Perhaps my eyes arn't level

MichaelG · 16 Mar 2006 at 14:39

I take a lot of landscape shots. Where there is something useful like water in the scene, or a nice wide flat view, I seem to be okay at getting the horizon level.

If i'm in the hills or the landscape is more closed, I seem to naturally tip the camera by 1-3 degrees. Now sometimes I correct this is post processing, but in effect I lose a few mm's off my wide angle because of the crop.
It would be much better if I just shot the horizon level in the first place.

Anyone got any tips, or does anyone have any clever kit like a leveling bubble (or mini spirit level) on either on there camera body or that they can see though the lens?

(Oh I use a D70 with the electronic grid in the view finder tuned off)

hoodmeister · 16 Mar 2006 at 14:50

Either a tripod with a levelling bubble, or a hotshoe spirit level - these will sort you out

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 16 Mar 2006 at 15:05

Yes a spirit level built onto the tripod has its uses. Although Ive nevered once needed to check mine.. But then I dont shoot landscapes.

I have one built into the tripod and one into the head. Both are expensive though.

Sleepyd · 16 Mar 2006 at 15:40

Fstop11 said:
Yes a spirit level built onto the tripod has its uses. Although Ive nevered once needed to check mine.. But then I dont shoot landscapes.

I have one built into the tripod and one into the head. Both are expensive though.

Always useful in the dark

I tend to use the focus points to get a level horizon.

hoodmeister · 16 Mar 2006 at 15:55

Yes, I use a combination of the spirit level in my tripod, the one in my tripod head, and the grid lines in my viewfinder.

Cuchulain · 16 Mar 2006 at 15:57

I just use the measure tool in Photoshop, you lose a bit off the edges of the image but it's so unbelievably quick.

lee7 · 16 Mar 2006 at 16:21

I just rotate in photoshop till it's straight, I can never be bothered to spend ages setting the tripod up! When I used to go out shooting with a mate of mine he insisted on getting the tripod perfectly level

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 16 Mar 2006 at 16:49

lee7 said:
I just rotate in photoshop till it's straight, I can never be bothered to spend ages setting the tripod up! When I used to go out shooting with a mate of mine he insisted on getting the tripod perfectly level

Totally professional! I love it

mrgubby · 16 Mar 2006 at 17:01

Never met a bubble that's accurate to 1 degree , maybe you can buy high spec 'L' Bubbles from Canon

SDK^ · 16 Mar 2006 at 18:01

A hot shoes spirit level is what you need

Joe T · 16 Mar 2006 at 18:04

SDK^ said:
A hot shoes spirit level is what you need

I was just about to post that!

And btw sleepyd, the bubbles tend to show up pretty well in low light shooting.

Gamefreak501 · 17 Mar 2006 at 12:41

Wow - a hotshoe spirit level!

I need one - a lot of my shots are ever so slightly tilted...which does kind of spoil them! I think I'll get one now

Sleepyd · 17 Mar 2006 at 12:55

SDK^ said:
A hot shoes spirit level is what you need

Be nice if you could see that whilst looking through the viewfinder, I guess you could glance up and see, otherwise it'd be only useful for tripod work?

MichaelG · 17 Mar 2006 at 13:10

Hot shoe spirit level looks like the job for me, thanks people, I know they'd be an easy solution. Can you glance at it easily whilst looking through the lens?

As for fixing in photoshop, yes it is quick and easy and as I say thay is my current solution, but rotating images is just about the worst opperation you can perform in terms of retaining the best 'information', and if you are 3degrees off, the amount you have to crop can be significant enough to mess with my composition.

MichaelG · 17 Mar 2006 at 14:05

(this might get moderated off since it mentions a competitor)

This is the reply I just got from a company when I asked if they sold these!
My original message is quoted at the bottom.
Needless to say I won't be shopping there again.

"hi,
no thanks
http://www.*********.co.uk/catalog/

Address

37 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1BH. UK.

Tel: 0207 240 6774
Tel: 0207 240 6550
Fax: 0207 419 4729
E-mail: sales@*********.co.uk

>
> Hi, do you sell anything like this?
> Bubble level that attaches to the hotshoe?
>
> eg (http://www.adorama.com/images/Product/BG337.jpg)
>
> Thanks
>"

Johnny|lucidcomposure · 17 Mar 2006 at 14:13

They are a competetor as ocuk stock memory cards and a few dslrs.

mrk · 17 Mar 2006 at 14:23

I will be about 4pm today

doing a basic roundup mainly high ISO comparison between 30D/d200/5D.

Samkples this evening.

YooEntSinMeROYT · 18 Mar 2006 at 02:59

Most of my landscape photos seem to come out slightly tilted. Even though they look level through the viewfinder.

I've given up trying to spend extra time to correct this when taking a photo & just use PS to level them up.

Lostkat · 18 Mar 2006 at 09:45

I have a hotshoe spirit level. They're great. Got it for a couple of quid from a highstreet camera retailer