Architechtural photography and levelling

[Bern_Caughey]

The Video Level looks interesting, but how about a simple Angle finder? I see film crews using these all the time & their great when compositing.

The ones I've seen used have a a slightly wider base & are only flat one one side. These are available at better hardware stores.

Regards,
Bern Caughey

[John_Luke]

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The Video Level looks interesting, but how about a simple Angle finder?

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I used to use them, but the needle wobbles around a bit. Not too accurate either. The level I use is about as perfect as you can get, closer than 1/10th of a degree accuracy.

[Ken_Rieves]

I have had good luck with a Manfrotto 3047 pan head.

[Bern_Caughey]

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The level I use...

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I already pack a Clinometer for use with SunPATH & it serves double-duty as an angle-finder. Doubt it's as accurate as your electronic level.

-BC

[Terry_Uy]

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Hey Terry,

I use the Manfrotto 475 tripod with the Manfrotto Grip action head. I've always depended on using the camera's AF points as leveling references with the horizon and composition I wanted..

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Hey waleed, I used to do this before but the 5d af squares are a little small, plus I'm not sure how precise the af placement is, remember the grid lines and af points wouldn't line up precisely on my 1d.

[Terry_Uy]

john thanks, you really do learn something new everyday!

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Terry-

I use the Zircon Video Level 5.0
http://doitbest.com/shop/

Manfrotto 410
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controll...oughType=search

Level and plumb as follows:
Stand with your hands outstretched to the side looking straight ahead. "Level" refers to the orintation of your arms. "Plumb" refers to if your nose is pointing up or down.

To make "level", the camera is not mounted yet. I place my Zircon flat across my Arca plate on the tripod head, which is orientated the wide way, just like my EOS body. I adjust the corresponding head control knob to correct that plane.

To make "plumb", I then mount the camera, I remove the lens hood, and place the Zircon the tall way directly on the front of the lens housing over the glass. Don't worry, it never touches the glass. (If a tilt lens, zero it out first.) I adjust the other head control knob to correct that plane.

The advantage of independent tripod head controls is that once you nail down one plane, adjusting the other plane doesn't affect the first one you nailed down. I used to use the Bogen pistol grips, and ball heads, but abandoned those because if you want to tweak one direction, you have to loosen the whole thing, and thereby you loose orientation of everything and you're starting over.

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[Former Member]

Go to Home depot and but a 6 inch level for $6. Hold on the front of lens for plunb and the top of the camera for level(depenting on camera. Works better than any other trick I've tried especially on 4x5 and RZ.