Attitude Indicators in View Finders

Giroud Francois · December 20th, 2010, 07:07 AM

i used once a different setup.
you can find laser line generator (basically a laser pointer with a cylinder lens) that generates a red line.
you just mount that under the camera and make the line just off the image.
so you can easily frame without even looking at the camera.
obviously everyone will see the red line so it is not for any situation.
(in that case it was to check mic position, the microphone has a white card or a reflector that showed if it goes too low , so the guy on the stick could exactly know how low he can go)

Giroud Francois · December 20th, 2010, 07:17 AM

a link to a cheap one

660nm 5mw Focusable Laser Line Module / Industrial/Test - eBay (item 250669491771 end time Jan-15-11 21:33:47 PST)

Bredly Root · December 21st, 2010, 06:19 AM

thanks for information

Hamish Reid · December 21st, 2010, 11:05 AM

Thanks again for all the further comments -- some interesting stuff here.

Anyway, I'll readily concede that I'm overstating how difficult it usually is to use a spirit level under normal conditions (hell, I spent a decade doing architectural and interior photography with view cameras, and a million years ago I was an apprentice carpenter / builder's mate...) -- I think all I'm really saying is that there are times I could really do with a larger-scale accurate display for those times when (like me) you're standing in the middle of a road and you don't have an assistant and you have about ten seconds to set things up... in the dark :-).

Ed Roo · December 21st, 2010, 06:22 PM

If you want to learn techniques for how to properly level a tripod, find a surveyor. Ask them to teach you how they do it.

Garrett Low · December 21st, 2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Roo

If you want to learn techniques for how to properly level a tripod, find a surveyor. Ask them to teach you how they do it.

I am an engineer and have done surveys. Many modern surveying devices are self leveling. Those that aren't have three leveling screws between the leveling plate and tripod used to make very fine adjustment. And, believe it or not, we use bubbles to tell if the instrument is level.

-Garrett

Allan Black · December 22nd, 2010, 06:08 PM

Handheld with enough practice through use, like the ENG guys you can level the cam by eye.

Cheers.

Sander Vreuls · December 22nd, 2010, 07:27 PM

A common trick in confusing studio's (with a lot of angles) is to put a spirit level on the top of the lens (or another part of the camera that is level, but top of lens is easiest to see on a shoulder camera). Even for experienced cameramen it's an easy trick to make sure your camera is level while quickly making shots..

December 22nd, 2010, 06:08 PM	#22
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Handheld with enough practice through use, like the ENG guys you can level the cam by eye. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

December 20th, 2010, 07:07 AM	#16
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	i used once a different setup. you can find laser line generator (basically a laser pointer with a cylinder lens) that generates a red line. you just mount that under the camera and make the line just off the image. so you can easily frame without even looking at the camera. obviously everyone will see the red line so it is not for any situation. (in that case it was to check mic position, the microphone has a white card or a reflector that showed if it goes too low , so the guy on the stick could exactly know how low he can go)

December 20th, 2010, 07:17 AM	#17
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	a link to a cheap one 660nm 5mw Focusable Laser Line Module / Industrial/Test - eBay (item 250669491771 end time Jan-15-11 21:33:47 PST)

December 21st, 2010, 06:19 AM	#18
Bredly Root New Boot Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA Posts: 18	thanks for information

December 21st, 2010, 11:05 AM	#19
Hamish Reid Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 81	Thanks again for all the further comments -- some interesting stuff here. Anyway, I'll readily concede that I'm overstating how difficult it usually is to use a spirit level under normal conditions (hell, I spent a decade doing architectural and interior photography with view cameras, and a million years ago I was an apprentice carpenter / builder's mate...) -- I think all I'm really saying is that there are times I could really do with a larger-scale accurate display for those times when (like me) you're standing in the middle of a road and you don't have an assistant and you have about ten seconds to set things up... in the dark :-).

December 21st, 2010, 06:22 PM	#20
Ed Roo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Columbus USA Posts: 312	If you want to learn techniques for how to properly level a tripod, find a surveyor. Ask them to teach you how they do it.

December 22nd, 2010, 07:27 PM	#23
Sander Vreuls Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hilversum, The Netherlands Posts: 184	A common trick in confusing studio's (with a lot of angles) is to put a spirit level on the top of the lens (or another part of the camera that is level, but top of lens is easiest to see on a shoulder camera). Even for experienced cameramen it's an easy trick to make sure your camera is level while quickly making shots..