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Best under water camera for the buck?

slick2526

By slick2526
in Ice Fishing Minnesota

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Scott O. Apprentice

Scott O.

Posted
Posted

I myself have enjoyed using the AquaVu micro over the last couple of seasons. Small and compact, it fits easily into my pocket, though last year, I mounted it to my Humminbird 45 for quicker use. I've been able to see in murky water and low light. I'd recommend it for sure.

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harvey lee Grand Master

harvey lee

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Pretty sure I have owned every Marcum camera out there and the Aqua View line also.

For me, the best bang for your buck is the Marcum VS380. I do not know if they still make them but I do know one can still find them on the big online auction site for under $150.00 in great shape. I believe I saw one the other day for $100 used.

I once thought I would go with Marcum's new colored best camera out there, I believe it was a 625 or something like that. After I got it and used it, I sold it and continued to use my 380. For changing batteries or battery access, one of the easiest on the market. Picture is very good.

I have sold all of my underwater cameras and continue to use this camera. I was going to try one of the new Micro's but have not purchased one yet.

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B-man715 Experienced

B-man715

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I've owned 5 or so Aqua Vu's and all but one have had problems. Even with the new House Cam (Av Multi-Vu). It's has moisture building up inside and gets a cloudy picture.

The only reason I still buy them is their great customer service..... You need it when the products are batting .200.....

I hope you get to read this before it gets deleted frown

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Hawg Proficient

Hawg

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I've wanted a new one for a couple years now but my old Aqua Vu scout still works. I think the failure rate on ALL brands is so high you should keep one if you got one that works!

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ozzie Grand Master

ozzie

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I owned the top of the line marcum (color, temp, direction) and when I used it I like the quality of the picture and the gadgets but as a portable fisherman it get to be alot to drill holes and carry that with you and send the big cam in the lake and do this x amount of times. I do like to the looks and portabiity of the micro's and I think I will be investing into one of those as they are portable and light weight and will do what you need in a camera and that is just to verify structure and sometimes what your marking

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mwal Proficient

mwal

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I picked up an aqua View Micro for this winter to help when placing tip ups on weedline and deciding where to cut spear hole. I have not used it this summer.

Mwal

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DTro Grand Master

DTro

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Ask yourself how you plan to use it. If primarily as sight fishing aid, spend the money and get a nice flatscreen. As a tool to scout and hole hop and identify targets and structure? Go with the AV Microview. I've had all kinds of different cameras, but when it comes to utilization, the microview gets used a lot more then anything else I've owned.

I've had a lot of fun with the Vexilar FishPhone as well.

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Garett Svir Enthusiast

Garett Svir

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I have really enjoyed the Vexilar Fish Scout. Will last through several outings on a single charge and has the option of adding a DVR to capture and share the footage.

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  • 2 weeks later...
walleye44 Enthusiast

walleye44

Posted
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In your opinion whats the best bang for the buck as whats available for underwater cameras now?

AV Micro or AV Micro Plus for being portable. Best valve & a nice camera. The AV 715c. Hard to beat the price of $299 for a color LCD camera!

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Naturboy Proficient

Naturboy

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I have an old Aqua-Vu, like a ZT series I think. The one thing I realllly like is the camera direction. You can see which direction to move or which direction the fish are moving. Temp is not so important its almost always 40 - 41 degrees while ice fishing anyways. As far as picture quality my camera is not the best but I can still see when the fish is eating the bait.

Not meaning to change the subject but with a camera you see so many times when fish are in a neutral mood their gills flair to suck in the bait and a lot of times the new heavy tiny jigs just sit there.. Heavy is not always better.

A camera also lets you know if your on fish or not. Any camera would be better than none. If I was to buy a new one it would probably be one of the micros. The biggest issue I have is the portability. I pull equipment out on foot so lightweight would be a big plus.

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  • 1 month later...
slick2526 Mentor

slick2526

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I still havent ordered anything yet. I was reading about the aqua vu micro 2 some more and I noticed it said the battery is built in. SO what does this mean? once it doesnt hold a charge anymore the unit is useless?

I am still leaning hard toward a av micro but I am also throwing the av715c into the mix. its hard to beat for that price. Whats everyones opinions on the av715c?

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aanderud Mentor

aanderud

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I still havent ordered anything yet. I was reading about the aqua vu micro 2 some more and I noticed it said the battery is built in. SO what does this mean? once it doesnt hold a charge anymore the unit is useless?

Not useless -- if the battery is built in, it'll be slightly harder to replace but not impossible. On bass pro shops a guy asked a comment about the battery, and the aquavu guy responded and said to just send it in for service if the battery fails -- but he also said it was just a 3.7 volt 4000 mah rechargeable lithium ion battery.

In this video he tears the thing halfway apart and back together in about 3 minutes to replace the cover. I'm guessing that getting at the battery is another minute or less (maybe a couple screws).

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walleye44 Enthusiast

walleye44

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I still havent ordered anything yet. I was reading about the aqua vu micro 2 some more and I noticed it said the battery is built in. SO what does this mean? once it doesnt hold a charge anymore the unit is useless?

I am still leaning hard toward a av micro but I am also throwing the av715c into the mix. its hard to beat for that price. Whats everyones opinions on the av715c?

I have the AV715c & the AV Micro plus. Both are great cameras. If I am hole hoping a lot I use the AV Micro plus. If I know where I am going, I use the AV715C. For $300 it is hard to beat the AV715C! You could buy both; tell the wife one is for the kid! Then you are covered smile

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slick2526 Mentor

slick2526

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Only If I had a wife and kid/ wink Im going to end up a with micro II. They seem pretty hard to beat for that price.

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OutlawBiz Enthusiast

OutlawBiz

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I've been REALLY happy with my AquaVu Micro II as well...love the size and the pic is great! $299 price is reasonable as well. I recently got a C-Fish R1 strictly to use in the wheelhouse on big my TV. $199 price tag for a 360* remote rotating Sony camera is a great bargain IMO! No more "twisting" cables to rotate the camera & the reviews look pretty solid too...anxious to put it to work.

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