Aquaview and Seaview

[Pete C]

Greetings,

Has anyone puchased or had a chance to use any of the underwater viewing/recording devices that are currently on the market?

How much visibility do you get with the lighting that is provided with the camera lenses?

Are they realy worth the money?

Thanks

[rngrfshm]

Hi Pete,

I have tried both of these cameras and ended up getting a modified Z120 Aqua being sent to me this week or next hopefully. I would recommend you ask the dealers to let you take them both out to a nearby lake and do a side by side test for yourself, Seaview has a try before you buy approach and Aqua are available to rent at alot of places and bait shops. That is what I had done for some models. The Seaview I had loaned out to me (Super Mini 50' and a BW-150) Z120 Aqua VU for a day and did a side by side test of them. The Aqua was much clearer being able to see finer detail than the seaviews, but I think the monitor had alot to do with that. I could see about 15 feet out in with both cameras the day that I tried it in the side by side test. I also have tried out the Atlantis/Atlantis JR and the OVS 300. The infra red models that are available are a better choice if there is murky or dirty water around as the Red/Green lights seem to magnify or white out. If you have crystal clear waters the MC or colored lights would be a great benefit over the IR. If not I would stay with IR. We tied a pop can on our line and reeled them to the bottom at 15' and did a side by side comparison being able to read the letters on the side of the can, Aqua was at around 4' out. Others where starting to be a blur after 3 feet out. Only underwater testing is going to show you the true results, not what you see at the store looking at it in the air.

[advancedangling]

Thanks for the feeback mate. I'll take your advise.

[Frank from TBay]

I tested both out in stained NW Ontario water with a lot of snow cover. Aqua View was the better unit by far but the visibility was only a cou[ple of feet. I opted to wait to see if a new better unit comes out.

[rngrfshm]

Hi Frank,

I am waiting for my camera to come from Jeff Z. and Trevor at Aqua Vu yet. They are making some good changes to the clarity of the camera and other modifications to my new Z. I can email you when I get it and let you know what I find. I had tried 3 Z's and a MC and they seemed to be somewhat fuzzy. I was told that the focal length had been changed for underwater to be clear and is true after testing them underwater. The new improvements they are making are suppose to be better all around for all conditions.