Three-way tripod heads not only move across the horizontal and vertical axes, but also tilt sideways too. This extra plane of movement could be a handy feature for bird-watching digiscopers.
Other people who also might consider a three-way tripod head are birders who use their tripod for multiple uses, for example, to alternate between their spotting scope and a camera.
After introducing our top picks for three-way tripod heads, we will look at the main criteria to consider when buying this kind of tripod head. Then the round-up reviews will go into more detail about how the features of each model compare, especially when used for birding spotting scopes.
Quick comparison: 3-way pan tripod heads for birding scopes
Benro HD1A 3-way Pan Head tripod head
Benro’s 3-way pan head is not the most exciting looking tripod head you can get, but it delivers on performance – and of course birders focus their views more on birds than kit, right?
Best three-way tripod pan head – overall winner
Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W X-PRO 3-Way Head tripod head
Plenty of ergonomically pleasing features combine with rock-solid stability to make this Manfrotto 3-way tripod head one of the best for birding.
Best three-way tripod pan head – runner-up
Vanguard ALTA PH-32 3 Way Tripod Pan Head
The Vanguard is a durable option, with no major issues or barriers to effective and enjoyable use. Good stability, especially at this price point.
Best three-way tripod pan head – best value
Gitzo GHF3W 3-Way Fluid Tripod head
A good sized and trustworthy tripod head that gives a silky smooth ride across each of the ranges of movement, with three independent fluid cartridges.
Best three-way pan head if money is no object
Reviews: three-way tripod pan heads for birding spotting scopes
How do the best 3-way tripod heads compare when it comes to their main features? How do their advantages and disadvantages stack up?
We’ve identified some of the key things to be aware of when looking for a 3-way tripod head.
Best three-way tripod pan head for birding spotting scopes – overall winner
Main Features of the Benro HD1A 3-way Pan Head tripod head
The Benro HD1A 3-way Pan Head tripod head offers impressive features. Here are a few of them, just to spark your interest!
- Front and horizontal tilt, 360° pan range
- Independent pan and lock control
- Arca-type compatible quick release plate
- Three built-in bubble levels
Specifications
Weight 1.3 pounds
Maximum payload 11 pounds
Connection 1/4″-20
Safety lock Yes
Quick release Yes
Pros
- Panning motion, in particular, is smooth
- Controls are compact which suits some for the size and control
- Graduated marking on each range of movement allows you to reposition quickly
- The pull-to-release prevents accidental loosening of your scope
Cons
- Pan handle is short – good for streamlined but may mean less control for some people
Benro HD1A 3-way Pan Head tripod head Overview
Quick and easy to set up and control, the Benro HD1A is the lightest in the HD series. It’s possible to move up to the larger sizes if you require a larger payload.
Attachment is simple and easy with the Arca-Swiss compatible QR plate. This also fits other heads in the Benro range and with products from other manufacturers.
Side tilt goes from -15 to 90 degrees, while front to rear tilt ranges from -30 to 90 degrees. The rotation is the full 360 degrees.
Scales show angles clearly
There are blue measurement scales on each of the axes of movement – panning, vertical and horizontal. This allows you to see how much tilt you are using, for example, and to move quickly back to an original position if necessary.
Controls are comfortable to grip and it’s easy to feel fully in control of the front and horizontal tilt as well as the panning.
Short pan handle
The panning handle is quite short in comparison to some other models. That, as many other preferences, comes down to individual choice. Or often how much time you are prepared to spend getting used to a new thing!
Best three-way tripod pan head – runner-up
Main Features of the Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W X-PRO 3-Way Head
The Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W X-PRO 3-Way Tripod Head offers impressive features. Here are a few of them, just to spark your interest!
- Retractable levers for easy packing
- 3 ranges of movement, all with locks
- RC2 quick release cam lock and a QR plate
- 3 bubble levels
Specifications
Weight 2.2 pounds
Maximum payload 17.6 pounds
Connection 1/4″-20
Safety lock Yes
Quick release Yes
Pros
- Sound fine tuning with the friction controls on the tilt
- Firm safety catch stops accidental release
- Telescoping rubberized handles are ergonomic to grip
- Handles pack down nicely
Cons
- The quick release can be sticky at times
- While the handles are comfortable, the dials are not so easy to grip
Manfrotto MHXPRO-3W 3-Way Tripod Head Overview
The MHXPRO-3W is made of aluminum. Stability is excellent.
Manipulating your spotting scope while it is mounted on the tripod head is a breeze, with a range of simple controls across the three planes of movement. Tilt and lateral tilt ranges are both from -30 to +90 degrees. On the panorama, you can turn the whole 360 degrees.
It’s good to be able to adjust exactly how much friction is applied to the movements. The silver dials to adjust the friction are not quite as easy to grip, so this would be a point for improvement.
Helpful trio of bubble levels
Also, the bubble levels remain fully visible when the optics are attached, which is not the case with some other tripod heads.
The handles are a particular strength of the Manfrotto XPRO-3W. Not only do they extend telescopically (not all that far though), but they have a rubber grip which is pleasant to use. So with the handles being easy to pack down, this tripod head is a good option for travel.
Best three-way tripod pan head for birding spotting scopes – best value
Main Features of the Vanguard ALTA PH-32 3 Way Tripod Pan Head
The Vanguard ALTA PH-32 3 Way Tripod Pan Head offers impressive features. Here are a few of them, just to spark your interest!
- Two separate handle locks – vertical tilt, plus the lateral tilt and panning simultaneously
- Two bubble levels
- Arca-type compatible support
- Quick plate with safety catch
Specifications
Weight 1.5 pounds
Maximum payload 11 pounds
Connection 1/4″-20
Safety lock Yes
Quick release Yes
Pros
- Handles are intuitive to use, and extend and retract
- Slimline look with attention to detail
- Fluid panning
- Dual locks on the pan and tilt
Cons
- An possible upgrade: three locks instead of just two
- You’ll be using those locking handles a lot so make sure they suit you
Vanguard ALTA PH-32 3 Way Tripod Pan Head Overview
At first glance the Vanguard ALTA PH-32 looks like it’s all handles and knobs. It’s all part of the effectiveness of a lightweight tripod head.
But don’t let appearances deceive you. The unit itself is actually quite tall at over five inches.
The handles themselves can be extended and also retracted, so you can set them at a length suitable for you.
Full 360 degree panoramic range
The tilt range front to back is from -60° to +90°, while the lateral tilt range is -30° to +90°. This fluid tripod head pans smoothly across the full 360°.
The Vanguard is a durable option, with no major issues or barriers to effective and enjoyable use. Good stability, and with the additional safety catch, the scope will feel securely attached. At this price point, it delivers well.
Best three-way tripod pan head for birding spotting scopes – best if money is no object
Main Features of the Gitzo GHF3W 3-Way Fluid Head Tripod head
The Gitzo GHF3W 3-Way Fluid Head Tripod head offers impressive features. Here are a few of them, just to spark your interest!
- Vertical tilt with independent lock
- Separate lock on the panning
- Individual fluid cartridges for each range of movement
- Rotating bubble level
Specifications
Weight 2.1 pounds
Maximum payload 28.6 pounds
Connection 1/4″-20
Safety lock No
Quick release Yes
Pros
- Independent vertical, lateral, and pan locks
- Strong retractable handles for easy carrying and storage
- Very fluid movement, especially when panning
- Controls allow for fine tuning of the locks
Cons
- No friction control
- No safety lock on the plate
- Could add more length to the panning lever
Gitzo GHF3W 3-Way Fluid Head Tripod head Overview
The Gitzo GHF3W is one of the lower profile tripod heads, standing less than five inches, but marginally heavier than the Vanguard and Benro that we mention here. It’s made of aluminum and ultra-light magnesium.
The quick release has been updated on this model. It is an Arca type plate with release mechanism.
The twistable bubble level is an innovative touch. Instead of adding multiple levels, Gitzo has developed this one that can be turned according to whether you are setting up for vertical or horizontal alignment.
Firm, retractable handles
The levers are retractable and are one of the tripod head’s best features. They are not too dissimilar to those on Manfrotto’s XPRO.
Not only are they strong, but they also retract. This contributes to compactness.
Flawless fluid movement
Vertical tilt is from -70° to +90°. Lateral tilt range from -30° over to +90°, while the pan reaches around the full panorama of 360°.
There are three separate fluid cartridges, one for each plane of motion. So with this complete fluid damping, it’s a very smooth ride across all those ranges.
How to choose between the best three-way tripod heads for a birding spotting scope
What should you be prioritizing when it comes to the key features of a tripod head? Finding a three-way tripod head that will be effective at providing a stable base for your spotting scope hinges on what is most important to you.
To summarize, the main considerations for most birders include:
- Stability
- Size
- Price
For a more in-depth discussion of what the terminology means and how to identify which features are most important to you, feel free to read here: How to choose a tripod head for a spotting scope
How is a three-way tripod head different to other types, like ball heads and pan heads?
While a three-way tripod head is initially not as quick or as intuitive to use as a ball head, due to its more restricted range of movement, this restriction itself is a help rather than a hindrance for many birders.
Depending on how much friction you can add to dampen the movement of the ball head, it can initially feel like the ball head is totally all over the place. Smoothly, of course!
It seems contradictory, but it can be more of a challenge to get a very precise view using a ball head tripod head than a pan and tilt/three-way head.
Each axis – vertical, lateral and panning – is controlled separately. While this obviously sounds more limited, in practice it contributes to ease of control.
For even less range of movement to contend with, you might like to begin with a two-way tripod head. Many birders find these are perfectly adequate for the tracking of birds, because they are not in constant motion. We review some decent two-way tripod heads here >>> Which is the best two-way tripod head for birding?
As you may understand from the mention of the various locking knobs in the reviews, on many of these tripod heads the panning motion can be locked independently of the front-back tilt and the lateral tilt, and vice versa.
The disadvantage of pan/tilt heads compared to ball heads, is that it takes a bit more time to move them around. You also have three handles to contend with. So if time is really of the essence, a ball head tripod head is a quicker option – free free to take a look at these options >>> The top 5 ball head tripod heads for birding
Three-way heads hold larger scopes
The other disadvantage of a ball head is that the payload they can cope with is usually less. It’s something to be aware of if you have a large scope – or may increase in size in the future.
Three-way tripod heads are often able to cope with more substantial payloads than two-way heads too.
Next steps to buying the best three-way tripod head for birding spotting scopes
Hopefully our discussion of the best features to look out for in three-way heads, and how they compare to other types of tripod heads, has moved you along in your quest to identify the right tripod head to hold your spotting scope!
Which model seems like it would best suit your needs? What size of scope does it need to hold? Will you be swapping over from spotting scope to camera very often?
Often choices can be narrowed down by what seems like small features. Will you need a bubble level, or do you already have one on your tripod legs? Do you prefer a handle with a rubberized grip or one that is milled metal?
For different styles of tripod head, we offer this round-up of The best tripod heads for birding spotting scopes
Contents
- 1 Quick comparison: 3-way pan tripod heads for birding scopes
- 2 Reviews: three-way tripod pan heads for birding spotting scopes
- 3 Best three-way tripod pan head for birding spotting scopes – overall winner
- 4 Best three-way tripod pan head – runner-up
- 5 Best three-way tripod pan head for birding spotting scopes – best value
- 6 Best three-way tripod pan head for birding spotting scopes – best if money is no object
- 7 How to choose between the best three-way tripod heads for a birding spotting scope
- 8 How is a three-way tripod head different to other types, like ball heads and pan heads?
- 9 Next steps to buying the best three-way tripod head for birding spotting scopes