How to make Cheap Camera Levels

[digirebelva]

My little project to make cheap camera levels. I was looking for a way to level my camera in both the horizontal & vertical positions. Without spending $15 for whats on the market. So I went to the dollar store, bought a cheap $1 level, took it apart snd then had to figure out how to mount them..Say hello to a new use for the lowly penny. With but a bit off of either side a penny fits perfectly in the hotshoe. Took a washer and cut it down to sit on top of the penny and then glued the washers to them. Then glued the levels to the washers. On the horiz. I added a bit of one of those refrig magnets to have a flatter surface to glue to. Cost all of about $1.02 + tax
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[digirebelva]

2 more shots for you of the levels

[twiggles]

Have you had any trouble with the metal penny causing issues when in contact with the metal in your hotshoe? Could the conductivity of the penny damage the camera?

[krb]

Go to a local RV (caravan for the Limey's) supply store and pick up one of these: http://www.rvpartscenter.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=29208&SID=8&DID=128&CID=166

[digirebelva]

Have you had any trouble with the metal penny causing issues when in contact with the metal in your hotshoe? Could the conductivity of the penny damage the camera?

I dont do it with the camera on so the contacts are not hot. Its not a tight fit so the penny basically glides on top of the contacts.

[digirebelva]

Go to a local RV (caravan for the Limey's) supply store and pick up one of these: http://www.rvpartscenter.com/ProductDetail.asp?PID=29208&SID=8&DID=128&CID=166

I have a bubble level on my tripod...one of those would be very diffucilt to level a camera in the horiz. position wouldnt it?;)

[Mark1]

You need to glue a second one to the front so you have a 2 axis level.

I got a cheep but decient one on Deal Extreme for $3.

[digirebelva]

You need to glue a second one to the front so you have a 2 axis level.

Its 2 seperate ones...1 for horizontal & 1 for vertical

Do you have a link to the one you bought?

[Mark1]

It is here... http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2341

They have a ton of knock-offs. And some of it is the exact same stuff as the real but with another name. Third party manufacturers are famous for doing that over there. They just make different name plates and sell it them selves.

It is worth the time to go through the whole photo area.

They ship from Hong Kong. So it can take a few weeks to get to you.

[blueM]

It is here... http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2341

Thanks for the link. I bought my first one for $10. Lost it & had to pay $15 the next time. I think I will buy 3 from your Hong Kong site so I have backup. So easy to misplace those little suckers

[Mark1]

... So easy to misplace those little suckers


Ha ha ha... I just lost mine!.. Looking everywhere.

[tvphotog]

It is here... http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2341

They have a ton of knock-offs. And some of it is the exact same stuff as the real but with another name. Third party manufacturers are famous for doing that over there. They just make different name plates and sell it them selves.

It is worth the time to go through the whole photo area.

They ship from Hong Kong. So it can take a few weeks to get to you.

Yes, these are identical to one that sell at B&H for $40. I picked a couple up from deal extreme a couple weeks ago. They arrived about a week after ordering.