Anyone seen this? Hotshoe Bubble Level!

[JETninja]

Gadget.brando.com.hk



It's primary purpose is to make getting Horizon shots level....lol. I just ordered one cause I'm going on that Cruise in 12 days (hope it gets here in time, comes from where else - China) and it's cheap. $14 shipped.

Saw it on one of Geekbrief Podcasts on my Zune by Cali Lewis....

Who knows, may turn out to be useless, but maybe not....

Of course, Picasa makes quick work of tilted shots....but why not get them right in the camera?

[SOldBear]

Originally Posted by JETninja

I just ordered one cause I'm going on that Cruise in 12 days (hope it gets here in time, comes from where else - China) and it's cheap. $14 shipped.

Don't want to burst your bubble (yes, fun intended ). But you call that cheap?

Check this Camera and Tripod Fluid Based Leveler out.

[JETninja]

Ha Ha...nice.....

Did a search in here and saw nothing about them....

[lithos]

Been around for ages, those. 'Cept to the "Hotshoe" bit.

A lot of them were made for rangefinders, with their ultra-wide angle lenses. I think Cosina-Voigtlander still make them for their 12mm Ultra-Wide Heliar:



That's it on the right of the photo.

I think the Noblex panorama cameras had them, and I think there was one to go with the 21mm Biogon for their G-series cameras.

Nikon DSLRs have digital ones built-in. I just use the graticles in the viewfinder...

[Wheatfield]

Originally Posted by JETninja

Gadget.brando.com.hk



It's primary purpose is to make getting Horizon shots level....lol. I just ordered one cause I'm going on that Cruise in 12 days (hope it gets here in time, comes from where else - China) and it's cheap. $14 shipped.

Saw it on one of Geekbrief Podcasts on my Zune by Cali Lewis....

Who knows, may turn out to be useless, but maybe not....

Of course, Picasa makes quick work of tilted shots....but why not get them right in the camera?

Does no one look through their viewfinders anymore?

[JETninja]

Originally Posted by Wheatfield

Does no one look through their viewfinders anymore?

99% if the time yes, but I can think of time in Dark situations (my tripod has no level) or on a Car mount etc when you can't look through it...or shooting right off the ground to look up under a car chassis...lots of shots could benefit.

[Tom S.]

Originally Posted by Wheatfield

Does no one look through their viewfinders anymore?

Spoken like someone who's never been to a "Mystery Spot".

[alohadave]

Originally Posted by Wheatfield

Does no one look through their viewfinders anymore?

It's useful to know when you are level when you are shooting panoramas and if you don't have a horizon line.

[séamuis]

as mentioned above. this is a very old tool in the photographers arsenal. I thought everyone already knew about camera mounted bubble levels? of course I believe some higher end canon and nikons have such a tool built into the camera.

[SpecialK]

Originally Posted by Wheatfield

Does no one look through their viewfinders anymore?

Both mine are tilted.

[séamuis]

Originally Posted by SpecialK

Both mine are tilted.

you should probably get that checked out.

[ChrisPlatt]

I saw some inexpensive ones on eBay, available from Chinese sellers.
They describe it as a "gradienter", so try searching using that term.

Chris

[geauxpez]

Originally Posted by Wheatfield

Does no one look through their viewfinders anymore?

I purchased one of the above recently ($5.95 ea with free shipping from fly-ebe on ebay) for shooting panos. When looking through my viewfinder at an uneven landscape (like my back yard) the stitched result is REALLY choppy. The more level you can get your camera, the better the result. I have not yet tested the gadget, though.

[NeverSatisfied]

Yea and if you're doing panos you're on a tripod, most decent tripods have a level on them as well. At least for me that'll do. YMMV