Ball head handle???

[guitarpreston]

I got a ball head to try and I don’t hate it, but I feel like a handle would make it a lot easier to control. Thinking about making an adapter that bolts to the bottom of the arca plate to run one as a test. Really considering this for a mod to the aziak frontcountry if I pick one up, then with the tilt lock engaged it should function as a pan/tilt head and you could unlock it and remove the handle if you want to shoot off it.
Anyone ever try to add an arm to a ball head?

 

[Lowedown]

I have been contemplating the exact same thing. I recently picked up a frontcountry. The handle would need to attach to a point above the ball. So to the arca plate lock, or the arca plate, or the optic, or an adapter. I was thinking of making a simple one for my Tricer BA attachment but this would only help the Binos. The big spotter would still need something....

 

[guitarpreston]

I’m thinking I could make a handle mounting block out of aluminum and drill a couple holes into the bottom side of the arca plate. That would make it work with any optic. Just not sure how to make it a QD aside from threading the handle end.

 

[guitarpreston]

I have been contemplating the exact same thing. I recently picked up a frontcountry. The handle would need to attach to a point above the ball. So to the arca plate lock, or the arca plate, or the optic, or an adapter. I was thinking of making a simple one for my Tricer BA attachment but this would only help the Binos. The big spotter would still need something....

Could also swap the arca place for something like this

 

[Alpine4x4]

A thin plate sandwiched between an arca plate that attaches to the ballhead and something like the Tricer GO on top with the plate accepting the handle off to the side might work. I recently got a Front Country ballhead and have been thinking the same thing...

 

[guitarpreston]

I just bought the one pictured above. Will get it Sunday and check it out. Isn’t the arca clamp on the aziak held on with one bolt in the center?

 

[Alpine4x4]

I just bought the one pictured above. Will get it Sunday and check it out. Isn’t the arca clamp on the aziak held on with one bolt in the center?

Why yes it is.

 

[guitarpreston]

Then you should be able to buy that head off of Amazon and swap them. I’m sure there’s a weight penalty and the aziak is likely of higher quality overall but it’s just a clamp.

 

[guitarpreston]

Should be an interesting test!

 

[guitarpreston]

Well gang it worked! Haven’t had time to stick my spotter or binos on but I did swap the plate directly and it’s got a handle now

 

[Yung6ix]

Several times I had friends let me use their scopes on ball heads to have a look at something and each and every time I was wandering what possessed them to use such a torturous device, which is inherently unstable because of basic laws of physics and really nothing can be done against that.

 

[guitarpreston]

Several times I had friends let me use their scopes on ball heads to have a look at something and each and every time I was wandering what possessed them to use such a torturous device, which is inherently unstable because of basic laws of physics and really nothing can be done against that.

The front country is a different animal since it has tilt lock and physically can’t flop over to the side.

 

[Alpine4x4]

Well gang it worked! Haven’t had time to stick my spotter or binos on but I did swap the plate directly and it’s got a handle now

Got a link to that? I'm gonna order one and do the same mod.

Several times I had friends let me use their scopes on ball heads to have a look at something and each and every time I was wandering what possessed them to use such a torturous device, which is inherently unstable because of basic laws of physics and really nothing can be done against that.

The front country is a different animal since it has tilt lock and physically can’t flop over to the side.

Bingo. The Aziak FC can be locked. It operates as either a true ballhead or a pan head. It can also lock down at 90* to bring the scope lower. Its pretty unique.

 

[guitarpreston]

Admittedly it’s a small spotter so idk how a bigger one would do but so far I’m relatively pleased

 

[guitarpreston]

Amazon.com

 

[Timberline001]

Several times I had friends let me use their scopes on ball heads to have a look at something and each and every time I was wandering what possessed them to use such a torturous device, which is inherently unstable because of basic laws of physics and really nothing can be done against that.

Biggest upside I can see is you can pack one tripod into the backcountry for glassing and shooting. I’d rather do that than shoot off my pan head.