Attaching spirit level

[Ben R]

Hi,

I want to attach a spirit level to my tachihara but I don't want to use any kind of adhesive on the wood. Velcro seems to me to defeat the purpose as you can't assume the item velcroed is particularly level to start with. Any ideas?

[davidb]

Does that camera have a hot shoe? If so, get a hot shoe bubble level.

I just bought a few off of ebay for about $10 each.

[Ben R]

Nah, I use hotshoe spirit levels but this one doesn't have one.

[Keith Pitman]

Go to a store that sells used gear and ask for a cold shoe. (You don't need a hot shoe!) Attach the shoe to the camera and the two way level to the shoe.

[Bob Salomon]

Where do you want to put the level? On the top of the camera? On the rear standard? On the front standard?

Kaiser makes a small bubble level that mounts with a couple of screws. But it is best and most accurate to use the same level on the top of the camera, then on the ground glass and on the lens board when you want everything to be aligned.

[wfwhitaker]

Stick the level in your pocket. When you set up your camera, set it on the camera. Level. Return the level to your pocket.

[John Kasaian]

A half pint bottle of whiskey duct taped to the top of your tachi makes a fashionable statement!:)

[Mark Stahlke]

Stick the level in your pocket. When you set up your camera, set it on the camera. Level. Return the level to your pocket.I do the same thing. Step 3 "Return the level to your pocket." is important. I just ordered a new hot shoe bubble level because I forgot step 3.

Cheers,
Mark

[C. D. Keth]

A half pint bottle of whiskey duct taped to the top of your tachi makes a fashionable statement!:)


What fun is whiskey just sitting there level? He'll be shooting more and more off-kilter as the bottle goes lower. :)

[davidb]

Sears sells the loose bubble level for about $2.

If you want a hot/cold shoe level, get them from ebay where they are $8 each.

[J D Clark]

Hi,

I want to attach a spirit level to my tachihara but I don't want to use any kind of adhesive on the wood. Velcro seems to me to defeat the purpose as you can't assume the item velcroed is particularly level to start with. Any ideas?

Ben,
Go to a hobby shop and buy some CA glue -- that's "super glue", and it's not thick enough to change the angle of the level. Other glues such as epoxy and "goo" would work but are thicker, so you'd have to make sure that the bottom of the level was firmly against the tripod.

John Clark
www.johndclark.com

[BrianShaw]

How about double-stick tape? It is an adhesive, but any residue will clean up easily with rubbing alcohol if you decide to later remove the level. I've used two types of doublestick tape in situations where I didn't want to permanently attach something - the foam type and the cellophane type.

[Ralph Barker]

I use an inexpensive 45° right-triangle that has levels on the base and altitude sides - each about 4" long. About $5, as I recall. It serves both to square up the standards and to level things, along with being small enough ti fit inside the base of the 8x10 Tachihara, thus eliminating the foregoing step #3. Not sure it would fit inside the 4x5, though.

[Alan Davenport]

A couple of options might include a clear silicone sealer/adhesive or common "rubber cement." Neither will penetrate the finish or the wood. The silicones will provide a much stronger bond, while rubber cement will peel off the finish more easily if (when) you decide to remove the level.

[Uusilehto]

I use a 90 degree spirit level against the ground glass. Perfect verticals every time with no modification of the camera.

[dkmacc]

Ben,

Take a look at the EbisuDiamond Pocket Level, Item #455K01.15, available from Lee Valley Tools for $8.50 plus shipping (comes from their U.S. distribution center). Maybe a little slower than built-in levels but more versatile. A fellow LF'er drilled a small hole in one corner of one of these and installed a thin nylon cord neckstrap even though his 4x5 has factory built-in levels?? Here is the product page:

http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.aspx?c=2&p=48816&cat=4,104,53217

Guaranteed not to alter the resale value of your camera!

Don

[Ben R]

Thanks a lot everyone!