K-7 electronic level

gavro · 01-17-2010, 10:25 AM

Been trying out my new K-7 for about a day now, and it just keeps bugging me: either something is wrong with the electronic level measurement or something relly messed up in my head....

Just did some testing with a "carpenter's" level --> put the K-7 on top of the level and set the level:
a) at the correct carpenter's level
b) at the 'correct' measured electronic level of the K-7.

It seems that the electronic level is tilted by 2 degrees to the right... Am I the only one with this problem? I haven't found any option where I could fix this problem..

If this measurement is also used to correct the 1 degree rotation (horizon correction), than this would be useless (and wrongly used!) with my device. What should I do?

Last edited by gavro; 01-17-2010 at 04:04 PM. Reason: typos

LeDave · 01-17-2010, 10:45 AM

Hmm interesting, after reading this I decided to do some tests for myself. I decided to do some rigorous testing and it seems my K-7 is 1 bar too much to the right, well it seems to blink back and forth from 1 bar to 2 bars when I hold it accurately straight, however if I tilt it to the left a tiny bit, it stops. So maybe 0.5 bars inaccurate to the right is more like it. Not too big enough to be a problem for me, I think I can live with it.

karmazyn · 01-17-2010, 03:31 PM

I have the same problem - 3 degrees to the left.

Yes I can disable this function and live without it or remember to correct indication.
But why should I pay for this?

Arpe · 01-17-2010, 04:26 PM

A builders' level? I don't think they are all that accurate.

Can you see the sea? Level the camera with your camera's level on a tripod. Take a picture and check it.

gavro · 01-17-2010, 05:01 PM

I will do some more testing tomorrow. I used a spirit level (Stabila Type 83S), and it is quite accurate though, nevertheless: when testing with some photo's inhouse all 'leveled' photographs are quite off...

My house may not be entirely level, but from every viewpoint, from every angle, the level is always off to the same direction...

I live in The Hague, if/when I find the time I will try out your suggestion.

Wheatfield · 01-17-2010, 05:11 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

A builders' level? I don't think they are all that accurate.

Can you see the sea? Level the camera with your camera's level on a tripod. Take a picture and check it.

I was thinking that as well.
Thanks for the tip about the sea.

BillM · 01-17-2010, 07:28 PM

I was wondering,were their any ferrous metal objects (magnetic) close by? steel,iron
Try moving something made of these materials around the camera
see if it causes display to react.
ie. a hammer,pliers,screwdriver...something like that
am interested in the results

dclauria · 01-17-2010, 09:36 PM

I turned my level off after the first couple of days when I discovered the exposure meter was not visible in 'M' manual mode when the electronic level was on.

I too wondered how accurate it was - I'll check mine tomorrow.

Jasvox · 01-18-2010, 12:06 AM

Doesn't surprise me that the level may be off a few degrees considering the entire time I owned my K10D, the photos had a slight rightward lean to them when developed...even when my tripod was dead level. If the level in the K-7 compensates for the lean of the sensor, as long as the photos are level, that's all I care about.

Jason

GoremanX · 01-18-2010, 01:13 AM

a couple things to keep in mind:

- the electronic level is meant as a guide, not a perfectly accurate horizon. Even the best levels have a degree of inaccuracy, it's normal. Heck, I've noticed the level shifting around a bit when wind blows on the camera, even though the camera isn't moving one iota.

- the SR feature moves the sensor around, including rotation on the K-7. There may be some unwanted rotation added by the SR in order to accomodate any movement it might have detected.

I find the electronic level to be a brilliant feature which has helped me correct slanted lines in my pictures BEFORE I press the shutter button. But I only depend on it when the horizon isn't actually visible. Otherwise, I use the horizon to base my composition on.

gavro · 01-19-2010, 02:04 PM

Here are two pictures I took today (exif info still present) during a 'quick' lunch, both showing 1.5 degree rotation in de sensor.

I've used a tripod, set the level as good as I could on the camera, horizon correction was on. I haven't had time to do some more testing (set the level of the horizon, with and without horizon correction, etc) as my boss really wouldn't like that today....

SR was off btw.

bjan · 03-05-2010, 07:16 AM

bought a K7 yesterday. Brought it back today (in netherlands) because of not proper working electronic level. Needed at least 2 little blocks on the right side. (had to lift right side up a bit) to get level picture. As well in live view as where the leveler is more sensible as in viewfinder .
Useless feature this way. Dealer send it back to Belgium importer.
There was an other camera in the shop with same problem

KansasHorizons.com · 03-05-2010, 10:53 AM

I returned my first K-7 because of this level problem and sadly the replacement was just as far off.

I had made a previous post about this with no response.

I am under the impression many are defective in this way.

cb750r · 03-05-2010, 11:05 AM

The Pentax K-7 with Built in off levelling feature, to give your shots that authentic hand held look!

Itai · 03-05-2010, 12:15 PM

Sad that so may are off. This is one of my favorite features. Mine extremely accurate most of the time (0.3 degrees) but not always. As someone suggested maybe it is affected by something in the environment, magnetic fields maybe... in some locations it could not get perfectly level

- Itai
Neoluminance | Fine Art Photography by Itai Danan

01-17-2010, 10:25 AM	#1
gavro New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Hague Posts: 3	K-7 electronic level Been trying out my new K-7 for about a day now, and it just keeps bugging me: either something is wrong with the electronic level measurement or something relly messed up in my head.... Just did some testing with a "carpenter's" level --> put the K-7 on top of the level and set the level: a) at the correct carpenter's level b) at the 'correct' measured electronic level of the K-7. It seems that the electronic level is tilted by 2 degrees to the right... Am I the only one with this problem? I haven't found any option where I could fix this problem.. If this measurement is also used to correct the 1 degree rotation (horizon correction), than this would be useless (and wrongly used!) with my device. What should I do? Last edited by gavro; 01-17-2010 at 04:04 PM. Reason: typos

01-17-2010, 07:28 PM	#7
BillM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ferguson, Mo. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,348	K-7 level I was wondering,were their any ferrous metal objects (magnetic) close by? steel,iron Try moving something made of these materials around the camera see if it causes display to react. ie. a hammer,pliers,screwdriver...something like that am interested in the results

01-19-2010, 02:04 PM	#11
gavro New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Hague Posts: 3 Original Poster	Here are two pictures I took today (exif info still present) during a 'quick' lunch, both showing 1.5 degree rotation in de sensor. I've used a tripod, set the level as good as I could on the camera, horizon correction was on. I haven't had time to do some more testing (set the level of the horizon, with and without horizon correction, etc) as my boss really wouldn't like that today.... SR was off btw. Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
k-5 issue with the electronic level :(	bsimon	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	20	10-29-2010 08:13 PM
K7 owners: Light Meter or Electronic Level?	future_retro	Pentax DSLR Discussion	19	07-15-2010 02:45 PM
K-7 introducing electronic viewfinder?	cateto	Pentax News and Rumors	138	05-20-2009 12:12 PM
How is Sigma Electronic Flash EF-530 DG ST	ascii	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	18	02-15-2009 03:47 AM
Any Pentax DSLRs with an electronic shutter?	soccerjoe5	Pentax DSLR Discussion	4	12-11-2008 10:33 AM

01-17-2010, 10:45 AM	#2
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Hmm interesting, after reading this I decided to do some tests for myself. I decided to do some rigorous testing and it seems my K-7 is 1 bar too much to the right, well it seems to blink back and forth from 1 bar to 2 bars when I hold it accurately straight, however if I tilt it to the left a tiny bit, it stops. So maybe 0.5 bars inaccurate to the right is more like it. Not too big enough to be a problem for me, I think I can live with it.

01-17-2010, 03:31 PM	#3
karmazyn Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	I have the same problem - 3 degrees to the left. Yes I can disable this function and live without it or remember to correct indication. But why should I pay for this?

01-17-2010, 04:26 PM	#4
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	A builders' level? I don't think they are all that accurate. Can you see the sea? Level the camera with your camera's level on a tripod. Take a picture and check it.

01-17-2010, 05:01 PM	#5
gavro New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Hague Posts: 3 Original Poster	I will do some more testing tomorrow. I used a spirit level (Stabila Type 83S), and it is quite accurate though, nevertheless: when testing with some photo's inhouse all 'leveled' photographs are quite off... My house may not be entirely level, but from every viewpoint, from every angle, the level is always off to the same direction... I live in The Hague, if/when I find the time I will try out your suggestion.

01-17-2010, 05:11 PM	#6
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by Arpe A builders' level? I don't think they are all that accurate. Can you see the sea? Level the camera with your camera's level on a tripod. Take a picture and check it. I was thinking that as well. Thanks for the tip about the sea.

01-17-2010, 09:36 PM	#8
dclauria Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 56	I turned my level off after the first couple of days when I discovered the exposure meter was not visible in 'M' manual mode when the electronic level was on. I too wondered how accurate it was - I'll check mine tomorrow.

01-18-2010, 12:06 AM	#9
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	Doesn't surprise me that the level may be off a few degrees considering the entire time I owned my K10D, the photos had a slight rightward lean to them when developed...even when my tripod was dead level. If the level in the K-7 compensates for the lean of the sensor, as long as the photos are level, that's all I care about. Jason

01-18-2010, 01:13 AM	#10
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657	a couple things to keep in mind: - the electronic level is meant as a guide, not a perfectly accurate horizon. Even the best levels have a degree of inaccuracy, it's normal. Heck, I've noticed the level shifting around a bit when wind blows on the camera, even though the camera isn't moving one iota. - the SR feature moves the sensor around, including rotation on the K-7. There may be some unwanted rotation added by the SR in order to accomodate any movement it might have detected. I find the electronic level to be a brilliant feature which has helped me correct slanted lines in my pictures BEFORE I press the shutter button. But I only depend on it when the horizon isn't actually visible. Otherwise, I use the horizon to base my composition on.

03-05-2010, 07:16 AM	#12
bjan Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 116	bought a K7 yesterday. Brought it back today (in netherlands) because of not proper working electronic level. Needed at least 2 little blocks on the right side. (had to lift right side up a bit) to get level picture. As well in live view as where the leveler is more sensible as in viewfinder . Useless feature this way. Dealer send it back to Belgium importer. There was an other camera in the shop with same problem

03-05-2010, 10:53 AM	#13
KansasHorizons.com Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery Posts: 183	I returned my first K-7 because of this level problem and sadly the replacement was just as far off. I had made a previous post about this with no response. I am under the impression many are defective in this way.

03-05-2010, 11:05 AM	#14
cb750r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 310	The Pentax K-7 with Built in off levelling feature, to give your shots that authentic hand held look!

03-05-2010, 12:15 PM	#15
Itai Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 209	Sad that so may are off. This is one of my favorite features. Mine extremely accurate most of the time (0.3 degrees) but not always. As someone suggested maybe it is affected by something in the environment, magnetic fields maybe... in some locations it could not get perfectly level - Itai Neoluminance \| Fine Art Photography by Itai Danan