn't be a real advantage under water. I would think epecially with some depth that seeing colors would be very minimal. I would go for a Marcum VS 560 if you are looking for the best of the best. Great quality and very user friendly.

[92python]

In the Aquaview line I have used the original Aquaview, the Aquaview Jr., the Z60, and a Z60 camera in an old Aquaview case. I have used a couple of older OVS units with infra-red and multi-color as well.

From my experiences the cameras works well when it is fairly light out. Infra red and multi color lights haven't done much once it starts to get dark.

The old style Aquaview that I have used for the past few years has been very durable.

I look for durability first in an underwater camera. The other features are there to catch fisherman. Do your scouting when it is light out and catch the fish whenever they bite.

[kslipsinker]

I picked up an Aqua View Scout after Christmas, and really like it. It answers a lot of questions that really make you wonder when you are having a poor day. Fantastic for studying the bottom. Visability is great in shallow, day time conditions. Not so much at night or deep water. I think the longer cable is not a good choice unless you are going to use it for deep, clear conditions.

[FishNBones]

I bought the Aqua-Vu ZT 50 about a month ago. I used it on Rush Lake in about 25 feet of water. I was disappointed at the picute quality but the water was a little murky so I didn't think too much of it. My brother-in-law has an older Aqua-Vu Z model so I borrowed that and tested them out side by side. To my surpise I could keep a fairly clear picture up to a distance of 6 feet with the older Z model Aqua-Vu. My new Aqua-Vu ZT 50 could only get a clear picture within 3 feet. I immediately had it sent in for repair assuming something must be wrong with my camera. They determined nothing was wrong but supposedly gave me a new monitor, maybe just to satisfy me. I tried that out and found the picture quality was still just as poor as before I sent it in. I was so disappointed I returned it. Has anyone noticed a decline in the picture quality for the new Aqua-Vu cameras?

I have since bought a Marcum VS460. I am very pleased with it from a picture quality standpoint. I'm not a guy that needs all the latest and greates features but the motorized camera control on the VS460 is great.

[poutpro]

Isn't the Z and ZT model the same thing besides the ZT has a temperature reading? I have a ZT and I am very pleased with it. I run it on the mo-pod which works very well.

[JP Z]

poutpro,

The 2005 ZT's (the ZT50 and ZT100) now have a visible light. So the ZT50 is more like the MC2X series except at the Z-series price.