Guys
Last year i purchased a 380 Black and white and it seemed to work fine during the day in a clear water lake however at low light times it lost it’s clarity and became fuzzy
fully charged battery was used
This year i used it for the first time on a slightly stained water lake and it was even worse
Fully charged battery, and tried adjusting all controls as well as tring it witht the light on and off
Besides spending the big bucks on buying a color one, do you guys have any suggestions? 
Are you using it inside a shelter? With a black and white screen you really need to have reflection and white light cut to a minimum.
yes
everything was closed up
When I was a kid the b&w TVs needed to warm up before you saw any picture, of course they had vacume tubes. But the 380 still has a CRT, how cold was it? Just a guess…
I just re-read your original post. Clear water is going to give you a much better picture than stained water. One lake that I fish is pretty muddy, during open water you cannot see anything because the muck is all mixed up, but when it freezes over you can see 2-3 feet with a VS380. And the picture looks kind of milky.
It was in the 20’s
does the Vs 380 normally not work well in low light conditions like at first light in the morning or after dark?
20 degrees shouldn’t make a difference, but low light might. Turn your contrast most of the way up with lights on and adjust the brightness, and you should be able to see something. Good thing you are still under warranty. This year I purchased one of the 825sd and was concerned about the warranty since I ordered it in September and did not recieve it until almost December. I called and inquired about my purchase date and actually receiving it and the guy I talked to said that he understood and they actually warranty it for two ice seasons. If you still have problems I would call them. I called before 8:00 am and got to talk to customer service within a few minutes.
Thanks for the advice
Good 
luck on the ice this season
every camera i have ever used only seems to work no more than 15 feet down and thats pushin it most the time like 11.
I have fished with my vs380 in 27 fow, with no problems. Marcum dark water technology cameras are great…
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every camera i have ever used only seems to work no more than 15 feet down and thats pushin it most the time like 11.
I have some footage from 45 feet of water that is incredibly clear from Lucy Lake in Ontario. On Mille Lacs I have no issue getting very good visibility in 30+ feet of water. On Mille Lacs I commonly place the cameras 6-8 feet from the hole in 12′ – 20′ of water and can see FAR past my lure with vivid colors present on fish and lures. It all comes down to water clarity and amount of light present.
Last year we compared the 380, 820 and 825c on the same trip and all of them in water to at least 25 feet if I recall correctly. Either way I know it was deeper than 15 feet.
All cameras were sharp and clear at any depth although the LCD cameras had the edge on the detail.
From what you’ve described it does sound like a battery problem. Can you borrow a battery from a flasher?
After that, I don’t have an answer for you.
BTW the all the Marcum cameras work very well in the 50 foot range…and if the water on the river ever slows down, I’ll be filming in 70 fow this year.
Bull Cans, is it fuzzy out of the water too?
This is what perplexes me about this VS 380
Although it is mainly a mud bottom lake, i am in only about 7 fow and i would have expected better clarity
Last season i was on a clear water lake and was able to see clearly at 22 fow
The picture that i have been seeing on this shallower water lake is much more “grainy” and fuzzy like an old TV with “Rabbit ears” not turned properly.
And as mentioned in my ealier post, i have a fully charged battery which i can understand making a big difference
I may have to contact Marcum?
I forgot when I was waiting for my 825sd I was communicating with another member on IDO who was waiting for his 825sd also.(we will call him Mr. No) Anyway his first outing he was in a rather deep lake checking out some boulders in 60 feet of water and got his camera stuck in them. Long story a little shorter he had to break it off and $279 later he is back up and running. My point he could see in 60 FOW.
No sir…
Crystal clear
The reason I asked about switching out the battery is because there are times when the charger says it’s fully charged and it’s not. Changing out the battery will rule the battery out completely.
Otherwise, you’ve got me by the tail.
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The reason I asked about switching out the battery is because there are times when the charger says it’s fully charged and it’s not.
The charger for the 380 does not tell you when it is charged, it is just a charger with a couple alligator clips. I always just plug mine in for a day or two and hope for the best.
That’s right, thanks Twist. One more reason to switch out batteries before moving on.
I don’t know why they don’t send the smart chargers with all the cameras…well, I guess they do…now.
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