Underwater camera choices

Hopefully you guys can help me out. I have been debating getting a camera for some time and just cant decide. I have been looking at the Marcum Recon but cant decide on the 5 or the 5+. Is the other stuff added on the 5+ worth the extra money? Also do you have any suggestions on a quality camera system? I am not dead set on the Marcum I just mainly like the size because I try to be as light as possible. I dont have a huge budget and the recon 5+ is pushing the top of the budget just so you guys know a price range. Thanks in advance.

I was in your same shoes last year, except with the larger 485/825. I went with the 485 because the 825 was out of my budget but man do i wish i had direction. IMO if you can afford the plus, the on screen direction is worth it.

I had a marcum VS625SD for years and it worked great. No problems with it all. So I upgraded to a lx-9 I know you dont have the budget for that. But one thing the recon 5+ has like lx-9 is the dvr. So you can record your fishing trips. Recon 5+ also has depth and direction. I would go with recon 5+ if you can.

I love my 5+. haven’t put a card in it yet. It is on the to do list. The directional is awesome.

You will kick yourself every time you drop it in the water if you don’t go with a directional indicator.

Some will like to record, others won’t bother but EVERYONE wants to find their jig as fast as possible.

If you’re a hole hopper I would lean toward the 5+, if you’re going to be in a house, you’ll do better with the larger screen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut4KAJZzbcg This was recorded with my vs625sd

Hi Chris. I was in your shoes up until a week ago when I finally got the 5+. EPG & BK in the previous two posts discussed the directional feature and that’s what sold it for me. I read a lot of threads and I think I even started one myself and the biggest thing that set the 5+ apart in those threads was the directional option, meaning it tells you what direction it’s looking. To me, buying my first camera, that was something that I thought I really wanted to so that’s why I went with that.

I got mine from Cabela’s and it came with a soft carrying case.

You’re going to mostly find it around $430 no matter where you look. However, last weekend I was bored and perused the sporting section of Craigslist for the first time ever saw a guy listing his lightly used 5+ for $320. Now buying from a reputable business like Cabela’s vs. from a random dude on CL is very different, but if you’re willing to take a leap of faith that’s an insane price.

Thanks for the replies guys. Seems like it is unanimous that direction indicator is a must have or a prefer to have option. I tend to do a mix of hole hopping and sitting in the house depending how my bad back is feeling and the back is also why I try to be as light as possible.

Just got a Recon 5+ and gave it a test drive last weekend. Has anybody found a good way to keep the camera facing a bait while your hands are tied up managing a rod/reel?

yeah get the camera panner

Dan wrote:

the directional option, meaning it tells you what direction it’s looking. To me, buying my first camera, that was something that I thought I really wanted to so that’s why I went with that.

Is there something special I’m missing here. You and a number of others have said how important the directional indicator is. If say you want to watch your jig, or spoon, or whatever…do you really need to know or care if the bait is south or north or east or west of your camera? I guess I’m just not understanding the importance of knowing what direction the camera is facing, once you’ve found your bait.

FWIW, I just bought a new 485 because I do little if any hole hopping and wanted the larger screen. I also bought the optional panner too.

I think the main thing with the direction is if you put the camera down a hole and see something on the screen (like a weed line or fish) in the distance it is handy to know what direction it is so you know where to go. It is not really for knowing what direction your jig is.

I want the 5+… The direction is awesome for setting tip ups and chasing structure, weeds and drop offs when scouting areas. My buddy has one and we always use it to set the shanty over “something fishy” rather than poke and pray. We punch holes and set the tip ups on the edges of the weeds. YES IT WORKS. I will say that we generally fish over flashers unless we suspect that there are all dinks. Sometimes its nice to know when to leave even though the flasher says stay.

https://www.rapala.com/marcum/accessories/camera-panners/camera-panner/CP1.html

I have the aqua-vu 715 color camera, 299 at cabelas and I also bought the marcum camera panner. drill a hole outside the house and cover it with a jacket and you can move the camera around via a remote. the color screen is amazing and works on almost every lake I’ve used it on. and it was pretty cheap as far as cameras go. Haven’t used the recon but I really love the aqua-vu version. just my two cents.

The biggest difference between Marcum Underwater Viewing systems is what they call “darkwater technology”. Simply it’s how the lights are mounted on the camera head. It almost, darn near completely eliminates the “snow storm” effect in night or deep water viewing.

Many folks will leave their cameras at home after they’ve used them at night.

I have a video someplace that shows the clarity on P-4 around 50 feet in total darkness. I’ll go look for it.

This video was captured by drifting just down stream of the scour hole somewhere around 20 to 30 feet of water.

Just bought the 5+ a couple weeks back haven’t had it on ice yet but wow is it clear. Got it for the dvr because who doesn’t wanna reminisce on that monster fish you pulled up.

^^ or missed.

dylg16 wrote:

Just bought the 5+ a couple weeks back haven’t had it on ice yet but wow is it clear. Got it for the dvr because who doesn’t wanna reminisce on that monster fish you pulled up.

Chris and Jarrod gave good valid reasons for having the directional display however that is something I wouldn’t need as much based on my style of fishing. I may however regret not getting the DVR. The video by bken posted above of the pike strike was awesome!

Sweet videos Bken and Brian K! What camera do you have Brian a marcum?

Very very true Bryan then your friends don’t think you’re a fool when you tell them about the big one that got away

Maybe not the best for ice applications, but I’ve been considering a Water Wolf. I’ve been holding out for their “live view” technology to come to market. It’s advertised on their website but doesn’t appear for sale yet.

I am picking up a Recon 5 tomorrow. I hope I don’t regret not getting the + too much, it was just a cost thing. Question-How long is the battery life on a Recon 5? And do people leave them on the whole time they are fishing or just to check the area quickly?
Dan

I have a Recon 5 and I loved it until I turned it on recently while up at Red and got the blue screen of death (probably water got into the lense). Hopefully Marcum will take care of me.

Battery lasts about 5-6hrs continuous. I use it for both checking areas quickly and setting up shop. That’s why I went with it – for its versatility. I have it set up in my Otter Cottage with a snake clamp mount going to an aqua vu mo-pod 3. Hands free and camera is at eye level and close to face. Pretty sweet set-up.

One good and cheap way to keep the camera directed where you want it is to take a short piece of wood, put three/four screws in the center close together about halfway into the board, and then weave the camera cord between them so that it’s held snugly. Then just set the piece of wood across the hole and give it a quarter turn to turn the camera 90 degrees left or right. Easy and obvious directional conroll.

Also, does the 5+ or any camera have an interchangeable battery pack?

Dan Baker wrote:

Question-How long is the battery life on a Recon 5?

If you’re referring to the 5+, I actually just read part of the user’s manual a little while ago and it said 6 hours of continuous running. I wanted to get to looking at it but the manual says you should charge it up first, so that’s what’s happening right now. The charger is just like a cell phone charger; you could also plug it into a USB port in your vehicle, computer, etc. This wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me but I think it’s pretty cool, basically from what I can tell your phone and Recon 5+ chargers are interchangeable.

Thanks for all the info guys! Looks like I will be shopping for a 5+ in the near future. I really like my Marcum LX6 so I might as well give the recon a whirl. 6 hours of battery life is pretty good. I have a question for the guys that have a recon 5 or 5+. With it being a usb charger can you use it and power it at the same time? I almost always have a power pack with me with usb ports on it so it would be nice to extend the life while I use it.

bken wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut4KAJZzbcg This was recorded with my vs625sd

That was amazing!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHSzmPtgbwk. Camera is pretty tough when a northern tries to eat it.