underwater viewing systems
underwater viewing systems
The wife wants to get me an underwater viewing systems. This would be used for both ice and open water applications. Any info or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Louis
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Wallyboss
- Diamond Participant
- Posts: 4823
- Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:44 pm
- Location: Carlsbad Springs
Check out http://www.marcumtech.com/
It all depends on price you want to pay. Some the camera have a remote. you just drop it down and with the remote it goes 360deg.
Some have LCD screen and some are color.
Prices vary. just got one this year no remote and black and white. I'll see if I use it much then decide next year if I'll upgrade.
It all depends on price you want to pay. Some the camera have a remote. you just drop it down and with the remote it goes 360deg.
Some have LCD screen and some are color.
Prices vary. just got one this year no remote and black and white. I'll see if I use it much then decide next year if I'll upgrade.
Cameras ...
Like Wallyboss, I purchased a B&W, no remote camera just this yr. Instead of Marcum, I went with Aqua-vu, for no reason more than the price.
I purchased mine for ice fishing, but have had it out this summer just dinking around with it. You can troll with these things, but you have to be under 2mph for the camera to be stable in the water.
In reality you run the risk of bumping the face (lens) on the bottom, or wrapping the cord around something and getting it hung up. No matter how strong the company says the cable is, I would not like to be stuck with the camera lodged between the bottom and tree and having to try to reef it out of that situation. I would not freehand any camera while trolling ... the camera replacement just too expensive (over half of the cost of the whole unit)
What i do like tho is that you can hook it up by the tail (with an optional adapter) to your downrigger, to see the your lures in tow. This is risk free and a very nice idea.
There are issues with keeping the camera stable in the water while icfishing. This can be fixed by purchasing an Ice-pod, which holds your camera in a stable position via the cable.
Lighting? ... well thats another can of worms. I purchased mine with the idea that I would not use them. I fish during the daylight hours, no need for that.
Things to think about? Large screens (except LCDs) burn more power than small screens. Some units with large screens are designed specifically to go in icehouses or portables where there is darkness and are easier to see. Smaller units with periscope viewing systems are ment to be used outside in the sun. I cant comment on LCD units, but i do know they are heated, to keep them funtioning up to speed of the images sent by the camera. I tend to shy away from new technology when it is first introduced ... but I can tell you this .. dont hit an LCD screen with anything hard, I learnt that the hard way at home.
Things to look for. A definate option to look for is Temp tech ...or a readout of the temperature on screen from the camera. This will definately aid in your fishing. For me, direction, depth and the rest is all fluff, and add to cost.
If your an Ebayer, the world is yours right now .. and you wont get gouged by artifically inflated product prices. A brand new unit can be had for under two hundred dollars, shipping and taxes in.
d-mo
I purchased mine for ice fishing, but have had it out this summer just dinking around with it. You can troll with these things, but you have to be under 2mph for the camera to be stable in the water.
In reality you run the risk of bumping the face (lens) on the bottom, or wrapping the cord around something and getting it hung up. No matter how strong the company says the cable is, I would not like to be stuck with the camera lodged between the bottom and tree and having to try to reef it out of that situation. I would not freehand any camera while trolling ... the camera replacement just too expensive (over half of the cost of the whole unit)
What i do like tho is that you can hook it up by the tail (with an optional adapter) to your downrigger, to see the your lures in tow. This is risk free and a very nice idea.
There are issues with keeping the camera stable in the water while icfishing. This can be fixed by purchasing an Ice-pod, which holds your camera in a stable position via the cable.
Lighting? ... well thats another can of worms. I purchased mine with the idea that I would not use them. I fish during the daylight hours, no need for that.
Things to think about? Large screens (except LCDs) burn more power than small screens. Some units with large screens are designed specifically to go in icehouses or portables where there is darkness and are easier to see. Smaller units with periscope viewing systems are ment to be used outside in the sun. I cant comment on LCD units, but i do know they are heated, to keep them funtioning up to speed of the images sent by the camera. I tend to shy away from new technology when it is first introduced ... but I can tell you this .. dont hit an LCD screen with anything hard, I learnt that the hard way at home.
Things to look for. A definate option to look for is Temp tech ...or a readout of the temperature on screen from the camera. This will definately aid in your fishing. For me, direction, depth and the rest is all fluff, and add to cost.
If your an Ebayer, the world is yours right now .. and you wont get gouged by artifically inflated product prices. A brand new unit can be had for under two hundred dollars, shipping and taxes in.
d-mo
reply
I have been looking at the Marcum VS560. I like the idea of the lighting set above the camera lens, less partilce reflection. I also like the panning function a full 360 degrees. The only problem is trying to find a Canadian dealer. I may have to go with the Aqua vu just for that reason.