Underwater camera decision

[alwaysfishin]

I am going to buy an underwater camera really soon here. I'm spending less than $200 and its down to a Scout, VS-350, or Cabelas VS-360(which is marked down on their HSOforum). Does the fish shape on aqua-vus make a difference. I think the bigger screen on the last two might make the decision. If anyone has good or bad experieces with either of these three let me know, I appreciate it. I really just want to add some entertainment to my fishing.

[fishhollwood]

No brainer go with the Marum vs350. I'd recommend spending some extra cash and purchasing the vs560. It's amazing!

Good luck!

[jphersh22]

I just bought the Scout, but it mainly came down to price and the fact that in Iowa all I seem to find in stores are Aqua Vus and I like seeing what I'm buying. I had a flier from a major outdoor store (I don't know if I can post names or not) which had the Scout for $160 on their day after Thanksgiving sale. A local store price matched it, plus they had $25 mail in rebates for the Scout, so I wound up with a $135 camera. I couldn't pass that up. I saved enough that I'm now looking at getting the DVR to add to it.

[BIG_EYE]

I have had an Aqua Vu for a number of years and haven't had any truble with it yet.

[Deitz Dittrich]

The Marcum VS-350 is a great camera for the money.. I myself in your shoes would get the Scout 2... This camera has the SR lights rather than the InfraRed which are almost uesless in water. The Scout 2 also has a temp gauge on the camera which will give you temp at the camera which is nice. Scout 2 retails for 229.99

[alwaysfishin]

would the vs-360 be basically the same as the 350? gee thanks dietz now i'm trying to justify an extra $30 on my limit for the temp gauge, when a $170 camera was so far the winner. you probably are right though, my uncle told me never to sell yourself short w/ relatively cheap added features, as soon as you don't have it you think you need it just don't go overboard. scout 2 is now looking good!! once again what are your thoughts on the fish shaped camera? thanks for the replies.

[Dave]

The Cabelas camera is a Marcum 350. Cabela has no VS360. I've got a temp gauge and never really use it. Maybe THAT'S my problem

[Reynolds]

I have a Aqua-Vu ZT with a Perch for the camera. I have actually had pike strike at the camera. That is one heck of a rush when that happens!

[Cheeser]

The Scout 2 has a temp gauge It doesn't indicate that on the Nature Vision HSOforum. If that's the case, I'm definitely getting one at the ice show!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Cheeser- Not all but some do... Aqua-Vu wanted to get this camera on the market quickly.. and in the haste, put about 2,000 cameras on the market that do have temp. However, not all do...I'm sorry if I misled... all the ones at Cabelas I saw this last weekend did have the temp...

[perchman]

I went the total cheepo way with camera (an may pay the price). Found a security camera at Sams club for $35. Has inferred on it (night vision). I enclosed in a plumbing housing with a clear lense. (another &10). works great in the Bathtub (at night).. we'll see at 25 feet down

[alwaysfishin]

Yeah i guess i don't know what the heck i was reading, 350 it is. $170 looks nice though. Is that SR lighting only going to work at night in super clear water or will it do well in average. Is the longer run-time a better payoff than a bigger screen?(more personnal choice i guess) Were the aqua-vu rebates a store only offer, or is it something you can find most anywhere?

[Dave]

alwaysfishin,

Here's the lowdown I found out about the VS350 last year. Maybe this info will help ya.

VS350

[Meadow Creek]

If you go the cheap route with the camera, go to fleet farm and pick up the aqu view tripod. It makes it a lot easier to position when you get it underwater.

[McGurk]

Hey Dietz, would you be able to grab and some serial numbers off of the Scout II's w/ the temp display and post a rough range so I can see if I'm in the same ball park for the ones up here? Or is there another way to tell on the box without buying it and hoping for the best? I know it's a long shot, but if I can get lucky I'll sure try! Thanks!

[Scott M]

A few of you guys are talking about built in thermometers. Am I the only one that thinks it is kind of a worthless option? I mean, in ice fishing you aren't looking at a stratified profile and in the summer, the majority of lakes in the state aren't condusive to camera fishing since they are green. Am I overlooking something here?

[Biggerfish]

I second that question....

[McGurk]

If it's all the same price, I'll get the Scout2 w/ it if I can, if not, oh well. I'll probably still get one. Still haven't heard about the different lights pros/cons, Aquavu can't be upcharging us for nothing, can they?

[Cheeser]

Thanks for the heads up, Deitz. I hope I can find one...

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm not sure if they did or did not write down the serial numbers.. and the shop is closed till after the holidays...

As for temp. I have found areas where the water is warmer under the ice.. and have found those fish to be more active.. To futher that, I use my Aqua-Vu as much if not more in the summer than I do in the winter...

[jigginjim]

Deitz, I will back you on that. I use My aqua-vu ZT alot in the summer looking the thermoclines in the lakes. Once I found the bottom of the thermocline I don't fish any deeper. This summer fishing Pulaski I had a surface temp of 75. drop cam down 23ft temp.was 68degrees. At 29ft the temp. was 60degrees. bottom of thermo. The temp only changed 4degrees for the next 18ft down. As I looked around more I found most of the fish were in the bottom 2ft of the thermocline. Nice 17-22in walleyes.

I use my cam to identify what type fish are under me if I can't seem to get bit.

My nieghbor has A marcum 5?? we compared his to mine. He like better as it was clearer. Not so fuzzy of a picture.

Good luck guys

[Enids Hubby]

I just picked up a Scout 2 this morning from Thorne Bros. It does have the temp sensor on it , and it is a perch not a bluegill camera. The box does not say it has these options so look at the camera. And it was 10 percent off also during their sale today and tomorrow. I think I got a heck of a deal , this is almost like the Aqua - Vu scout SRT model but with a 5 inch screen not a 7 inch and a 50 foot cord not a 65 . and the SRT is 369.00 and I got mine for 206.00

[McGurk]

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll know what to look for now.

[jphersh22]

The $25 rebates I found were at Scheels but it was an Aqua Vu rebate so I'm sure it had nothing to do with Scheels. It was on the original Scout model only. The other nice thing was that I got the rebate check within a couple days. Kudos to Nature Vision on that, compared to most companies that drag their feet on getting rebate checks sent. For $130 I'm happy with it, since my second option in my price range would have been Harbor Freight.

[the buck]

There was a nice article in the 07 Ice fishing magazine (In-Fisherman -tan cover) "Finding Nemo" Mr Genz explains the importance of water temp which I had no idea. And here's a bonus guys . . . I had my wife read the article and she said lets get one next week at the Ice Show! Feed her the bait and the hook is set!!!