School me on spotting scope mounts/ball heads

[Sendit6.5]

I'm looking for a ball head (or some other mount) for a Swaro ATX 85mm (4.1lbs) to go on a Slik CF tripod AND a window mount. My new scope is arriving later this week. My current setup is an old Meopta 65mm on a BogGear trigger head; but I really do not like the trigger head because it's super sloppy. Maybe it's just this one but I'm thinking a ball head or fluid head would be a big improvement. Also, I'd like to find something relatively compact for the tripod. I may also use this tripod and ball head for filming video from.

I'd like to find a way to use an Acra-Swiss type of adapter so that it's a little quicker to swap mounts. My rifles, Hog Saddle and video camera all have Arca-Swiss plates on them already so I figure doing the same with my spotter and have everything interchangeable.

While my spotter is stupid expensive, I'd prefer not to break the bank where it's not necessary. I'm open to considering any suggestions y'all have but I'm having a hard time, for example, seeing the functional difference between a Vortex Summit window mount and one from Swarovski or RRS that's more than twice the price.

What do y'all suggest?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ironsight1000yard]

I am on the same boat but looking for a fluid/pan head to replace my ball head.
whenever I zoomed in on something and let go my hand, my ball head drops a bit and looks at something lower than my target.

I searched this forum and looking at Davis and Sanford provista 18 but still reading reviews about it.

 

[Kopfjager1]

Ive always preferred pistol grip heads solely for spotting. Ive used mostly the Manfrotto 322RC, and it works great even when transitioning or scanning for targets in high magnification. Unfortunately they do not accept Acra Swiss plates. But still recommend the pistol grip style tripod head, it makes so much easier and much more fluid compared to a head that requires tightening knobs to unlock/lock the tension. The only pistol grip head that accepts Arca Swiss style adapters is the Vanguard GH series, just from a quick google search. Ive used the SLIK pistol grip head and its just terrible, there is no tension what so ever once you release the tension on the ball, and if you have a heavy optic, or multiple optics, it just falls down, all the weight is being held up by your hand.

The trick with pistol grip heads is to slowly release the grip while holding the optic with the other hand once on target. Seems self explanatory, and not to insult anybodys intelligence, but Ive seen countless number of people try 2-3 times for each target trying to get it just right, or try to account for the jump and release the grip lower or higher to get in on target.

 

[scudzuki]

I use fluid heads for my spotters.

 

[Sendit6.5]

I think IÂ’m going to get the pan head from The Outdoorsmans: https://outdoorsmans.com/products/outdoorsmans-pan-head My spotting scope is, first and foremost, for hunting and scouting; and their head is very light and and very smooth. This scope is really heavy (comparatively) but I opted for the incredible optical quality so IÂ’m looking to cut as much weight as possible on the tripod and mount. And, itÂ’s really compact. A real advantage when dragging it through the mountains or putting everything in a pack. I’m going to go with the Slik 634 carbon fiber tripod: 2.1lbs, 18â€￾ folded length, 3.5â€￾ min, 63â€￾ max


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk