tripod head question?

[Guest wdenike]

Am I the only one that thinks he might prefer a three way head over a pan head? I'm just thinking keeping the binos level with the head is much easier than messing with the legs, and easier to get perfection and comfort. And also some recommendations on some of the three ways ya all are having good luck with.

 

Take care, Willie

[wildwoody]

love my outdoorsman pistal grip , just sqweeze point and reliese its awesome and effortless

[AZ_SAWBUCK]

+1 on the ball head or pistol grip style. I have a Vortex Ridgeview tripod with a built in ball joint. Topped with HD 15X50 Vipers. Its a relatively inexpensive set up (around $800) and I find just as much game a my buddies who have WAY more expensive setups.

 

I also have a lighter setup composed of Nikon 10x42's and a Vortex High Country tripod (around $450) which also has a ball joint head, I use this setup for archery hunts where there is usually a lot more hiking to do.

[Guest wdenike]

Nobody uses any of the three way manfrotto heads?

 

Take care, Willie

[Hornhunter247]

Are you talking about a fluid head? I know I have a few of them that move in any direction up/down, left/right and diagonal. I love them over any ball head or pistol grip I've ever used! I just recently put together a new packing set up that consists of a vanguard ph-111 head and promaster legs. Sooooo smooth and light!!! The head is a dream with my 12x50 swaro's or my 80mm scope.

[Guest wdenike]

Maybe I'm describing it wrong. It is the ones with three handles. The third handle allows ya to level horizontally. Maybe its just me, but when I look through bino's I don't like them to be canted to the right or left. And with a vidio head your sort of screwed unless the legs are 100% level.

 

 

Take care,Willie

[Hornhunter247]

Yeah I know what your talking about. I believe your right on them being three way head. I have never used one as I'm always looking for ultra light over convenience. I've never had any problems getting my legs adjusted close enough, or my head tilted bad enough to want one I guess lol

[kwp]

The three way heads that you are talking about tend to weigh more, which is their biggest downfall. With a good tripod it is easy to get the legs leveled.

[CouesWhitetail]

I much prefer a 2 way pan head over a three way head. Too many knobs to mess with on a three way and it's very simple to nudge a tripod leg out a little if it's not level.

[Guest wdenike]

Guy, I probably should be a little jealous of most of ya. But with a bunch of steel in my back. Most everything has to be almost perfect or I get uncomfortable. Most times I even kick the leg on the down hill side way out. So the glass leans back toward me. So I don't have to lean or bend to glass. And also have the extra tall Sportsmans stool for comfort reasons. Caution, if you do put the leg way out to make the glass closer to you DO NOT TRUST THE TRIPOD TO STAND ALONE. Although very solid to glass from. They will tip backwards very easy.

 

But my problems aside. A friend of mines whose whole family chases these white tailed ghosts. And are all healthy. LOL Are the ones that highly recommended going the way of the three way heads. Was just hoping that quite a few others also used them and had there favorites. So I could look at a few different ones.

 

Take care, Willie

[Viper]

If you are wanting light weight, I just bought a small Slik from Archery Headquarters (don't remember the model) for $109. They only have a few models to choose from. It works real well for a sit down technique. You can actually stand up with it as well, but there has to be no wind as it is a bit spindly. It is 2 1/4 pounds. The head is the 3-way with short adjustment levers, so it keeps the weight down. I really love it for packing. My heavyier-duty tripod is also a Slik, 3-way. It is relatively light at just under 4 pounds. I took out the horizontal adjustment lever and replaced it with a wing-nut type screw. It cuts down the weight and size and still can be loosened for adjustment. I do not care for the pistol grip or ball head type.

[Guest wdenike]

I don't like the pistol or ball type either. And will always have a vidio head on the legs with the spotter. And I also have the little slik three way. And not bad mouth it. As it came on the 300dx legs that I bought used, and feel there may have been some abuse involved. But still would lean toward one of the manfrottos.

 

 

Take care, Willie

[Guest wdenike]

There is really no one else using any three way heads they are happy with, and would recommend??

 

Take care,Willie

[JIM WHITE]

There is really no one else using any three way heads they are happy with, and would recommend??

 

Take care,Willie

 

WILLIE:

 

YOU ARE EXACTLY CORRECT, A THREE WAY PAN HEAD ALLOWS YOU TO QUICKLY LEVEL THE OPTICS MOUNTED ON THE TRIPOD. THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR THREE WAY HEADS IS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS TO TAKE A "VERETICLE FORMAT" PICTURE. I HAVE SEVERAL TYPES OF THREE WAY PAN HEADS HERE IN MY SHOP IN WILLIAMS, AZ. I SEE YOU ARE JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN PAULDEN. I GO THROUGH PAULDEN ON MY WAY TO THE MACHINE SHOP I USE IN CHINO VALLEY. PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL AND I CAN SHOW YOU SOME OF THESE HEADS.

 

TAKE CARE

 

JIM WHITE

928-635-5316

[Guest wdenike]

Jim,

 

 

Thanks I will definitely call. And if the are as nice as the other one you make. It will probably behoove me to limp by with the junker I have. And just save a little longer and get one of your three ways.

 

 

It may be just me. But when things aren't perfect, I believe it contributes to eye fatigue, and headache. I know there are some that think, oh I can just adjust the tripod legs. But after shooting grade all my life and being fairly good at setting the tripod up. I don't think there was ever a time I put the instrument on the tripod to find it level. Thanks for taking the time to respond!

 

 

 

Take care, Willie