Use a level ?

[davidinvirginia]

Anyone use a level of sort sort when shooting? I would like to take low level shots of flowers without crawling on the ground (getting harder to get up as I get older). Thanks. David

[chauncey]

They make a level that slides onto your hot shoe...or pick up a carpenter's "line level" at Home Depot.

[griptape]

Yeah, you can get bubble levels that slide into your hot shoe for around $20.

http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Triple-Bubble-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0019CQWM8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1215987579&sr=8-8

[Mark1]

I have seen some hotshoe levels for $5.

[griptape]

^Yeah, I've seen a few super cheap ones on ebay. I can't imagine there's too much difference. I mean it's a cube with water and a pocket of air.

[davidinvirginia]

Thanks all. I'll look for one of hot shoe levels.

David

[where1]

David, I have the same affliction as you when it comes to getting up. I picked up an Angle Finder C. It allows me to look through my view finder by looking straight down. I shot flowers from a single knee on the ground getting the camera low enough that I would have to be on my belly without the Angle Finder. Downside is the price, upside is the view through the lens.

[Shutterbug Doug]

Found THIS (http://www.sourcingmap.com/dual-axis-gradienter-spirit-level-camera-hot-shoe-p-18826.html) one for around $9.00 US shipped.

[Mark1]

Good find! the shipping on the one i found makes it about the same.

[MattMoore]

I have a level called 'Show Grid' & 'Rotate', they came with Photoshop.:p

[Mark1]

But you lose pixels when you use it. That is never a desirable option.

[MattMoore]

But you lose pixels when you use it. That is never a desirable option.

Not too many, but of course that option never had me purposefully NOT trying to get a level shot (when applicable/desired) in the first place.

Whenever I have to rotate, its very slight.

I know they sell the focus screens with the 1/3 grid lines, those could be a useful alternative than a level (esp. a hotshoe mounted level, b/c that where the flash/flash transmitter usually goes). :p

[rdenney]

David, I have the same affliction as you when it comes to getting up. I picked up an Angle Finder C. It allows me to look through my view finder by looking straight down. I shot flowers from a single knee on the ground getting the camera low enough that I would have to be on my belly without the Angle Finder. Downside is the price, upside is the view through the lens.

I need to get one of those--I'm starting to have the same issues.

But I deeply miss the high-eyepoint finders that were once available for professional cameras. I still have the Speed-Finder for my F-1; it provided a rotation plane at 45 degrees that would allow one to turn it for use on copy stands and low tripod positions. It worked better than an angle finder because you didn't have to get as close to see the whole frame.

Rick "who misses the old interchangeable finder system" Denney