XLR element on Sirui VA-5

[ajbailey21]

Hey guys - I’m new to the topic, but my VA-5 I think will work with the arca fore end however I think it would have to slide in from the end. Is there an adapter I need to be able to put it in without having to slide. Maybe something like this? I tried to search but must not be hitting right keywords as I can’t find anythin.

Sirui MP-20 Quick Release Plate Adapter

Sirui MP-20 Quick Release Plate Adapter Description The Sirui MP-20 Quick Release Plate Adapter is very useful if you and a buddy are headed into the backcountry and plan on sharing a spotter. This adapter allows you both to run whatever tripod head you like but use the same plates, saving...

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[Brandon.miller.4]

You would have to bolt an arca plate on the bottom of that adapter first. Adding weight and bulk.

You can glass and shoot off of ball heads.
You can NOT feasibly shoot off of pan heads. This subject has been brought up many times and anyone who is actually serious about using a tripod for shooting and glassing eventually goes to a ball head. I personally have an XLR chassis and have used my tripod to make shots I otherwise wouldn't have been able to make...all of those shots would have been nearly impossible from a pan head.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I love shooting off of my VA-5. It makes for a nice, rock steady rest.

 

[swavescatter]

My Rem 700 XLR Element 4.0 chassis barely fits my Sirui VA5 head by sliding in all the way from the front. My Tikka XLR Element 4.0 does NOT fit at all.

My RRS Anvil 30 head fits both chassis great, as does my Vortex Summit Carbon II. Neither are as nice for glassing as the VA5.

Pick your poison or run two tripods.

 

[MaraviaDave]

You can glass and shoot off of ball heads.
You can NOT feasibly shoot off of pan heads.

This statement is 100% correct and should not be dismissed.

Panning heads don’t allow you to tilt to the left and right…..turning left and right is not the same thing. Try it for yourself. Aside from making adjustments to the lengths of the tripod legs, you won’t be able to get your reticle/rifle level (in the X-axis), using a panning head alone.

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

This statement is 100% correct and should not be dismissed.

Panning heads don’t allow you to tilt to the left and right…..turning left and right is not the same thing. Try it for yourself. Aside from making adjustments to the lengths of the tripod legs, you won’t be able to get your reticle/rifle level (in the X-axis), using a panning head alone.

Not to mention the use cases I've had for a tripod would have had the sirui handle impacting the legs due to extreme angles. It's just the wrong tool for the job.

 

[roosiebull]

My xlr would fit just a little way sliding from the fore end, but like others mentioned, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to shoot off a pan head in the field

I think there are options, but I carry a ball head in my pack and glass with my va5 because I hate glassing with ball heads

I have also not had it logically work out in the field to shoot off a tripod besides once, and that particular time I was glassing with a ball head, my wife shot her spring bear off a tripod with her xlr… worked ok, but still was a lot of messing around trying to get it dialed in for her

Would be fairly straightforward setting it up for myself, but I usually won’t take the time to mess with the tripod if it’s just me

I like the concept but it hasn’t been a game changer by any stretch, the va5 would have been fine for just shooting (if it held up) but would be a bit of a cluster in the field