Which bubble level to believe?

This reminds me of that old adage:

The man with one level knows what level is, the man with two levels is confused.

rijndael wrote in post #9130157
This reminds me of that old adage:

The man with one level knows what level is, the man with two levels is confused.

That's why you always have at least three.

The Ghost of FM wrote in post #9125075
The hot shoe mount on my 1DsMkII appears to be pretty much bang on level in both axis lines, which I checked my tripod first with a 6 vial carpenter's level and then on the hot shoe.

I've ordered a Jobu 3 axis hot shoe bubble level which doesn't need to be reoriented when in the portrait mode and am looking forward to getting straighter shots and especially so when I wish to just hold the camera lower to the ground and use the level as my guide...because sometime my aging body doesn't like bending that low or laying in the dirt.

Ordinarily, I can get a shot within half a degree of plumb with my eye but working at odd shooting heights, it should prove to be a valuable tool. Keep in mind too, the electronic display in the 7D can't be used if you can't see the screen.

I'll test it out and post a shot once it arrives in the next day or two.

Cheers!

Sorry it took so long for it to arrive but it finally did and I commenced to test it out, doing some low level, (knee-cap height), shooting, just holding the camera down low from a standing position and was quite happy with how level and true the shot came out!

I think you can try both and see the comparison on your computer. Photoshop has the function that you can see which one is slanted base on 2 methods you have.

bomboman wrote in post #9204677
I think you can try both and see the comparison on your computer. Photoshop has the function that you can see which one is slanted base on 2 methods you have.

Both what?

I don't follow what your saying?

Cheers!

I just happened to do a search on POTN and then this thread just appear. Is it confirmed that hot-shoe bubbles are not accurate at all? I'm thinking of ordering a 3-axis hot-shoe bubble level, but I might not if it's not even remotely accurate. If it's off by a bit, then I guess it's not a big deal, but if it's significant amount, then I mind as well just use my instinct.

How many of you are now no longer using bubble levels in light of the findings in this thread?

I've never used one but have always had one on my shopping list.

Unless I am shooting buildings with WA's and tilting the camera, I have found my results have been very good...so a bubble level will probably continue to stay on my shopping list for some time to come.

lsquare wrote in post #10194145
I just happened to do a search on POTN and then this thread just appear. Is it confirmed that hot-shoe bubbles are not accurate at all? I'm thinking of ordering a 3-axis hot-shoe bubble level, but I might not if it's not even remotely accurate. If it's off by a bit, then I guess it's not a big deal, but if it's significant amount, then I mind as well just use my instinct.

How many of you are now no longer using bubble levels in light of the findings in this thread?

No, it's not confirmed. It depends on whether the hotshoe on your particular camera sample happens to be mounted level and plumb with the sensor.

lsquare wrote in post #10194145
I just happened to do a search on POTN and then this thread just appear. Is it confirmed that hot-shoe bubbles are not accurate at all? I'm thinking of ordering a 3-axis hot-shoe bubble level, but I might not if it's not even remotely accurate. If it's off by a bit, then I guess it's not a big deal, but if it's significant amount, then I mind as well just use my instinct.

How many of you are now no longer using bubble levels in light of the findings in this thread?

It depends on

a) your hotshoe mount (my 5DII is ok, 5D out)
b) how well the bubble level fits in the hotshoe; is it loose or tight
c) accuracy of the bubble level itself

For me, c) has always been the issue. 5 bubble levels on my desk and all are different. Two are the triple axis ones and I'd not trust any of those. One because it's base plate is completely wonky and the other has badly aligned tubes inside the perspex.

I do not know if the £20 versions are better than the ebay £5 ones. Personally, I now use a digital level at all times. I know that is accurate.

Mike.

bunyarra wrote in post #10194908
It depends on

a) your hotshoe mount (my 5DII is ok, 5D out)
b) how well the bubble level fits in the hotshoe; is it loose or tight
c) accuracy of the bubble level itself

For me, c) has always been the issue. 5 bubble levels on my desk and all are different. Two are the triple axis ones and I'd not trust any of those. One because it's base plate is completely wonky and the other has badly aligned tubes inside the perspex.

I do not know if the £20 versions are better than the ebay £5 ones. Personally, I now use a digital level at all times. I know that is accurate.

Mike.

Which one are you using?

Digital does not automatically mean more accurate.

I worked for a large electrical contracting business that went to ISO9000 (actually its BS equivilant who's number I've long since forgotten). At vast expensive I was forced to buy digital meters and provide suitable test facilities. The expensive meters were useless, never steady, hunting the whole time. Analogue kit has its place - "1Meg resistance between poles, thats fine, whats next"? Instead my electricians spend 15 minutes each and every time deciding which of the hundreds of figures they should choose to write down on the test certificate!

Computers even use it these days, its called fuzzy logic. "A 95% certainty right now is better than 99.9% in 10 years time".

lsquare wrote in post #10198086
Which one are you using?

These guys - their pocket spirit level thing.

http://digipas.co.uk/

As for accuracy - I can tell doubters that these are definitely better than guessing the exact position of a bubble in these cheap e-bay hot shoe units.

I use it on the tripod's quick-release clamp ; on both the 5D and 5dII, this proves better than the hot shoe.