One of the handy tools most serious photographers use are tripods. Tripods provide a steady mount for your camera allowing longer exposure times for low light or special effect photography.
I admit when I first began taking “serious photos” most of my shots were handheld. Recently I’ve found myself using a tripod more as I push for higher quality and more artistic results.
With a tripod it can be very helpful knowing the camera is level. The camera being level aids in composing/framing your photos and saves post processing time. It is also a nice-to-have if you’re taking panorama’s.
Now your tripod may have a built in bubble level, but some tripods don’t.
If you have a tripod which doesn’t, here are two little quality leveling gadgets, both from Bogen Imaging, which will work with almost any tripod or camera.
The first is the “Manfrotto Autopole Spirit Level,” a bubble spirit level which attaches to the center pole found on most tripods. This level will fit center tubes from 25mm (0.98 in) to 60mm (2.36 in) in diameter and uses a single bubble to leveling in all directions. This unit can be easily attached and removed as needed.
When mounting this unit you need to be certain no foreign particles or grit gets between the level and the pole.
The second level device is the “Manfrotto Hot Shoe Double Axis Bubble Level.” This level uses two bubble channels and attaches directly to the hot shoe mount on any standard D-SLR/SLR camera. Since this device mounts directly on your camera it is highly accurate and less prone to foreign particles causing an error.
However, it does occupy the hot shoe mount and therefore could be bothersome if you also need to use a hot shoe mounted flash unit.
Either of these items would work and add a higher level of precision to your tripod taken photos.
Disclaimer: The sole purpose this posts is to highlight unusual or handy photography and computer related gadgets. It in no way endorses mentioned products. I have no ties with this company.
I’m certainly interested in getting one of those bubble levels. I’ve been interested in it for quite some time, but have yet to purchase one! They have an amazing price range. Adorama has them from $11.95 up to $129.95, if you can believe that! I’m thinking more of the $11.95 … well, unless I buy a D700 for $3,000 that has a built in artificial horizon! ;-)
@Paul: There is a large price range for these types of leveling gadgets. I myself tend to prefer the $40 or under. ;-)
That FX pull is quite strong isn’t it? I found myself checking my lenses the other day to see which ones would work without clipping. However, so far the brakes are holding here…but there will no doubt be a day they give way! :-)
Earl, I think that mine are already giving way, but I’m trying … to … hold … on ! I actually saw and held one at the photography group meeting that I went to. I should have never done that! That’s just too much temptation! ;-)