Dual purpose tripod - budget pan head

[satchamo]

I’m looking to run the aziak ridgeline this fall for both shooting AND glassing. I have the ridgeline so I’m just looking to pair up a pan head with it now.

The obvious choices are the wiser nighthawk or the tricer. But the price tags are hard to swallow when I’m not even sure I’ll like this setup.

Does anyone have experience with any cheaper options for a pan head I could attach to the arca clamp of ridgeline?

 

[ehayes]

I’d wonder if you could pick up a used one and if you don’t like re sell it and probably not lose too much money. Especially compared to buying a crappy one and not being able to re sell it.

I have a nighthawk. If you aren’t going to use it until October 1 and later I’d let you borrow mine if you pay shipping both ways. PM me if interested.

 

[huntsman22]

not as light, but I like this'un....

 

[eric1115]

Smallrig CH10 is great for what you described. A bit heavier than the Tricer or Wiser, but lots less money and nice to use. Not super heavy by any means, but not as light as the $$ ones. I use on on my Leofoto leveling base tripod the same way you're looking to do and I really really like it (plate on the bottom of the CH10 so it gets removed to clip a rifle in to the clamp on the leveling base).

 

[huntsman22]

I have the CH3 and much prefer the sunway. Is the ch10 that much better than ch3?

 

[eric1115]

I've never used the ch3 but it looks a good bit cheesier than the 10. It's been quite a while since I had a VA5 but from my recollection it's not nearly as far ahead of the CH10 as I expected from the difference in size, weight and cost.

I'd like to try the sunway sometime!

 

[JMundy84]

Will the ch10 hold up an 85mm spotter?

 

[mrchomponthis2.0]

I second the ch.10 recommendation.

for the price it can’t be beat.

Not sure on it handling an 85mm comfortably.

 

[eric1115]

Will the ch10 hold up an 85mm spotter?

It holds my Kowa 65 very nicely, never tried an 80.

 

[huntsman22]

I use the 'cheesier' CH3 with an 80 swaro, but only on a window mount... I use it on a tabletop tripod for a 65mm, and it's useable.

 

[satchamo]

Smallrig CH10 is great for what you described. A bit heavier than the Tricer or Wiser, but lots less money and nice to use. Not super heavy by any means, but not as light as the $$ ones. I use on on my Leofoto leveling base tripod the same way you're looking to do and I really really like it (plate on the bottom of the CH10 so it gets removed to clip a rifle in to the clamp on the leveling base).

Were you able to use the arca plate that comes with it to screw into the bottom of the head itself for attaching to my arca clamp on my ball head?