Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
11-11-2010, 02:46 PM   #1
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Frozen white North
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,128
Built in level on K-5

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.


I see that they have added a built in level to the K5. One of my pet peeves with my K10D is no matter how much I try to take a level photo, half of them come out crooked. I don't know why, they just do.

Is the level based on gravity or is it tied into the sensor's position somehow?

11-11-2010, 03:35 PM   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2010
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,545
I think that it uses accelerometer technology just like the iPod touch/iPhone/iPad.
11-11-2010, 03:38 PM   #3
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Wheatfield's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The wheatfields of Canada
Posts: 15,903
It bounces signals off the moon and triangulates with the Wailing Wall.
One of the fairly common faults on the K10 was the sensor being held ever so slightly off level.
OTOH, the level on the K7 is known to be slightly off as well.
Anyway, the level is gravity based, but whether the system is absolutely accurate will depend on the individual assembly of the camera.
11-11-2010, 03:54 PM   #4
Veteran Member
Hypocorism's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Melbourne .au
Posts: 623
QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
OTOH, the level on the K7 is known to be slightly off as well.
Anyway, the level is gravity based, but whether the system is absolutely accurate will depend on the individual assembly of the camera.
Does it cover the full 4 axes, or only two, landscape and lateral?
(or is it a basic gyro-attitude meter like in cars/small aircraft?)

To be complete it would need to handle 8 in fact, for portrait position.
?

Or do we still have to keep our $5 clear resin hotshoe mount 3-bubble levels?

.R.


Last edited by Hypocorism; 11-11-2010 at 04:09 PM.
11-11-2010, 04:37 PM   #5
Veteran Member
creampuff's Avatar

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Singapore
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,953
QuoteOriginally posted by sebberry Quote
I see that they have added a built in level to the K5. One of my pet peeves with my K10D is no matter how much I try to take a level photo, half of them come out crooked. I don't know why, they just do.

Is the level based on gravity or is it tied into the sensor's position somehow?
This is old news. Some early K10D had issues of the sensor being slightly misaligned.
11-11-2010, 05:50 PM   #6
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Wheatfield's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The wheatfields of Canada
Posts: 15,903
QuoteOriginally posted by Hypocorism Quote
Does it cover the full 4 axes, or only two, landscape and lateral?
(or is it a basic gyro-attitude meter like in cars/small aircraft?)

To be complete it would need to handle 8 in fact, for portrait position.
?

Or do we still have to keep our $5 clear resin hotshoe mount 3-bubble levels?

.R.
It handles pitch and yaw in both horizontal and vertical orientation.
If your shoe mount level is actually accurate, keep it, you'll find it easier to use than switching the camera level on.
You can customize the raw button to activate the level, but then you lose the ability to use that button for a couple of things that I find more useful.
11-11-2010, 05:53 PM   #7
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
QuoteOriginally posted by Hypocorism Quote
Or do we still have to keep our $5 clear resin hotshoe mount 3-bubble levels?
Those are now 100% obsolete Pentax K 5 Features worth noting I - Pentax News & Rumors - PentaxForums.com


Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:
11-11-2010, 06:40 PM   #8
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
Unless the electronic level can be calibrated by the user, I have my doubts about its performance.

Seems a hotshoe bubble level is only as good as the hotshoe-sensor alignment, which I doubt is any better than the sensor-viewfinder alignment, and it seems not handy for hand-held shots.

Both my bodies have the Pentax tilt, so reaching for the Elements leveling tool is second nature, now.
11-11-2010, 07:11 PM   #9
Veteran Member
Hypocorism's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Melbourne .au
Posts: 623
QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
It handles pitch and yaw in both horizontal and vertical orientation.
If your shoe mount level is actually accurate, keep it, you'll find it easier to use than switching the camera level on.
You can customize the raw button to activate the level, but then you lose the ability to use that button for a couple of things that I find more useful.
Excellent. Sounds like they did the job pretty well.

Relief! We might not need to buy one of these essential-gadgets-to-sustain-life after all...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ATTITUDE-GYRO-AIRCRAFT-METER-GAUGE-AVIATION-WATCH-/150518328553


Serious, I find the cheap resin block or button ones handy to glue to tripods and heads too. Mfgrs of those never seem to add enough or in the right places.

Any sign of lazer levels tech and sighting/distance gauge pointers in DSLRs yet?

.R.

Last edited by Hypocorism; 11-11-2010 at 07:19 PM.
11-11-2010, 08:52 PM   #10
Veteran Member
Fl_Gulfer's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Florida Gulfer
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,054
Never thought about testing the levels in the K-7 or K-5 but I have a bubble level in my tripod head so I'll test them tomorrow, I also have a laser level i'll try to.
11-11-2010, 09:10 PM   #11
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
QuoteOriginally posted by SpecialK Quote
Unless the electronic level can be calibrated by the user, I have my doubts about its performance.

Seems a hotshoe bubble level is only as good as the hotshoe-sensor alignment, which I doubt is any better than the sensor-viewfinder alignment, and it seems not handy for hand-held shots.

Both my bodies have the Pentax tilt, so reaching for the Elements leveling tool is second nature, now.
The one in my K-5 is perfect- dead accurate!

The other K-5 we got had a faulty one (off by 3 degrees to the left), and Pentax repair said that "it can be fixed via software, but we aren't able to do it yet". So we just sent back the body instead of getting it fixed.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:
11-11-2010, 10:05 PM   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Perth Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,514
rather difficult to know if your point of reference is off... i guess the horizon at the ocean is probably the only true test
11-12-2010, 10:27 AM   #13
Forum Member




Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 58
The neat thing about an electronic level is that in theory it can be zeroed to agree with the sensor orientation. So any sensor-misalignment may be taken out of the equation. I hope this is what they do in the factory. Mine at least was bang on as far as I have seen (within 0.5 degrees anyway).

- Phil
11-12-2010, 03:37 PM   #14
Senior Member
patriotap's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Jersey
Photos: Albums
Posts: 159
tested mine today with bubble level and it was accurate
11-12-2010, 03:48 PM   #15
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
QuoteOriginally posted by WerTicus Quote
rather difficult to know if your point of reference is off... i guess the horizon at the ocean is probably the only true test
All you've got to do is put your camera on a level surface, check the reading, and then rotate it 180 degrees. If the readings aren't the same, then your level is inaccurate. Otherwise, they're kosher!

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, dslr, k-5, k-5 ii, k-5 iis, k5, level, pentax k-5
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
K-7 electronic level gavro Pentax DSLR Discussion 51 02-25-2011 03:51 AM
K-7 Built-in level Mike Gezing Pentax DSLR Discussion 8 05-09-2010 07:41 PM
Brightness level on K7. jamescp Pentax DSLR Discussion 4 01-25-2010 02:29 AM
k-7 level correction Nass Pentax DSLR Discussion 18 01-19-2010 10:06 AM
KX entry level? Racing Widow Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 8 11-18-2009 01:22 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:34 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top