Glass from ball head or shoot from pan/fluid head

[guitarpreston]

What would you rather take on a glassing heavy mule deer gun hunt? Ball or fluid/pan head? Would like to have the ability to shoot from my tripod.
Not counting the new tricer with both.

 

[flyfisher117]

I would rather glass from a ball head than shoot from a pan head.

That one new Tricer head may be worth looking at. It does both

 

[hereinaz]

IMO Glass from a ball head. Mine isn’t that much heavier than micro pans. The benefit I have to shoot over brush with tripod is too great. I also lose weight by leaving the bipod at home. My “heavy” loadout can be equal or less than others.

If you don’t want the full benefit it doesn’t matter as much. Depends on how/what your hunt looks like.

 

[JohnB]

I've been pretty happy glassing from my Aziak Frontcountry since it is possible to use as a pan head. I have not shot off of it yet so can't offer any feedback there.

 

[guitarpreston]

I've been pretty happy glassing from my Aziak Frontcountry since it is possible to use as a pan head. I have not shot off of it yet so can't offer any feedback there.

Glad to hear. The FrontCountry tripod and head have my attention.

 

[Kurts86]

A ball head with independent pan is a good compromise in my experience.

 

[TaperPin]

I’ve never found a fluid head to be any advantage - I’m not looking for game while the scope is moving - move a little, look for things while scope is still, move a little, look for things while scope is still, etc.

Now, if I was into making videos I’d want a fluid head, but that’s different.

 

[Dioni A]

I would strongly argue against glassing from a ball head. If all you’re doing is putting your binoculars on it that’s fine but if you do much with a spotting scope, it leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve shot a bunch off of a pan head and it’s less of a compromise than glassing off of a ball head.

 

[4090Sharps]

As long as you have a ball head with pan, you’re not giving up a whole lot glassing with one.

I spend 15 minutes glassing the mountains by my house almost every single day, and at least 4x 2hr sessions a month rambling around throughout the year. Most of the time it’s with a Leofoto MH-40 or Aziak backcountry ball head. Only on occasion do I switch to a pan head, and it’s almost always for weight savings—the Wiser Precision head is a favorite of mine.

 

[TaperPin]

I would strongly argue against glassing from a ball head. If all you’re doing is putting your binoculars on it that’s fine but if you do much with a spotting scope, it leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve shot a bunch off of a pan head and it’s less of a compromise than glassing off of a ball head.

Curious what you found objectionable about the ball head? Sticky side to side movement or something else?