Keeping it level...

[BJ Bignell]

Does anyone else here have a problem keeping their pics level (horizontal or vertical) when using rangefinders? I just got an R and two lenses, and most of the first roll was pretty slanted (slanty?). I've had a ZI Contessa LKE rf for a few years, and I realise now that I have the same problem with it, too.

I've used SLRs for years, but never had this problem. Is it a rangefinder thing, or are my eyes just crooked? Perhaps I'm just lazy? 😕 Any ideas or tips to share?

Thanks!

 

[fraley]

Hmmm, I definitely have noticed a tilt to some of my shots, not sure it's exclusive to rangefinders though. Here's one solution, I'm sure there are others.

http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtacc.htm#Spirit Level

Sometimes I tilt the camera 30-45 degrees just for effect, but I seem to be the only one who appreciates it. My wife looks at me with pity 🙁

 

[Tim]

I find that I have this problem when I use ultra-wides - the 35 I seem to be able to level easily, shots with the 21 are quite often 1-1.5 degrees off level. Doesn't sound like much, but the field of view of the wide really accentuates it. I had a worse problem when I used the 15.
The little CV spirit level actually works quite well, if you like having extra bits of kit to lug around and fiddle with.

tim

 

[nwcanonman]

While I don't have that problem, my wife does it constantly. She has eye problems since childhood and doesn't even realise that she's composing at a "slant". I'm reminding her to "level" all the time, but it's a losing battle.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I use a Universal Finder which has crosshairs. That helps line things up. Otherwise things do start to slant. Maybe that's why I keep falling off of chairs.

 

[rbiemer]

If you're printing your own, it's possible to cheat a little: print slightly less than full frame and turn the paper a bit to correct for this.
Rob

 

[BJ Bignell]

I tilt with both the 21 and the 50... I even have one picture (with the 50) where I distinctly remember thinking "I've got to keep that line parallel to the brightline", and I even though I remember trying hard, it's by far the most tilted slide on the roll. :bang:

 

[peter_n]

It seems the wider you go the more crucial it gets. Like Tim I have problems with the 21 so I use a Hama double spirit level and a tripod.

 

[Nick R.]

My stereo camera has a level built into the viewfinder. Using it made me realize how far off level some of my shots would have been without it. It's made me more concious of leveling the rf when I use it. Still, one of my favorite shots from my last roll is spoiled by being slanted.

 

[GeneW]

I tilt with every lens, even when I think I have it straight. And that's BEFORE pub lunch
LOL 😀

My Rollei, Hassy and Lumix all have grids in the viewfinder -- they help me enormously. I wish every vf out there had crosshairs at the least.

If there's a horizon in the pic, I try to line up the horizon with the top of my vf frame then carefully tilt the camera up. Works sometimes. Same with verticals -- I try to use the edge of the vf as a guide then recompose. Grids are better ...

Gene

 

[Designer]

It's really a bit difficult when I using the 15mm lens, as the field of view is the whole boundary of the viewfinder which is of curved shape on left & right. (without vertical frameline)

 

[sockeyed]

I actually find my pictures tilt MORE with my SLR. With my Bessa R, I use the framelines as a reference against horizontal lines.

 

[Kin Lau]

I tilt the most when it's a moving target.. thank goodness that most of my birding shots don't have a horizon. That might be the problem with street shots.

 

[Doug]

Kin, I think you've hit upon the most elegant solution... simply avoid horizontal or vertical references in your pics that would reveal a tilt! 😀

 

[Bertram2]

Does anyone else here have a problem keeping their pics level (horizontal or vertical) when using rangefinders? Any ideas or tips to share?
Thanks!

In general this problem exists only at wide-angle lenses for me. One would better say TWO problems:tilting back and forth (converging lines) and tilting the horizon.

It has turned out that for cityscape and all kind of architecture my CV 4/25 on a L was too difficult to handle. I got some of the first VF without brightlines and so only the edges give some orientation, bad if you wear glasses.
After a while I git tired to correct converging lines and tilted horizons with PS. and bought a used CV spirit level. Since then the problem is reduced to almost zero and the pics look like I wanted them to look when I pressed the release ;-)
BTW personally I got the same problem with an 28mm on a SLR. But maybe the smaller the body the harder to control it's position.


One of the first test shots with the level had been:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/3644/sort/1/cat/500/page/3

And I was happy about the result. What helps a bit if you got no level is to go back with your head after framing, away from he camera (like shooting a digital P&S) and watch the position of the camera body. Mostly you can see very well how tilted it is. Correct it and frame again. Not as good as a level but better than nothing.

Converging lines are sometimes unavoidable ,I try integrate them into the pic's concept then. Tilted horizons at landscapes are a really annoying mistake , I never could post or print a pic uncorrected. A matter of personal sensivity, some folks don't care too much about it.
But I'd dare to say everything shorter than 35mm should be used with a level. At RF cameras at least The framelines only do not help to avoid the back and forward tilting.
Best,
Bertram

 

[schaubild]

There is a reason why the XPan is delivered with a bubble level and the external 30mm viewfinder has one built in. The same with Alpa, one bubble level in the viewfinder, two bubble levels built into the camera.
Long time ago when I started using it I thought it were a joke, but now I don't know if I could live without.
By the way I also have problems leveling my heavy DSLR, it's not because of the different viewfinder but because of the different hand position that's enforced to hold one of these. Strange experience.

 

[scottgee1]

I too have had problems with this periodically and thought about getting one of the Hama type levels peter_n mentions. The problem is, he also mentions a tripod. What I'd really like is some sort of level that is visible when looking through the VF so it would be useable when shooting handheld.

Gordon, which "universal finder" do you have? One with crosshairs may indeed be the best overall compromise.

Thanks to BJ for raising the question!/ScottGee1

 

[Pherdinand]

I have no problem whatsoever to keep a rf level.
😀

 

[laptoprob]

I got into the Leica/Voigtlander world first because of the fabulous 15mm Heliar. I will post some shots soon.
I have simply glued a tiny (about 12mm) spirit level to the side of the 15mm viewer. Only to the side because otherwise the spiritlevel is too vonerable to damage.
Only to use in vertical shots, but that is no problem. Mostly I shoot vertical with the 15mm because of the stretched effect of the outer sides of the frame. So there is no problem.
The spirit levels are almost for free, about 1,5 euro from Sola in Austria. (www.sola.at I think). Not every hardware store knows them.
Very easy, very cheap and very effective!

Rob.

 

[Roman]

Welcome to the forum, Rob!
Hey, I love classic Volvos, too...

Roman