So, I noticed on a recent shoot that my shots were not level. I always level off the bubble on my 501 head. I conducted an experiment with a bigger spirit level once back at home and found that what the 501 head bubble considers level is actually not so. So I marked the spot on the bubble that actually is level and have been using this since, and my locked-off shots now look great. However, I've noticed that when panning, the level goes out - the bubble actually shifts across it's container during the pan. Everything is tightened off and secured, I just can't figure out why the level would change mid-pan....any ideas?
501 head problem
- Thread starter fritz
- Start date
gco
Veteran
If your spirit bubble is moving off-center during a pan then the only explanation would be that the spirit bubble housing is not oriented properly with respect to the head. Question is why. First thought is a quality control issue with the manufacturer. Not personally familiar with the 501 so maybe someone else can tell you if it is fixable or not. Regardless, you may want to consider a true fluid head such as the Libec LS38. Based upon what others have said many times, there is a world of difference.
Tim Joy
Veteran
Never trust a bubble...
I have this problem too. Once, I was trying to do a 200 degree pan on the ocean horizon. Tough to get level! The bubble was pretty useless, but what I did was level it by eye, facing forward, then pan 90 degrees and reajust only tilting the head in the the direction of the first shot. Does this make sense? After a little tweaking, I got it right.
I have this problem too. Once, I was trying to do a 200 degree pan on the ocean horizon. Tough to get level! The bubble was pretty useless, but what I did was level it by eye, facing forward, then pan 90 degrees and reajust only tilting the head in the the direction of the first shot. Does this make sense? After a little tweaking, I got it right.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Fritz:
Another reason why you need a real tripod. It is a cheap POS, I have one, I know. I guess everyone buys it just because it's cheap. I only use it when I fly to a location, I am too paranoid of my real tripod, a Sachtler, being lost. But when I arrive and put my camera on it, I immediately remember why I bought a Sachtler. The 501 is fine for lockoffs but once you try to smoothly tilt and pan, it's all over. I have never noticed my 501 being off in level, you must have a defective one.
I agree with gco, buy and use a real tripod and you will get much better results. 501 is amateur hour.
Dan
Another reason why you need a real tripod. It is a cheap POS, I have one, I know. I guess everyone buys it just because it's cheap. I only use it when I fly to a location, I am too paranoid of my real tripod, a Sachtler, being lost. But when I arrive and put my camera on it, I immediately remember why I bought a Sachtler. The 501 is fine for lockoffs but once you try to smoothly tilt and pan, it's all over. I have never noticed my 501 being off in level, you must have a defective one.
I agree with gco, buy and use a real tripod and you will get much better results. 501 is amateur hour.
Dan
Here's the deal with bubble levelers.
What can happen is: The user adjusts the ball so the bubble falls just inside the circle marker but not truely centered. So when you pan the head, it ends up unlevel at some point in the pan.
Easier to detect when eyeballing distant subjects, say the horizon.
Try to take more time to center the bubble up as precisely as possible.
What can happen is: The user adjusts the ball so the bubble falls just inside the circle marker but not truely centered. So when you pan the head, it ends up unlevel at some point in the pan.
Easier to detect when eyeballing distant subjects, say the horizon.
Try to take more time to center the bubble up as precisely as possible.