Quick leveling for static shots

[Ofer Levy]

I won’t be surprised if this is a common practice and you all know that but it is new to me so I thought I will share it.

I am working on a project filming static subjects (bats). I need to change position every few minutes and also keep changing lenses. Trying to level the camera using the bubble level on the tripod proved to be too difficult and time consuming.

I bought this cheap tiny bubble level and attached it with a small piece of Velcro as seen in the picture.
It is so much easier and quicker to level the camera now – I just release the big screw in the tripod bowl.
This will work only for static shots – not for panning as the tripod+camera combo can not be leveled this way.
Cheers,

Ofer Levy Nature Photographer

[Dale Bohlke]

It's interesting to see someone with a similar solution. Since I use a mike attached to the hot shoe I put the level on top of a Series 7 battery. I tried Velcro but it pulled off so now I just use packing tape and replace the tape as needed.
Dale

[Bob Thompson]

This manfrotto ball camera leveller works beautifully and is very quick at levelling a head

Manfrotto 438 - BALL CAMERA LEVELLER 3/8

Bob

[Annie Haycock]

I use a level that was designed for use in the hotshoe of my stills cameras. It slides into the accessory shoe of the Canon XH-A1 (but not the accessory shoes on Sony cameras because Sony has to make things different sizes). However, I now have a deadcat on the microphone, and this does partially obscure the accessory shoe.