Opinions on underwater video camera?

[TheOtherLine]

Does anyone have experience with underwater video cameras?

I'm talking about the kind to troll behind you with cable. How do they work? Do they display on your MFD or separate monitor? How do you control the depth? Color overkill? B&W just fine?

Are they clear?

I am wanting a camera to verify what I think I see on my MFD. As I cruise around, I will mark bottom that looks real attractive and I would like to check it out.

Any advice or suggestions?

 

[grouperjim]

while you are fiddling with the camera, i'll be putting fish in the boat. lol

 

[TheOtherLine]

RATS! I was hoping to unleash a secret weapon upon you ! :mrgreen:

I took my wife (The Live Banana) out last week and instead of doing the "ride around to nowhere" thing, I was able to convince her to let me at least troll.

As I was making my way down the pipeline, I veered off a bit and stumbled across some very interesting bottom. Sure wish I could see what was down there. Also have some old wreck numbers but not sure if it's still there or not. Don't see it show up so it could have sanded over.

Anyway, the camera thing is kinda intriguing to me.

PS: For those of you who don't know, my wife is one of "those". Yes, a bonafide, card carrying PETA person. Of course, I didn't catch a thing. She put the evil eye on my lure... :roll:

 

[sparky]

We do underwater video professionally (towed video sled with scaling lasers and whatnot), but we've actually had good luck with the SeaViewer. Its cheap (relatively), and comes with some decent accessories. We also purchased the miniDVR that they sell, which wasn't that cheap, but does a great job recording what comes up from the camera. Ours is color, but when it gets dark, it switches to low-light B&W mode. Truth be told, StructureScan or something like it would probably be more useful. We do that too (Side scan sonar).