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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Why don't cameras have a level function built in?
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Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
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 01/15/2006 11:59:05 PM · #1
With camera having antishake, I am just wondering why cameras don't have a auto-level function built in. With some shots, it's hard to tell what's straight (and it's even harder when you have a bit of wide angle distortion).

I think if they can't autolevel the sensor, then at least it would be cool to put a level in the viewfinder. I thought about getting a stick on level, but it would be better to put it where my eye is looking.

Anyone hear of any cameras that are doing this? What do you think?
 01/16/2006 12:08:40 AM · #2
A couple cameras have super-imposed grids on the EVF that can be used to level the horizon.
 01/16/2006 12:09:37 AM · #3
There are levels that are designed to fit in your hotshoe for only a couple of bucks.

I think any electronic gizmo that does what a $5 level does would add $100 to the cost of the camera and be minimally useful to the majority of users.
 01/16/2006 12:32:01 AM · #4
Originally posted by nshapiro:
With camera having antishake, I am just wondering why cameras don't have a auto-level function built in.


Some do. But you get what you pay for.
 01/16/2006 12:34:26 AM · #5
use focus points in the viewfinder for a rough estimation. line up the horizon and have it go thru 2 adjacent points.
 01/16/2006 12:40:43 AM · #6
Originally posted by hsteg:
use focus points in the viewfinder for a rough estimation. line up the horizon and have it go thru 2 adjacent points.


Yes, that's what I do--when there's a horizon or something I can trust to level against. But I still think it would be cool to have a camera with a bubble level or electronic level in the viewfinder, and even cooler to have the sensor automatically level itself.
 01/16/2006 12:41:14 AM · #7
Originally posted by hsteg:
use focus points in the viewfinder for a rough estimation. line up the horizon and have it go thru 2 adjacent points.


Most of the world, aside from the oceans, is not as flat as where you live.
 01/16/2006 12:43:08 AM · #8

01/16/2006 01:19:55 AM · #9
Nearly all view cameras incorporate bubble levels. Trying to fit one in the the viewfinder of a dSLR would seriously compromise already-limited real estate though...

R.
 01/16/2006 01:28:06 AM · #10
they sell ones you can stick on a hotshoe. seen here.
 01/16/2006 01:38:34 AM · #11
Originally posted by hsteg:
they sell ones you can stick on a hotshoe. seen here.


Thanks Harrison. For anyone interested, here's a cheaper option:

Stick on Levels
 01/16/2006 01:55:14 AM · #12
If it looks level in the viewfinder won't it look level on the screen/print?
 01/16/2006 01:59:25 AM · #13
Originally posted by MadMan2k:
If it looks level in the viewfinder won't it look level on the screen/print?


Yes, but sometimes it can be hard to tell what's level in the viewfinder. If you have a clean view of the horizon, you can tell, but otherwise, it can be difficult to judge.

Imagine you are on a mountaintop, shooting a panorama of mountains, like this:



How can you tell when the camera is EXACTLY level? You can, if you have a tripod with a bubble level (and/or camera with one). My new portable tripod doesn't have one though (and I would like to have on one the camera for times when I am not carrying a tripod.)
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