Every underwater fishing camera gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Cameras are grouped by monitor size, up to 5 in and 7 in and up, and use the same scale in both groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | current price, on a log scale | 20% |
| Screen | monitor size | 15% |
| Cable | camera cable length | 15% |
| Runtime | continuous battery runtime | 10% |
| Features | recording, infrared and white lights, temperature readout, video out and cable reel | 30% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Screen size, cable length, runtime, lights, recording and warranty come from the maker’s product page or manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. A cable sold in metres is converted to feet. When a maker gives a runtime range, the low end is used. Figures that conflict within the maker’s own copy (for example a title that gives one cable length and a description that gives another) are left out rather than guessed. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Price is the current price on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same: $600 scores zero and $60 full marks.
Screen is the monitor’s diagonal: 4 in scores zero and 9 in full marks. Pocket cameras score lower here by design, which is why they are ranked in their own group.
Cable is the length of the camera cable: 30 ft scores zero and 100 ft full marks.
Runtime is the maker’s continuous battery runtime per charge: 4 hours scores zero and 12 hours full marks.
Features is 30% for video recording, 15% for infrared lights, 15% for white LEDs, 15% for an on-screen water temperature readout, 15% for video out to a bigger screen and 10% for a built-in cable reel or spool.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: none scores zero, 1 year half marks and 2 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Camera resolution, screen resolution, field of view, depth rating, battery capacity, weight and release date are listed but not scored. Camera resolution in particular is published in units that don’t compare, from TV lines on budget cameras to 1080p on HD systems, and the number says little about the picture you get in murky water.
Missing data
If screen size, cable length or runtime isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Features score neutral only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.