Head Sag.

I quickly realize from reading some of your guys posts that many of you have much greater skills and knowledge than me in digiscoping. I have been working hard on getting some decent shots this summer with some success but have a question.

I'm using a Swarovski 65 scope with a Canon point and shoot and the Tines up adapter. The setup is on a Slik Carbon tripod which I like. I've tried two different heads a Slik and a Promaster both cheap $50.00 panheads. The problem I'm finding with both heads is they really sag (not sure that is correct terminology). Does anybody have a suggestion on a better head that doesn't sag, I recognize I should have went with a more expensive head so which one? Thank you.

I have ball heads, fluid heads, friction heads, and gear heads.

You can reduce sag in all of the first 3 heads with a balance rail.
You won't get rid of it totally, but you can get rid of a lot of it.

The only head I have ever owned that was sag free is a gear head.
The downside, they are heavier than other heads. Its a trade off.

Obviously you are experiencing the typical problem of trying to get on the animal, focus the scope, focus the camera, and snap a shot before the animal moves out of frame, and you have to re adjust the tripod head and start all over.
Its the most frustrating thing about digiscoping.

A manfrotto gear head will fix that for you, but you will have to add a little weight to your pack. The new gear head weighs 1.7 pounds.

Your cheapest, lightest option is the swarovski balance rail. But you will still have some sag issues.

1.7 pounds
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1124273-REG/manfrotto_mhxpro_3wg_xpro_geared_3_way.html

The weight is worth it to me. Too many shots missed due to inability to get on the subject before it went over the ridge.

If you are curious about the lack of sag in a gear driven head, watch this video.


This was shot with a manfrotto gear head. At 3 minutes you will see a lot of up and down repositioning, a lot of side to side repositioning with the gear head.

You will notice that the problem that you are having with sag, after a reposition is non existent.

Its the best way to eliminate sag.

Hope that helps.

Agree with Shed sometimes you have to go heavier, I had to put on a bigger manfrotto head and make sure everythings locked tight. Nothing were than having to put your focus ten feet above a animal hoping it will drop into place. LOL

Thank you guys for the help sorry I didn't acknowledge I was gone to Wyoming scouting for a good antelope unit tag as well as digiscoping a few deer and elk. It became real obvious I need to make a head change to become more effective. I spent 6 days working on some of my problems I ended up doing a lot of putting focus above the animals and hoping it would drop into focus.