wonky tripod??

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matt
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hi
I brought a new manfrotto 055xprob today, grip and ball head in the post, my problem is when extended the spirit level is way off. at first i thought it might be my floor so tried it in other rooms but same result. :'(

anyone else have this problem?

should i just take it back??

on reflection it was the only one on the shelf, they have probably had it out on a number of occasions!!

thanks Matt
 
How can a spirit level be off?
 
LOL. The idea is to adjust the legs so that the bubble is in the centre. Either splay the legs one at a time if you can, or slightly lower a leg at a time.

It's not something you're meant to use all the time - adjustment by eye is usually enough for most shots.
 
A spirit level on the head makes a lot more sense actually.
 
but surely a good tripod on a flat surface with the legs clicked into place should show level....:thinking:

Its not like its a cheap model or dodgy ebay company. they do make these things for a living..
 
No, you're quite right. You shouldn't have to adjust the angle/length of the legs to get the spirit level to line up correctly. The most likely cause of the problem is that the incorrect size bubble has been fitted at the factory.

I'd suggest taking it back to the shop. Tell them you think the spirit level is faulty.









Make sure and take a video camera (with sound if possible) to record their reaction and please post the video here ;)
 
Flash In The Pan said:
No, you're quite right. You shouldn't have to adjust the angle/length of the legs to get the spirit level to line up correctly. The most likely cause of the problem is that the incorrect size bubble has been fitted at the factory.

I'd suggest taking it back to the shop. Tell them you think the spirit level is faulty.

Make sure and take a video camera (with sound if possible) to record their reaction and please post the video here ;)
Click to expand...

:thinking: Errrmm. why the **** shouldn't you expect a tripod you spent a lot of money on to be level when you fully extend the legs?

Horribly sarcastic and not a particularly helpful response IMHO :(
 
I can not comment on the fault you have with the spirit level without seeing a picture, and seeing how you have set it up. However if you are using a ball head (which I also use on my Giottos as I find them far quicker to set up) the level on the tripod is not very useful because the ball head will always, almost certainly, not be perpindicular to the tripod without putting a level on the ballhead.

My advice is to use the level on your ball head (if it has one) otherwise get a hotshoe spirit level.

I use the my ballhead level a lot but I will be picking up a hotshoe level as they are far more convenient to read, especially if the tripod is low down.

If your xprob is otherwise working well, I would not worry about the level.
 
How far off is the spirit level usually the bubble should sit (when level) within the middle of the ring.
Is it all in?, partially in, completely off to one side?

by any chance, could the floor in you house notbe perfectly straight (has that been checked with a spirit level?)

Otherwise £5 hotshoe spirit level is what i use and i have a spirit level on my tripod and head that i both dont trust.
Its there for indication and will never be perfect.
 
Have you checked that the screw in feet are all adjusted to the same level, this would throw the tripod out too ;)
 
TheBionicDan said:
:thinking: Errrmm. why the **** shouldn't you expect a tripod you spent a lot of money on to be level when you fully extend the legs?

Horribly sarcastic and not a particularly helpful response IMHO :(
Click to expand...

not very helpful ,,,but very funny :lol:

anyway , when does anyone take a spirit level with them and check the ground is level before they set up a tripod ?
 
Personally i wouldn't expect the tripod to be level without any adjustment - no matter how expensive it is it will not have been manufactured to the exacting tolerances that would be required for that , Also i'd be surprised if the 3 points of contact on your floor are 100% level - just adjust it into a level position after all that's what it was designed for.
 
To be frank a spirit level on the apex of the tripod is of no benefit. I suspect makers of good quality tripods originally put them on because people were being hood winked into expecting them buy makers of inferior tripods who would advertise “our tripods have sprit levels etc” in order to make their product seem more professional. Now be honest do you think a mid range Ford Escort will corner better because it has a spoiler, it’s just a styling thing. Same with the sprit level on the tripod apex.

As will69 says you need the level on the base that the head sits on as this is the plane the head will pan on. If this is level and you get you horizon level in the viewfinder then it will stay level if you pan to recompose or shot a stitched pano (although other factors such as image overlap nodal points and such come into effect as well with panos).

If you want level panning (and you should) then try and Manfrotto 438 levelling base or a Gitzo Levelling tripod (quite pricy) there may well be other types of levelling accessories but these are the ones I’m familiar with.

In video, where the image moves, a level pan if absolutely vital and if you look at a video tripod like a Vinton , Libec or one of the Manfrottto video tripods they have a ball socket at the apex (no centre column) which fits a half ball on the base of the head. This is considered completely normal and film camera men sometimes struggle to understand still camera tripods because if this absence of levelling.
 
:lol: Well apart from anything else, the legs arent actually 'clicking' into place are they like a cheaper tripod, they are just coming up against a mechanical 'stop', which you can undo in order to splay the legs much wider. Therefore the chances of the spirit level being spot on depend on that stop for each leg, not on a specific 'clicked inot position' point. I would expect the level to be somewhere close, but not dead in the centre. I think its only considered a problem if its way off, completely out of the circle and then some. As already said, that level is not much use anyway, as long as the tripod looks straight, that is all you need, the important thing is the head being straight and for that you need a hotshow or head level.

oh and :lol: @ Flash. ;)
 
TheBionicDan said:
:thinking: Errrmm. why the **** shouldn't you expect a tripod you spent a lot of money on to be level when you fully extend the legs?

Horribly sarcastic and not a particularly helpful response IMHO :(
Click to expand...


Okay....

how do you know the floors in the house are level? I don't know about you, but I've never checked mine....

Unless you can say with 100% accuracy that the floors are perfectly flat and level (which is highly unlikely) then you are going to have some adjustment to the angle/length of the legs to attain a perfectly level bubble in the spirit level.
 
I have a Manfrotto 190cl and when youve levelled in landscape (with a hotshoe level) then tilt head to portrait you have to set the level again, thats more annoying
 
take it back and ask them to change the bubble....... ill get me :coat: slinks off
 
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