Bought a 5DmkIII - the level doesn't seem to be correct...

I use my cameras for real estate and architecture so the level is a key player to me. I took it on it's first real estate shoot and it just seemed like the level was not working right. Some poor quality cell phone pics but I'm not sure what to do about it...

http://imgur.com/a/nUS​ZS

Buy a bubble level at a hardware store. Use the camera level, then set the bubble on top of the hotshoe.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16731374
Buy a bubble level at a hardware store. Use the camera level, then set the bubble on top of the hotshoe.

I've got a spirit level but can't use that and a flash or hot shoe wireless trigger at the same time

aparis99 wrote in post #16731392
I've got a spirit level but can't use that and a flash or hot shoe wireless trigger at the same time

You dont need a wireless trigger or a flash to check the accuracy of the level.

Also only 1 of the 3 shots seem to show where the camera thought you were level? Not sure if you noticed that or not. In any case, I would expect the door frame in the middle of the frame to be a bit more vertically level with that middle shot.

I could do that to check I suppose. Didn't think about it. I use the grid on LV and in the VF and you can see where the lines look like things are level, the camera doesn't think so. In the shot where the cam thinks things are level, you can see the verticals are no anywhere near level at all (shot #2)

It looks to me as though the camera level is right but there is a lot of perspective distortion, which you would expect with internal shots like those. You need to correct these using the perspective transform in Photoshop. You can also rotate the picture to get the level right.

either your dual axis is way off or you've got too much distortion to tell. Why dont you test on known good levels like kitchen countertops? Those should be very level (at least they are when the professionals install them).

I see a Canon 10-22 in your profile. Is that what you used for these samples?

The inbuilt level in my 5d3 is terrible, I reckon my iphone would do a better job. Ignore it and get a $3 bubble..

Other threads indicate that this is not an unusual problem.

If it's not right, send it back to Canon. I thought that the tolerance was +/- 3 degrees. I definitely would not put up with that on a $3500 camera.

gjl711 wrote in post #16732086
If it's not right, send it back to Canon. I thought that the tolerance was +/- 3 degrees. I definitely would not put up with that on a $3500 camera.

3 degrees is a lot? Alas I didnt even start using mine till well outside waranty period..perhaps there is/will be a firmware fix?

Lack of Viewfinder Grid Display was one of the reasons I did not buy a 5D mark II three years. Loving the Mark III with not only VF Grid Display but the nice chunky grip of the 7D as well.

Somebloke wrote in post #16732120
3 degrees is a lot? Alas I didnt even start using mine till well outside waranty period..perhaps there is/will be a firmware fix?

I checked my 7D manual and the tolerance is +/- 1 degree so I'm assuming that the 5DIII is at least as good if not better.