Marcum VS825 SD COLOR LCD Underwater Camera (note 2010 Addendum below)

We took a Marcum VS 825 SD next door out on Tofte Lake in search of rainbow trout and splake. We drilled our holes, scooped out the ice with a Slush Inhaler (awesome device), set up the Fishtrap X2 shelter and dropped in the Marcum VS 825 SDcamera down to the bottom. I had turned the unit on several times yesterday to see what "color viewing" was going to be like and while it looked great in the store, I wasn't entirely convinced that the extra hundred bucks for color would be that big of a deal. What I found was that bringing this Marcum VS 825c out onto the ice was a big mistake - my big mistake!

It turns out that we were a little too close to shore and ended up in 6 feet of water on Tofte. No biggy 'cause the trout are cruising the shallows it seem anyways. As the camera went down the hole, I saw the Lowrance X67 Ice-ducer hanging down and the ice was beautiful. I got 3 feet down and looked at the screen and saw the bottom and the view. Whoever thought that sticks, mud and grass could ever look so great?!! The view was spectacular!!!!! Notice the use of exclamation marks - not just 3, but 5 big ones!

Next we dropped down our Chubby Darters and turned the Marcum Camera Compass (DO NOT leave home without one of these regardless of who makes your camera - excellent accessory !!!!! ) When our Chubby Darters came into view we both made noises of shock and awe! Holy Smokes, you should have seen the view!

The Sony Camera that Marcum uses is wide angle (in all directions) and with the BIG LCD screen above the ice, you can count the stripes on your Chubby Darter, see the knots in your mono, and view a number 10 snap swivel with clarity that I've never seen before!

After marveling at the view and swiming our Chubby Darters around in circles we decided to head out to deeper water. We flipped up the X2, picked up the electronics, put them on the seats, cranked up the rods and moved out to sligthly deeper water where my dad was fishing in his permanent shack. Of course, we have all the cool electronics in hand and my dad has a nice rainbow laying on the ice outside while he's armed with a heater, a Chubby Darter, and a bucket. We drill new holes and re-set up. The entire process takes about 8 minutes and we're drowning our Chubby Darters once again.

Back in the hole goes the camera and this time we also drop Mike's Marcum VS 560 down as well to compare. Got everything set up and here glides in a nice rainbow in full, blazing color into our Chubby Darter-laden trap viewed on the Marcum LCD screen. The shimmering, shining beautiful fish takes a look at our sitting-still Chubbies, then our slightly-moving Chubbies, then our jig-for-effect(!) Chubbies... and swims away uninterested. We move beyond "ooo-&-aaahhh" to making sounds like the opposing team just scored at the Super Bowl. If we had popcorn and chips, they would have been all over the ice. That's why we don't bring chips and salsa when we're fishing. We also don't waste time with the Super Bowl. I could never figure out what would compel a grown man to be fartin' around on the tailgate of his SUV "cooking" with other guys in a parking lot during a dumb football game when he could be out on the ice fishing. It makes no sense from a hunter-gatherer standpoint... or maybe it does based on how many rainbows we actually brought home. You can't eat pretty pictures. But DANG, it's fun!!!!!

Well, that's it; I'm ruined. I REALLY loved the color screen and the size of it. I'm sure the Marcum VS 820 will do a stellar job in black & white LCD with the same Sony CCD HAD camera, but the breathtaking color images have ruined me for life. I know I can do it, but I don't want to - I don't want to fish in B & W any more.

At 2 PM today, Mike and I are meeting out on our lake Jasper at a predetermined spot to look at other species in these different water conditions. Based on what I saw at Tofte and my experience over the years with cameras, I'm looking forward to really good views. We're going to set out the Reel Weeds and I might even bring a bag of chips. -JB-

2010 Addendum: This Marcum VS 825 SD is the NEWEST version of this camera. It has the ability to switch from a color light sensor to an actual black & white light sensor as opposed to simply removing the color and pixels from the color image. Removing pixels is what other color cameras do. While these cameras still have the ability to view in black & white to make a better contrasted, more definitive image in less than perfect conditions, other color cameras use the same light sensor to do both color and B & W.. They just remove pixels and digital data so you end up with a B & W image. While that does work, that's not really accurate and my guess would be that it's not as intense an image as having a dedicated light sensor like Marcum uses. Marcums VS 825SD also is three times brighter than their older VS 825's and they say that you can really see outside in sunlight. The older model needed something over your head. Im my opinion, Marcum's VS 825 SD is the king of the mountain.

As with all underwater cameras, if you are looking in pea-soup (aka cloudy, dirty, or really stained water), while Marcum cameras will do the best for your buck, they still may not prove to be very visible in dark/dirty conditions. So the rule of thumb I use is if I can see my white jig about 6 feet down the hole, the camera will probably work pretty well. Clearer water is always best. Remember: we won't take any camera back if you can't see in the lake you are fishing in. If the camera works out of the water (good picture) there is nothing wrong with it. It is the water you are in. Try as we might, we cannot control or know the water clarity in your neck of the woods. Hence the reason for this explaination.

Marcum Factory Descriptions -

Designed for Total System Performance The vs825sd sets a new standard in underwater viewing technology. This Camera is equipped with Sony's most powerful Super HAD II CCD optics and an oversized 8-inch Solar Intelligent Display. The display is 3 times brighter than previous models and can be switched between Color and Black and White to produce a breathtaking view of the underwater world, regardless of the conditions (HA! See note below) complete with 75-feet of Kevlar reinforced cable, on-screen displays of camera depth, direction, water temperature and battery voltage. Calibrated for use in fresh or salt water. Display information can even be converted to metric. This camera comes complete and ready for rotation with the MarCum Camera Panner. 

Joe's Ladder to Reality - I will not argue that this is a really great camera and probably the best one that I know of out there for recreational underwater viewing. It's loads of fun, has a sharper image than any other camera out there and it's made in Minnesota - which is still remains the most important state in the USA last I checked. So, that makes the Marcum VS 825 SD even extra special. However, it (and no other camera made) is so special that you will always see "a breathtaking view of the underwater world, regardless of conditions." That's what the factory info writes above and we all know they are trying to sell a camera. There's no shame in trying to sell a truly great camera.

However, in lakes with murky, dirty, really-stained, water, this camera (and all other brands of underwater cameras) are going to suck in picture quality. There will be some dirty/dark lakes that won't allow you to see your jig sitting 6 inches in front of the camera lens. If the water you are on is like the tough viewing conditions I've just described, don't get any brand of camera. You'll just drive us and tech-support at the manufacturer crazy for no reason. The camera is fine, but your lake is not easily viewable. Get a Marcum flasher instead or a Marcum Showdown. Unlike a camera, water quality does not affect these and they will let you know about the presence of fish below you in the entire water column. You'll be better off.

OK - It's blunt, but wouldn't you want to know before you shell out that cash? -JB-

VS 825 in layman's terms
This color camera is as easy to operate as the Marcum VS 820. It's essentially the same thing but with dazzling color added. It has a heater behind the screen to keep the liquid crystal moving nicely in cold weather and you just push buttons to turn it on. The unit plus the power for the LED lights, adjust contrast and adjust brightness/ intensity are all easy to get to and require the use of your finger. You can use the video output jack in the for recording the big one that swam by - but now you can do it in color to make lasting memories and dazzle your friends at the garden parties and weddings you'll be forced to attend for the next five years after you order this camera without clearing it with your Board of Director. Note: I did not use an "s" at the end of Director - I have one, too. Go ahead and order your Marcum VS 825 from us. It's a very compact unit as well. Just think of the fun you'll have!

Must-Have Accessories
The one thing you'll need is the Marcum Camera Compass to center the camera cable in the hole and allow you to determine the direction of the camera easily. Very useful item that can be used with ANY brand of camera. You also need Reel Weeds Camera Cable Structure. It seems a bit goofy until you see them in action. Fish that used to swim right up to the camera, inspect it and then ignore your lures and either swim away or hang out in just out of reach. Now they swim up to the weeds thinking that they have some cover instead of just seeing that suspicious and alien-looking camera.

Underwater Camera Layout
When I go out, I like to drill three holes. One for the camera that is placed so that it can see two holes without having to be moved. Here's a diagram:

Summary - While having any underwater camera is better than no underwater camera for ice fishing, this is the top-of-the-line unit. I don't have to say anymore.

This Marcum VS825c LCD has 75 feet of cable. ORDER HERE