We have an Aqua View 5 and we love it. It is great to see what is happening down there. It has 50 feet of line, so it can be used quite deep. It is true, it is not good in murky water. It also is hard to keep the camera pointed were you wanted as you have to twist the cord just right to point it. Once you have it pointed where u want it, it usually stays there though. I do agree, the camera down the hole might scare away smarter fish. But then again I have had some pike try to eat it rather than my bait
It does have lights on it, so that is nice for when it is dawn/dusk.
The best part about the Aqua View is the ability to put it down a test hole. Then I know how deep it is, what kinda structure is around and so on.
I have never used a flasher or fish finder, so I can't tell you anything about them.