MarCum vs. Aqua Vu

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When it comes to the most preferred underwater fishing camera available in the market, Marcum and Aqua Vu have been fighting over being on top of the list for years. Both the distributors have been ruling the market by distributing the majority of the units that are being used. Both the distributors have different features for their cameras, which makes both their lineups interesting. You need to know what is more important to you before selecting one of them.

We have gathered all the key points you should know and consider before you think of buying MarCum cameras and Aqua Vu cameras. This article will focus on MarCum underwater fishing camera reviews and Aqua Vu underwater camera reviews. To be more specific, it will discuss the MarCum vs485c review and the Aqua Vu 715c review to help you decide and the right choice.

MarCum VS485c Review (ASIN B00JS32N78)

Before getting into any form of review of MarCum VS485c, you should know this camera's basic features and where you can find it. These features include the size, the dimension, the additional accessories, and whatnot.  The link to the product and the basic description of the product is given below.

Product Features

The viewing system comes with a 7 inches LCD Screen with High-Resolution H2D Solar Intelligent with 800x480 pixels. The system allows you to switch from black to white mode manually and switches automatically in low-light conditions. It also comes with an RCA video out jack.

Aqua-Vu AV 715C review (ASIN B00CJJ9Y5M)

We will be comparing MarCum VS485c and Aqua-Vu AV 715C. And, it is only fair we tell you about the basic features of Aqua-Vu AV 715C. Also, where you can find it, just like we did with MarCum VS485c. These features also include the size, the dimension, the additional accessories, and whatnot.  The link to the product and the basic description of the product is given below.

Product Features

It comes with 7-inches of an IP67 Waterproof full-color high-resolution LCD with screen, a sun shield to protect the screen, and an RCA video out jack. The Color camera is an anti-spook fish camera with adjustable IR lighting, auto low-light mode, and a 50-feet long cable.

MarCum VS485c VS. Aqua-Vu AV 715C

Now that you know all the technical things there is to know about both the cameras. It is time to compare the prices, qualities in different lighting, user-friendliness, camera panning, and durability. With this comparison of the factors that matter, you will be able to decide which one you want.

Price Range

Price is a huge factor that one has to consider before they commit to buying an underwater camera. You might be a beginner who is not that devoted yet to the sport. The price may be the only factor that will influence your buying decision.

Usually, Aqua-Vu models are cheaper than Marcum models. Though, they belong to the low-end pricing scale when both models offer nearly similar features. The Aqua-Vu AV 715C is available for $299.99 during writing, but you do need to backorder this moment. On the other hand, MarCum VS485c is available for $409.98.

Now, if you are willing to spend more money but want to get yourself a camera right away, you should get the MarCum VS485c. However, if you want to wait and get a camera at a reasonable price, you can backorder Aqua-Vu AV 715C.

Image Quality in Daylight/Bright Light

Both the brands perform well and, more importantly, equally well in daylight conditions. They both provide excellent clarity and grab every little detail of the view down there in the bright light setting. So if you want to go fishing only when there is proper lighting, we suggest you go with the Aqua-Vu AV 715C. It will give you the same quality as MarCum VS485c but cost you less.

Image Quality in Gloomy Water

Even though both the cameras function equally well in bright light, the difference in quality is visible in gloomy water.

MarCum VS485c performs better than Aqua-Vu AV 715C in gloomy water due to having a higher sensitivity camera. Higher sensitivity cameras help a lot with night viewing. This is why MarCum VS485c is a better option for everyday situations like overcast days. Also, in cases of snow’s thick layers at the pick of the ice.

Image Quality at Nightlight

Image quality during night light is a huge factor for those who are looking for rare fishes that only surface during the late hours. In other words, people who are devoted to the sport and fishes for acknowledgement.

As already mentioned, MarCum VS485c has a higher sensitivity camera which makes it better for night viewing than Aqua-Vu AV 715C. Also, it switches automatically from black mode to white mode. It guarantees a crispier and clearer image at dim light or night light conditions.

Image Quality for Open Water

We have been focused on how these cameras work underwater during cold weather. But, that does not mean it will not be a factor in the warm weather.

Suppose one intends to use the camera in the open water during warm weather. In that case, it is essential that the camera has the ability to mount the unit, capturing pictures moving forward or backward while trolling.

While both MarCum VS485c and Aqua-Vu AV 715C function properly in open water, Aqua-Vu AV 715C comes with many accessories designed for open water photography. One of these accessories includes a trolling fin with the unit viewing forward or backward as required for open water photography. It also comes with an adaptor that can be attached to the unit as a long pole to scan locations that are far away.

User-friendly

An underwater viewing system for beginners needs to be easy to work with. This not only means easy to take photos with. The underwater viewing system also needs to be easy to set up, easy to protect from the sun, and easy to recharge.

If we consider the process of setting up the system, setting up sun-shield, taking pictures, and recharging batteries, MarCum VS485c is a bit complicated.  It will take weeks of regular use to understand the process of setting it up and using it properly if you are a beginner. Also, the sun shield comes separately, which is later attached to the screen. This makes it very easy to forget about the sun shield.

On the other hand, Aqua-Vu has a line of models designed for beginners making it very easy to use. Aqua-Vu AV 715C is not any different from that either. It is very easy to set up, very easy to use, very easy to recharge, and very easy to protect. The sun shield is built-in with the viewing system's screen. So, there is no way you can forget about it like the one with MarCum VS485c.

Camera Panning Quality

If you are one of those who wants an underwater viewing system used in ice fishing, you must consider the camera's panning quality under consideration. Better panning quality lets the camera capture more of the view underwater. Also, it gives you a better understanding of what is going on down there.

You will need different panoramic systems for the cameras. You will require a MoPod for Aqua-Vu AV 715C to pan up to 360 degrees. There will be a need for a PanCam System for MarCum VS485c, which will also enable 360 degrees panning.

Both the system belong within the same price range. So, whichever you choose, you will be happy with the outcome.

Durability

Both the brands have a somewhat bad reputation for issues with faulty parts now and then. Sadly this is something very common when it comes to fishing electronics. This industry is still pretty new, so the design, technology, and development are still steady and have a long way to go.

Keeping that in mind, people were asked about their experience with the used Aqua-Vu AV 715C. The anglers who used Aqua-Vu AV 715C  complained about the parts malfunctioning in the middle of the underwater. There were other complaints about the faulty parts.

Nonetheless, between the anglers that were asked, we received fewer feedbacks complaining about the MarCum VS485c malfunctioning than we got for Aqua-Vu AV 715C.

Based on the feedback of the users, MarCum VS485c seems more durable, reliable, and well-built compared to Aqua-Vu AV 715C.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, buying an underwater viewing system can be confusing. You do not know what you should be looking for while buying one. As already mentioned, there are different factors to consider like the size, the dimension, the additional accessories, the quality in different situations, and also their durability.

That being said, the first thing you need to consider is why you are buying the underwater viewing camera. Are you buying it because you want to be devoted to the sport, or is it a hobby you want to start? Setting the goal and prioritizing it will help you understand what you need to look for in the camera. Ergo, it will make the process easier.

Hopefully, this article has successfully delivered an Aqua VU 715c review and a MarCum VS485c review for you to compare and evaluate before you choose what to get for yourself.

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