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?

 

[zfeldma]

I like that the mini fluid heads move easily, then stay rock solid while glassing with a finger tip. Smallrig makes a nice little one that is cheap. Smaller than the little sirui one.

 

[FrankieP1988]

Shooting from a pan head is a pain, go with the ball head. Really Right Stuff Anvil 30 is the way


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[Dioni A]

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

If you’re trying to track a moving animal through thick cover it’s a disaster. Micro adjustments are significantly more difficult and I’ve never seen anyone find targets as quickly with one. I’ve killed a pile of big deer and never shot one from a tripod. I’ve looked at every single one of them with my spotter and multiple have been time critical.
Why on earth would you optimize a piece of gear for its least likely use case?

 

[waspocrew]

Tried glassing from a ball head, hated it. A pan head is way better for glassing in my experience.

 

[TaperPin]

If you’re trying to track a moving animal through thick cover it’s a disaster. Micro adjustments are significantly more difficult and I’ve never seen anyone find targets as quickly with one. I’ve killed a pile of big deer and never shot one from a tripod. I’ve looked at every single one of them with my spotter and multiple have been time critical.
Why on earth would you optimize a piece of gear for its least likely use case?

I guess I can’t relate - never had a problem tracking, fine tuning or finding animals with a ball head, even side by side with a fluid head.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Both! But if I had to choose, pan head. I do 100x more glassing on a mule deer hunt than shooting.

There are also ways to shoot using tripod that don’t include locking in, and even if I have ball head, I’m still getting prone off pack if that’s an option.

 

[Buglebrush]

I run a light and cheap leveling base under my panheads. Best of both worlds for a couple extra ounces.

 

[Buglebrush]

Fotopro Tripod Leveling Base 45mm Camera Level with Bubble Level Aluminium ±15° Adjustment Plate with 1/4" 3/8" Mounting Screws for Tripod Head, Compatible with DSLR Camera Camcorder, LY-20 PRO https://a.co/d/0b4gCBz6

 

[JDMBEND]

View attachment 825129
Both! But if I had to choose, pan head. I do 100x more glassing on a mule deer hunt than shooting.

There are also ways to shoot using tripod that don’t include locking in, and even if I have ball head, I’m still getting prone off pack if that’s an option.

This is the way!

 

[Jake Larsen]

If you’re trying to track a moving animal through thick cover it’s a disaster. Micro adjustments are significantly more difficult and I’ve never seen anyone find targets as quickly with one. I’ve killed a pile of big deer and never shot one from a tripod. I’ve looked at every single one of them with my spotter and multiple have been time critical.
Why on earth would you optimize a piece of gear for its least likely use case?

This has been my experience as well. It’s happened several times now where I’ve been sitting right next to a buddy using a ball head. Trying to locate/follow an animal on high zoom, looking across a canyon type situations. It’s a struggle session with the ball head.

Shooting off pan heads is fine. Not optimal, but that’s the last ditch option anyways. Lay down over the pack with a lightweight bag like the Molinator, or a bipod.


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