ncphototrekker's Full Review: Opteka Hot Shoe Two Axis Double Bubble Spirit Leve...
If you are a landscape or architectural photographer you have seen at least one of your pictures with a crooked horizon, or buildings with a distinct lean. The easiest answer would seem to be correct the horizon in Photoshop...right? Well, that is a way to accomplish the goal, but you are doing it at the cost of resolution, and possibly composition. There is another way to make sure that your camera is square before you even turn it on, and the best news is that it doesn't cost a fortune...actually, its quite inexpensive.
Using this two-way spirit level mounted to the hot shoe of your camera you can check to see how level your camera is in several different ways. The way that most will likely use it is mounted on the long end pointing towards the lens. In this fashion, you have a level to the rear that will check your horizontal positioning. The forward level will check the pitch of the camera, and make sure that you control the leaning of buildings, or walls if you are shooting inside. If you wish to shoot in vertical orientation, you will have to flip the level to its short side.
By flipping the level to the short side (having it stand straight up on the top of the camera body), you no longer have the ability to check the pitch of the camera. You can check the horizontal axis position with the outer level. This is actually the way I use this level the majority of the time.
As a landscape photographer, I am rarely interested in making sure that the camera is at a 0 degree pitch. Horizons are a concern of mine though. By mounting the level upright on the hot shoe, the lower level works when the camera is in landscape orientation, and the upper level works when I flip it to portrait orientation. This simplifies things for me, and makes it to where I don't have to change its mounting position for the extent of the session.
In the field....
This is a fairly simple item, and there is not much that can fail with it. If you need a little help with horizons, this is probably the single best purchase that you can make. I have a very bad astigmatism which distorts my perception of what is level. This is a huge problem as a landscape photographer, and one that I struggled with for about a year. When I heard about this level that fit in the hot shoe, I set out to find one as quick as I could. A few dollars later, I never again had to worry about horizons.
The level is very durable, and has withstood several years attached to two different cameras. I do a good amount of hiking through the woods with the camera attached to the tripod propped over my shoulder. The level stays attached to the hot shoe in the upright position constantly, and I have never had a problem with it being knocked loose, or breaking off. I see no reason why this wouldn't be a one time purchase for the life of the photographer.
Functionally, this works just like a regular carpenter's level. There are two levels in this single unit. the both contain a green liquid that forms a bubble. The idea is to place the bubble between two very visible lines. When the bubble is centered, the camera is level. The high visibility is a plus if you are shooting at night. I have used this level successfully at night, and in very low light conditions with no problems seeing without the aid of a flashlight.
Counterpoint....
If you are looking at this product, you are probably more than the family snapshooter. In this case, you probably have a tripod, and even the cheapest tripod have bubble levels in multiple locations. Why purchase another piece of equipment that is redundant over what you already have?
I started off relying on the tripod bubble levels to get my horizons straight. I would set the tripod up so that it was level, and then would make sure that the head read that the camera was level as well. The results were not always what I wanted. I"m not sure why the levels attached to the heads of my tripods were not accurate when it came time to edit the picture, but they were off a degree or two. With the level mounted to the hot shoe, the level is hard mounted to the camera, and on the same line as the lens itself. On paper this seems like it would be more accurate, and in practice I can assure you that it is.
Would a three axis level be better for you? Possibly....if you are big on architecture then you will likely like the flexibility of not needing to change the mounting of the level. However, if you are not concerned with the pitch of the camera (lens tilt up and down), then the two axis will work wonderfully for you.
For me, this is a five star product all the way because of my difficulty with horizons. If I didn't have that visual issue, I doubt I would have even looked for a product like this. So, either you need it or you don't. If you are having difficulties with your horizons, buy this spirit level...it will be the best purchase you ever made.
Beautiful crystal clear housing slips on a camera shoe mount or tripod thread. Acrylic, molded dual-tube bubble level with green fluidMore at Amazon Marketplace
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