Takes ages to level my Sachtler head... at DVinfo.net

Neil Corbett · June 28th, 2008, 11:32 PM

I have a sachtler 6 head and miller solo legs, but it can be incredibly hard to get the thing level. It moves smoothly sometimes but is often sticky. so when i'm trying get the leveling bubble in the centre it kind of jerks off-centre when i move it.

Previous to the miller legs i had sachtler legs and the same thing happened, so i guess its not the bowl. i've tried greasing the bowl/head but that doesnt help. my current and best solution is to gaffer tape the bowel. it needs a jerk free when first using it but after that its not too bad. but really, its a ridiculous situation when i can level a 100 quid tripod in seconds but it can take a minute or more to level something this expensive.

Any help or thoughts would be appreciated.

Neil

Oren Arieli · June 29th, 2008, 12:47 AM

Make sure your pan/tilt locks are tight...put one hand on the camera's top handle, the other hand on the the leveling adjustment and use BOTH hands to make your adjustments. It helps if you roughly balance your camera first, so that its not fighting you as you make adjustments. Works for me and adjusts in 10 seconds or less.

Neil Corbett · June 29th, 2008, 02:08 AM

Thats how i tend to balance it. Ive also tried kinda lifting the camera at the same time. The big movements are fine, getting it roughly centred isnt a problem. but its that last little movement when it gets stuck and shoots off. It sounds really petty but its incredibly frustrating when i should be thinking of setting up the shot etc. im seriously thinking of selling the head cause it shouldnt be causing me this much grief.

Andrew Dean · June 29th, 2008, 08:59 AM

is it just as difficult if you align the head before attaching the camera?

Rick L. Allen · June 29th, 2008, 09:29 AM

Sounds like you have an incompatability between the tightening handle and the underside of the head. While the bowl may be the same the design (75mm) - the underside of the bowl may be different because of geometry or the washer design. I had to saw 3/8 inch off the post on the bottom of one of my satchler heads to make it work with a set of miller sticks.

Dan Gunn · June 29th, 2008, 10:04 AM

In addition, the levels on my tripod and fluid head disagree. Why can't the manufacteurs put a level in the viewfinder?!

JoJo

Dan Gunn · June 29th, 2008, 10:05 AM

In addition, the levels on my tripod and fluid head disagree. Why can't the manufacteurs put a level in the viewfinder?!

JoJo

Neil Corbett · June 29th, 2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Dean

is it just as difficult if you align the head before attaching the camera?

i don't have my tripod at present to double check, but from memory its much worse without the camera

June 28th, 2008, 11:32 PM	#1
Neil Corbett Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London,UK Posts: 64	Takes ages to level my Sachtler head... I have a sachtler 6 head and miller solo legs, but it can be incredibly hard to get the thing level. It moves smoothly sometimes but is often sticky. so when i'm trying get the leveling bubble in the centre it kind of jerks off-centre when i move it. Previous to the miller legs i had sachtler legs and the same thing happened, so i guess its not the bowl. i've tried greasing the bowl/head but that doesnt help. my current and best solution is to gaffer tape the bowel. it needs a jerk free when first using it but after that its not too bad. but really, its a ridiculous situation when i can level a 100 quid tripod in seconds but it can take a minute or more to level something this expensive. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated. Neil

June 29th, 2008, 09:29 AM	#5
Rick L. Allen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 535	Sounds like you have an incompatability between the tightening handle and the underside of the head. While the bowl may be the same the design (75mm) - the underside of the bowl may be different because of geometry or the washer design. I had to saw 3/8 inch off the post on the bottom of one of my satchler heads to make it work with a set of miller sticks. __________________ "The good thing about science is that it's true whether you believe it or not." Neil deGrasse Tyson https://www.nautilusproductions.com/

June 29th, 2008, 12:47 AM	#2
Oren Arieli Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 918	Make sure your pan/tilt locks are tight...put one hand on the camera's top handle, the other hand on the the leveling adjustment and use BOTH hands to make your adjustments. It helps if you roughly balance your camera first, so that its not fighting you as you make adjustments. Works for me and adjusts in 10 seconds or less.

June 29th, 2008, 02:08 AM	#3
Neil Corbett Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London,UK Posts: 64	Thats how i tend to balance it. Ive also tried kinda lifting the camera at the same time. The big movements are fine, getting it roughly centred isnt a problem. but its that last little movement when it gets stuck and shoots off. It sounds really petty but its incredibly frustrating when i should be thinking of setting up the shot etc. im seriously thinking of selling the head cause it shouldnt be causing me this much grief.

June 29th, 2008, 08:59 AM	#4
Andrew Dean Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Motukarara, New Zealand Posts: 475	is it just as difficult if you align the head before attaching the camera?

June 29th, 2008, 10:04 AM	#6
Dan Gunn Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 272	In addition, the levels on my tripod and fluid head disagree. Why can't the manufacteurs put a level in the viewfinder?! JoJo

June 29th, 2008, 10:05 AM	#7
Dan Gunn Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 272	In addition, the levels on my tripod and fluid head disagree. Why can't the manufacteurs put a level in the viewfinder?! JoJo