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which level to trust?

narikin

New member
When leveling a shot I have 3 built in options to check for everything being straight and true - the tripod head levels, the camera built in levels (Alpa) and the digital level built into the IQ series backs.

They all give me slightly different readings. Wondered what other people are following.
 

kdphotography

Well-known member
I find it easiest to work with the level in the IQ180; a few twists of the knobs on the Cube and I'm done.

:) ken
 

Shashin

Well-known member
What is this for? If you are doing artwork and you want the axis perpendicular to the work, then a mirror is a better solution. If it is architecture, then way is giving you the best result? Use that one.
 

stephengilbert

Active member
"I find it easiest to work with the level in the IQ180?"

Maybe Ken was absent when Graham brought his Phase back in to the RRS facility so he could adjust the level on their marble level tables. :)

Our visit to RRS makes me trust their levels, but they are a bit small.
 

jotloob

Subscriber Member
"I find it easiest to work with the level in the IQ180?"

Maybe Ken was absent when Graham brought his Phase back in to the RRS facility so he could adjust the level on their marble level tables. :)

Our visit to RRS makes me trust their levels, but they are a bit small.
Steve

And which level do you trust if you don't have an IQ180 :poke:
 
I don't trust digital levels at all. They may have come a long way, but I'm totally old school when it comes to that. There are two levels on my Cube, but there are too many things in between those levels and the digital back to get perfectly accurate. I keep one of these in each camera case. I place them either alongside the digital back or against the sliding back, as those are the points closest to the sensor and most likely to achieve accurate level/plumb.

CB
 

Don Libby

Well-known member
I've always found the levels on my WRS to be as near level as I can get. Just find one and work with it. I completely disregard the levels on the Cube when using the WRS.

Hope that made sense...

Don
 

GrahamWelland

Subscriber & Workshop Member
"I find it easiest to work with the level in the IQ180?"

Maybe Ken was absent when Graham brought his Phase back in to the RRS facility so he could adjust the level on their marble level tables. :)

Our visit to RRS makes me trust their levels, but they are a bit small.
I now know that my Alpa levels were 100% accurate already (not surprised although it was great to verify). I also reset my IQ to the guaranteed level base too. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the sensor matches but given all of the above I can now trust my IQ and Alpa to match and so that's TWO sets of levels that match at least which is one more than most people can rely on.

Regarding which level to trust - basically just pick ONE and stick with it. Trying anything else is an exercise in frustration.

The levels I don't trust are the ones on my expensive CUBE. Great head but after seeing how much care RRS put in to keeping their levels, err level, I don't have confidence that Arca applied the same care with the head.
 
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