Window mounts - who uses them?

[Go West Old Man]

Who uses a window mount for their binoculars or spotter? Looks cool on TV shows, but seems to me that viewing would be a limited panoramic degrees of view because you’re probably in your seat, and only in your side of the truck. Pros & cons, let’s hear it. Thanks.

 

[Brian Fahs]

I do.
If it's raining or I really want to cover ground quickly the truck seat is where I glass. I do not like glassing through window glass, a good window mount and head are rock solid If the truck motor is turned off.

 

[Elkangle]

Window mounts are a necessity

Buy a window clamp and then toss a RRS bh30 ball head on there and never look back

 

[Brian Fahs]

Twin kowa 664s on a window mont.

 

[dirtytough]

I do most days when I’m working. It’s ok. Kind of a pain in the butt when you are jumping into the passenger seat to get a look at a buck on that side.

 

[Go West Old Man]

I do.
If it's raining or I really want to cover ground quickly the truck seat is where I glass. I do not like glassing through window glass, a good window mount and head are rock solid If the truck motor is turned off.

Didn’t think about the weather/rain. Makes sense. (Obviously I haven’t done this before. )

 

[Go West Old Man]

View attachment 582109
Twin kowa 664s on a window mont.

That’s a spotter beast!

 

[Steve300xcw]

Use it more than I thought I would.

Heck half the time anymore, if we go out and shoot. We will stick the spotter on the window. And just stand next to the truck, looking through the cab.

 

[rcook10]

I see a lot of country driving around. Whether i’m hunting or not its nice to be able to see stuff up close!

 

[Go West Old Man]

Anybody have this? or ?

 

[Newtosavage]

Who uses a window mount for their binoculars or spotter? Looks cool on TV shows, but seems to me that viewing would be a limited panoramic degrees of view because you’re probably in your seat, and only in your side of the truck. Pros & cons, let’s hear it. Thanks.

Use one a ton. Easy to move the truck enough to see what I want to see. Comfortable and warm on those early mornings, and I can enjoy a bit of quiet music as I wake up glassing too. What's not to like?

 

[Newtosavage]

Here's what I am using now

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K0DNBAW?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

That little "flare" is important if you want the most stability possible from a true window mount. After tightening the mount on the glass, you can lower the glass until the flared edge makes contact with the door. That gives you another point of contact and steadies the whole thing up quite nicely.

 

[tracker12]

What pan head did you pair with the window mount.

 

[Go West Old Man]

What pan head did you pair with the window mount.

@Newtosavage , same question …. and do you have that ball or fluid head dedicated to the window mount only versus taking it on & off the to use elsewhere?

 

[Newtosavage]

I'm using this head currently but it's a little lacking for gloved hands.

https://www.amazon.com/SmallRig-Leveling-Release-Adjustable-4kg-4170/dp/B0BV6ZBZ8N/ref=sr_1_11?crid=55D1MHK2AR0B&keywords=lightweight+video+head+ball+leveler&qid=1692358272&sprefix=lightweight+video+head+ball+leveler%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-11&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

Very small and compact however, and it takes Arca Swiss plates. The ball leveler is nice if you're parked on a slope. This allows you to still pan level to the horizon instead of in an arc.

SmallRig makes one without the ball leveler that has larger controls and I'm planning on trying one soon.

https://www.amazon.com/SmallRig-Selection-Release-Compact-Cameras/dp/B09C89QPR6/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3O9VZ5UJ7GJZJ&keywords=small+rig+video+head&qid=1692358390&sprefix=small+rig+video+head%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

[Go West Old Man]

I'm using this head currently but it's a little lacking for gloved hands.

https://www.amazon.com/SmallRig-Leveling-Release-Adjustable-4kg-4170/dp/B0BV6ZBZ8N/ref=sr_1_11?crid=55D1MHK2AR0B&keywords=lightweight+video+head+ball+leveler&qid=1692358272&sprefix=lightweight+video+head+ball+leveler%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-11&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

Very small and compact however, and it takes Arca Swiss plates. The ball leveler is nice if you're parked on a slope. This allows you to still pan level to the horizon instead of in an arc.

Thanks. What about a small ball head with this window mount? Would that solve being parked on a slope, or is a ball head better suited for static use & not panning. Yup, I’m showing my ignorance on this , but Rokslide is always a good teacher!

Note: Same company, Oben, makes a small ball head, model BE-108 , available paired with their flared window mount. Probably not great for gloves but it looks small.

 

[Newtosavage]

Thanks. What about a small ball head with this window mount? Would that solve being parked on a slope, or is a ball head better suited for static use & not panning. Yup, I’m showing my ignorance on this , but Rokslide is always a good teacher!

Note: Same company, Oben, makes a small ball head, model BE-108 , available paired with their flared window mount. Probably not great for gloves but it looks small.

Ball heads are fine and I've used them for glassing from a window mount, but a true fluid video head is best in my experience.

Gloves make it tough to operate small levers and screws. if I'm sitting in a warm truck and glassing on a cold day, my hands are the only thing that need protection. So it's something to consider.

 

[philson208]

I usually leave the spotter in the truck and have a window mount handy. I'll sit and glass and have coffee before work a lot of times, when I don't have adequate time for proper scouting. cons are I have to position my truck towards where I want to glass and passengers don't get to see what I see! pros are its easy enough to just leave in the rig for the occasional spotting session.

 

[TaperPin]

I wouldn’t be caught without a good window mount. It‘s just too easy to stop and glass something.

Antelope and deer hunting in the sage makes a window mount essential - all day driving little two track roads and glassing is essential and this is efficient.

I think of the part that attaches to the window as a separate piece from the tripod head that’s used.

 

[Go West Old Man]

Here's what I am using now

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K0DNBAW?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

That little "flare" is important if you want the most stability possible from a true window mount. After tightening the mount on the glass, you can lower the glass until the flared edge makes contact with the door. That gives you another point of contact and steadies the whole thing up quite nicely.

@Newtosavage , I got this widow mount. Haven’t used or tried it yet but it looks pretty heavy duty. Thanks for the tip. For binoculars, are you using a tall or short bino adapter, or does it really matter as long as it accommodates the binocular size?