Straight lines

[aam1234]

No matter how hard I try to make lines straight (like the horizon), I rarely do. Even with a monopod, and long time to adjust the frame, not much luck.

Are there any tips for hopeless cases like me (short of using a tripod).

Thanks

Note: I suspect wearing glassing might have to do with it.

[chris.bailey]

Not being funny but do you mean straight or do you mean level. The horizon will show decided curvature in wide angle shots and there is not much anyone can do about that :lol: but even a small tilt can show up in a picture when you could have sworn you had the camera level. In Photoshop run a measure line along the horizon and then go to adjust/ rotate /arbitrary. Photoshop will show you how much your picture is tilted. I often find I tilt mine by a degree or so (right hand always down), which is easily corrected. I find it helps to frame the top of the viewfinder with the horizon and then move down and shoot. All in all though, holding a camera to a single degree of level is pretty good.

[Scottes]

Thanks Chris! I thought it was me. I *always* dip to the right, and even when I *try* to get level I'm about a degree off.

PS: I often use the AF boxes to help line up the horizon, or something straight like the side of a house.

[aam1234]

Hi chris.bailey,
I meant level and I don't have a WA lens (yet).

(right hand always down)

Me too! always the right hand.

I find it helps to frame the top of the viewfinder with the horizon and then move down and shoot.

That's what I do, but still not much luck.

[aam1234]

or something straight like the side of a house.


Tried that and other tricks in the book, still tilted a bit (to the right of course :evil: )

[chris.bailey]

I feel a Poll coming on, who dips to the left and who dips to the right :lol: :lol:

[aam1234]

Ha ha, that would be a good idea.

Since 3 out of 3 tilt to the right, me think maybe the way we press the shutter has something to do with it. Just a thought.

[Sam North]

It's worth bearing in mind that a little rotation will degrade the image slightly, so it's best to get it right as quickly as you can. The software has to recalculate the pixels, just as it does when an image is interpolated.

It's hard when hand-holding to get it right. If there's no sea in a landscape shot, a little off the true is ok, but if you have buildings and so on, it can lose you the shot.

I think you can get etched screens for better cameras, but even then pressing the shutter can do the damage.


:(

[aam1234]

If there's no sea in a landscape shot

The thing that alerted me to that "tilt" issue was the sea. Then noticed it in all my shots.

[robertwgross]

My tripod has a level built into its head. Then the quick release mounts have levels built into them as well. That helps me for getting things level. Once I discovered that the tripod ring on my longest lens was not centered, so I had been shooting many shots that way.

If you get to the point where the scene looks level, then shift to the other eye and see if it still looks level.

---Bob Gross---

[aam1234]

If you get to the point where the scene looks level, then shift to the other eye and see if it still looks level.

Very interesting idea, will give it a try. Thanks

[Mark Kemp]

I have a little spirit level that fits to the flash hotshoe. Guarantees the camera is level evey time.

I got it from Jessops (UK) but they shouldn't be too hard to find.