underwater camera

[trapsht]

I haven't found too many discussions on low price underwater cameras(maybe I missed them). I'd like to get one , but can only afford the cheaper ones. I've found Cabelas and Marcum to have the cheapest models..any comments on these two brands??

[mhjohns]

The FishTV is new this year. You can get it for around $100. That's about as cheap as you will get. I'm thinking about getting my kids one for Christmas. They are 3 and 5 so at that price they can enjoy it without me being concerned about it getting broken.

[rocki]

go marcum, great camera, had one for 2 years, love it! vs250 model

[BIG DS]

I got the new Scout XL with the 7" screen, SRT lighting and temp at depth of camera and I love it. Marcum did have a small problem with the camera itself on the cheaper models, but that was corrected and now they work great. Only available in 5". They tend to have a lot sharper image than the others, but that is why I got the 7" I guess to make up for that. The Scouts have a better lighting system and have a fish skin on the camera. I believe the Fish TV has a fish skin on the camera as well. I have never seen one in the water so I guess we will have to see how it goes this year. I hope it is not like other first year products.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

BIG DS,

I have the same thing and also have had no complaints. The problem for a man on a budget though is they can be very spendy. I got my parents to get me mine for my birthday Whatever you choose i think you will be happy i havent heard any recent complaints on camaras(last one was on first aqua vu scout)

PS you can probably get a very good deal on one if you go to the St. Paul ice show next weekend...

Happy Buying!

Ryan

[Squirtis]

I have been looking at cameras for a little while too. I am finding some issues with specs on these. One of the posters here said he had a Scout XL with the 7" screen and the SRT lighting. Did you mean the IR lighting? Cabelas has the XL-50 on sale for $209, MSRP is 279. It lists the screen as a 7" CRT and has a 100ft cable. Here is what Aqua-vu's websie has for specs on the two basic cameras: XL-50; 50ft. cable, 7" CRT screen, with IR lighting MSRP of $199. Scout 2; 50ft. cable, 5" CRT screen, with Spectral Response lighting MSRP of $299. Can anyone straighten the cabelas online listing out for me?

Thanks

[epkirkman]

I looked up these cameras and compared them. The only difference I could see was the screen size and the lighting.

I have the Scout 2 and I can tell you that the lights are garbage. They don't do a thing but run your battery down.

If I recall correctly when I was shopping for these the big price difference was due to battery life. One of my buddies thougth he got a deal but his battery only lasted for 3-4 hours. Comparing the different models this year, I don't see any difference in battery life.

So anyway, as far as I can tell the big price difference between the XL-50 and the Scout 2 is the lighting, which in my opinion is a gimmick anyway.

Hope that helps.

[BIG DS]

The IR lighting is the infrared lighting. Last year Agua-Vu introduced the Spectral Response lighting on the Scout 2 and the Scout XL. Some cameras also had temp at depth of camera which Nature Vision admitted was a mistake in our favor. The Scout and the Scout XL with the IR lighting that were being closed out last year and this year are left overs after the lighting update. Anyone that has used both lighting systems in waters with debris floating around will tell you that the SRT lighting reflects less off the debris than does the IR. It works, I have used both.

[trapsht]

anyone use the cabelas brand camera?

[trapsht]

anyone use the cabelas brand camera?

[trapsht]

anyone use the cabelas brand camera?

[blue_healer_guy]

Many of you might remember the drowning in Waterville last winter. From talking to the rescue people, the cabelas brand by far was the best camera in the murky bottoms they searched.

[harvey lee]

Check out this marCum for the discount price of $179.00

http://outdoorprostore.com/marcum-underwater-cameras.html

[kwiggy]

What kind of deals can you expect at the ice show? I am thinking of the Scout XL. Besides the experience of the ice show, is it worth the cost of parking and admission to plan on buying a camera or is it just as easy to buy one on sale at a store?

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

you can get some awesome show deals i cant tell you exactly how much but if you live within a half hour or so of the show i would recomend checking it out to see what kind of deals you can get. Plus you can chat with fellow ice fisherman and fishing MN people to get more advice! Good luck and happy buying whatever you choose!

Ryan

[jigginjoe]

I Purshased the cabelas brand camera with the 7"screen I was told it is made by marcum. The reason i went with this instead of the $100 fish Tv brand was that the fsh tv brand takes 10 D cell batteries. It does have some kind of a adapter not sure which. But for $79 dollars more I got the cabelas brand with a 12 volt rechargeable battery and charger also has the 7" screen and a pretty nice carrying case. I figure not having to spend a fortune in batteries will make up for the difference.

[harvey lee]

Thats why I suggested the MarCum on sale. For $179.00 you get a brand name and its got the 7" screen.

If one is going to the Ice show just to look for a deal for a camera for a couple hondo, then figure parking and cost to get in, it will need to be as pretty good deal to make it worth ones while. Maybe the last day a guy could find a deal that you could still save money.

[PerchPounder]

I've seen the Aqua Vu Scout XL package deal this year for I think $199 and that included the down viewing fin and a tripod. Pretty good deal but i've already got one so it doesn't do much for me.

[Squirtis]

So, Big DS, do you know if the new Scout XL has the SR lighting and the 7" screen? I am guessing no, and that the HSOforum for nature-vision is accurate.

[PerchPounder]

I know it has the 7" screen but the lights im not too sure about. If the water is too dirty I don't think the lights are going to make that much of a difference.

[Squirtis]

I guess the big thing is that I am stuck on the Aqua-vu's because I like the idea of adding the DVR possibly at a later date, so i want to get as much info as possible. If you could use the DVR with the Marcum's or the Cabela's camera, that would be my route.

Thanks guys,

Curtis

[BIG DS]

Two answer two questions TRAPSHT, the Cabellas brand cameras are made by Marcum. SQUIRTIS, sorry about the mis-info, I did not realize that the models were now called the Scout XL50 which has a 50 foot cable, thus the name, and IR lighting and the Scout SRT with 100 foot of cable and SRT lighting. Last year both models had 50 feet of cable and were both the Scout XL.

[Dave]

Squirtis,

The Marcum cameras have an AV output for recording.

[Deitz Dittrich]

In my opinion the Aqua-Vu Scout XL-50 the 50th aniversary edition is the best for the money.. it has the 7" screen and IR light... for those that want the LED lights Aqua-Vu is coming out with a flashlight that attaches to your camera. Should be at the St.Paul show.. the flashlight I think retails for under $20 bill.

[Squirtis]

That's a good point. All of the cameras have an RCA jack out for recording, but the DVR attachment that Aqua-vu makes is only compatibl with their own cameras, as they go between the camera and screen. I think they are a great addition, since they can be had for about $100 and they are easily expandible with the SD cards, run off the same battery as the camera and require no external connections, as well as being rather small and intuitive. I am having a hard time with any other options.