It’s been 8 years since the last post so figured I’d revive this conversation. I am going to list what I think are the pros and cons of the Marcum 438c & Aqua-Vu 715c cameras.

Marcum 438c ($299 – $349)
**Pros:
– Superior image quality over the Aqua-Vu 715c especially in low light conditions. The Marcum has 2 LED lights where the Aqua-Vu has 6 or 8 but the Marcum camera shows a wider view and requires less light with a less grainy image. This will come in handy if you fish at dusk, dawn or fish the night bite.
If you are looking at both cameras in a store with lights on, you will not notice a significant difference until you turn the lights off, that is where the Marcum blows the Aqua-Vu away.
**Cons:
– To charge the unit, you are required to disconnect the wire leads from the battery and connect a charger adapter. Because of the housing design, the positive lead is very difficult to push onto the battery. I recommend purchasing an aftermarket charger from Interstate Battery that has alligator clips.
– The way you wrap the cable up is cumbersome and could have been a much better design. It is more time consuming than the Aqua-Vu.
– Detachable velcro sun shield. Again it looks like they designed this visor in a 30 minute meeting to say they have a sun visor. Just another piece to loose or take up space.

Aqua-Vu 715c ($249 – $349)
**Pros:
– More rugged and thought out design. Setting up and packing up of the unit is a quick and easy. No fumbling with an awkward spool like the Marcum.
– Easy charging access (nice bullet plugin built into the base)
– Sun visor is built right onto the screen, very convenient!
– Price! I found this unit on sale for $249, $50.00 less than the Marcum on sale.
**Cons:
– Camera quality is fair in lighted conditions but poor to very poor in low light conditions. Although the LED lights help in these conditions, there is a significantly degraded image in low light conditions.

Recommendation
– If this is your first underwater camera, you fish mostly during the day and the water is reasonably clear, the Aqua-Vu 715c should be your choice. It is easy to setup and take down, with a more user friendly design with “average” image quality.
– If you fish at dusk, dawn or night, I suggest the Marcum 438c. In low light conditions, the image is significantly better!

Additional Thoughts
– Marcum Design Team: Mount your camera in an upright housing with a handle at the top. Copy the design of the Aqua-Vu’s sun visor, charging adapter, cable storage and upright design.
– Aqua-Vu Design Team: Ditch your current LCD & Camera supplier and contact Sony or Samsung to redesign them to satisfy low light conditions and improve image quality.

In the end, your buying a camera that will work best in most conditions, that is why I went with the Marcum. Although the overall package and charging is a hassle compared to the Aqua-Vu, I want a camera that performs better in dirty water or low light conditions.