Bubble Level Help?

and1gator

and1gator

Member
Hey everyone,


I have a weird question, well sort of. I recently received a tripod in the mail I ordered from B&H. The Bescor TH-660. According to B&H's product description, the tripod had a bubble level on it to allow for proper leveling while shooting. But alas, there is no bubble. I can swivel the head around until I "think" it's level, but I'd rather have a bubble. Other than the obvious answer of purchasing a more expensive tripod (which I can't do right now) what can I do?

I was thinking to maybe purchase a bubble level that slides in the shoe mount on top of my DVX. Is that a viable option or will it look too "homemade"? Are there any other options? The two bubble levels I'm considering are:

http://www.adorama.com/TPBLS.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...974&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation


Thanks for any advice.


-Larry
 
Keeping your horizon parallel to the plane of the camera is really important on the long shots, so whatever you can use to insure this is a good idea. I little bubble level won't make you look anywhere near as armature as a slopping horizon in your shot.

These are good and inexpensive fixes so go for it.
 
Hey, when you stick one of those bubbles on your camera, be sure to set it level, then spin it 90, and 180 degrees, just to make sure that your hot shoe is right. - if it's not the bubble's position will change when the camera position does. A level sysytem will kepe the bubble level at andy pan angle.

- dont' forget that yoru tilt will effect the level!

- And also While you are pannign the bubble will be off beacuse of the sideways movement, so stop and let it settle before checking.

- Mikko
 
and1gator said:
I recently received a tripod in the mail I ordered from B&H. The Bescor TH-660. According to B&H's product description, the tripod had a bubble level on it to allow for proper leveling while shooting. But alas, there is no bubble.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...according to everyone's description of that head that I've found, it should have a bubble level.

You sure they sent you the right head?

Bescor doesn't even list that tripod anymore (not online, anyway).
 
Found this on another sellers website.. by the looks of it, it should have a level indicator

Bescor TH-660
( Bescor )
Price: $179.00

Features:

Aircraft Aluminum Channels

Two way fluid pan head

Removable quick shoe release

Mid Level Adjustable Spreader

Bottom Adjustable Support Spreader

Bubble level indicator

270 degree Verical tilt control

Ball Claw Head Clamp -

allows head to be tilted 45 degrees in any direction

Weighs 9 lbs with bottom spreader

Maximum height 58.25 inches

Upgraded Version of our popular TH650
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm exchanging the tripod out for the same one, hoping that there was something wrong with the original one they sent me. All of the sales guys didn't understand why it said bubble level but there was no bubble. Hopefully everything will work out alright. Thanks again.
 
mikkowilson said:
- dont' forget that yoru tilt will effect the level!
Click to expand...


Hey Mikko,

I had a question about what you said. I know that if I pan with the bubble on the camera it will take a second for it to settle. But if I tilt the camera, the "level" shouldn't be affected because I set the bubble with camera in position 1 (the camera is aiming straight ahead, no tilt) right? I mean once the bubble is set the first time the head will be in the proper levelled position. Just an interesting thought. I appreciate your advice, thanks again.

-Larry
 
A buble on the head of the camera (normally on the part that only pans) will work as you said..
But if you put the bubble actually on the camera (like on the hotshoe) then of course if you tilt the camera it will throw the bubble off!
If you tilt up 5degrees, then use adjust the tripod to compensate, when you pan 180* you'll end up with teh camera off by 10 degrees.

- Mikko
 
i have a small bubble level that i found in the b&h photo section (at the store in nyc) its neat because it fits in the shoe on top of the camera.

so it gives you the true level of the camera not just the tripod.

i use the bogen 525mvb tripod with the 503 head and i lovce it, but its nice to have a level right on the camera.

i swear i only paid like $10 for it but i just went to the b&h site and did a search for "bubble level" and then sorted by price, lowest to highest and i see the one i have (black and yellow) and the price is much higher.

i know i didn't pay anywhere near $25 for it! if i was going to spend that much i would have gotten the bogen for slightly more.

matthew
 
Hey Matthew,

Yeah I know the black bubble you're talking about at B&H. But I have a question, is it easy to see the bubble when leveling the camera seeing as how it's only visible from the top? I mean if you raise the tripod & camera too high you wouldn't be able to see it.

There is another bubble level that I would consider on sale at www.adorama.com.

Here it is
TPBLS.jpg
VS.
194974.jpg


With this bubble, because it's clear I could see even if the camera is raised up. Just an interesting point. Your perspective would be appreciated.


-Larry
 
i had the same two to choose from when i was at b&h

back then the clear one was like $35 and the black one was $10 +/-

so i went with the black one.

if the price difference was closer i would have definitely picked the clear one.

the center dot on the black and yellow one isn't the easiest to see.

it was one of those purchases where until i had it i had no idea how much i would use it.

just like with my bogen hi-hat. i got one just because it looked neat and it was cheap enough and once i had it i used it quite a bit.

matthew
 
Oh aight then. Gotcha man. Thanks. I'm really hoping that this new tripod I'm "exchanging" out at B&H will have the bubble on it like it says it should. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

-Larry
 
but the bubble on the tripod just shows the tripod is even...

you'd be surprised how often you think the camera is level and the shoe bubble level shows you how crooked it is.

matthew
 
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