ok i know this has been beat up before but im thinking of upgrading/getting a new camera and without going thru pages of posts i figured i would bring it up again. whats the best bang for the buck on a camera? being the ice fishing show and cabelas is having there sale this weekend i might bite it and upgrade. ant opinions would be helpful. i currently own an outdoor viewing system camera.

It depends what you are looking for in a camera. The Aqua view cameras have some cool features, most show the temp, some show depth also.
I have an OVS camera, I rigged it to point down, it is one of their early models , I like the resolution better than either of my Aqua views.
The major advantage in a newer model would be the ability to record. They have a digital recorder that you can hook right up to the aquaview, and then you can play it back. I would go with the biggest screen size also, it's easier to see when you have a bigger screen.
If money is no object, they have one with a daylight viewable display, it is still kind of spendy.
The depth finder is still my most used tool, I would upgrade that before I would even think about a camera. There has to be almost crystal clear water before you can have good results with any of these cameras.

Does the color really make a difference? Things are going to pretty much be shades of green or brown so why spend the extra for color?

red glow or gray glow?

Tom:

A color camera is a premium feature that allows anglers in clear water the ability to detect everything from the greenest weeds, to the color of the forage that fish might be chasing.

That said, in many of the varied environments I fish, the Marcum 820 (B/W camera) provides better contrast for most situations. For the specialist, especially for panfishermen in clear water, the color camera excels!

Joel

i had a ovs about a year or so ago before i sold it, they are great in the daytime but i have yet seen a camera that works good at night

I use the Marcum 820 black and white in the super stained waters of Upper Red Lake. The 820 with the on-screen adjustments make it great for dialing it into the conditions on Upper Red Lake whatever they may be. Basically that camera with its Dark Water technology and the ability to fine tune it to any condition makes it the best value for me in the stained water since it is one of few that will actually work in Upper Red Lake as nightfall comes around.

Now If came across clear water such smaller pan fish or trout waters or anything Canadian it would be color all the way, talk about having an edge!

thanks for your input guys and keep them coming. i am not interested in one with color, black and white is fine. i have used my ovs on red also it just a matter of how far you can see is all.not interested in needing one after dark either. the camera is just another toy you just gotta have. also use a vexilar for nite fishin.