How to keep the horizon or vertical objects straight?

[twan]

sometimes I have difficulties to keep the horizon or vertical objects straight in my pictures. Maybe I doesn't take enough time to make the composition right I don't know. Waht I wonder, maybe it would be nice to have a grid cross in the viewfinder as help. Are there ways to do this ?

I have a 30D.

Thanks

 

[prcimages]

I use a flash hot shoe bubble level. I've found them to be a great accessory when I'm doing landscapes. They are particularly useful in tough shooting places where it would otherwise be difficult to get a level horizon. Because of this, I think it is a better tool than a grid screen with lines.

Paul
--
My website: http://www.prcimages.com

 

[Michael Strachan]

you can buy a gadget for the hotshoe that has a few LEDS in it that light up appropriately when its level - I'm tempted to get one of these as I find bubble spirit levels are a pain to use in low light.

 

[gdanmitchell]

Most of us, if we are in a confessional mode, will admit that we've run into problems with this.

Using a level helps. If you don't have a level you can try to line up horizontal lines in the subject with a couple of focus points in your viewfinder. Another trick is to step back from your camera - assuming you use a tripod - and see how the body of the camera lines up with the horizon. Oddly, it is sometimes easier to see the tilt this way than through the viewfinder.

Don't hesitate to use correction tools in your RAW converter or in PS if necessary to salvage a tilting photo.

Dan

sometimes I have difficulties to keep the horizon or vertical objects
straight in my pictures. Maybe I doesn't take enough time to make the
composition right I don't know. Waht I wonder, maybe it would be nice
to have a grid cross in the viewfinder as help. Are there ways to do
this ?

I have a 30D.

Thanks

--
---
G Dan Mitchell - SF Bay Area, California, USA
Blog & Gallery: http://www.gdanmitchell.com/
IM: gdanmitchell
'Like you, I also own photography stuff.'

 

[Glenn_Law]

Photoshop Elements - Free Rotate Layer.
--
There, Their, They're. It's not that hard.

 

[maiaibing]

When I was younger I would never have a problem with the level, but now I'm less consistent. Maybe digital has made me less careful.

However, I studied the "problem" and found out that the vast majority were slanted the same way (North/East). After I became aware of this I have far fewer slanted pictures.

 

[///M]

I really like my Hasse SWC viewfinder with a built in bubble level! Canon could easily put in a tilt sensor and indicator in the viewfinder...
--
thank Canon for L and BMW for M

 

[Mark-B]

Waht I wonder, maybe it would be nice
to have a grid cross in the viewfinder as help. Are there ways to do
this ?

Yes, it would be nice to have grids in the viewfinder. I think this is a fairly basic feature that can be found in other cameras, but Canon neglects to include it in their cameras.

Canon has a nice CMOS sensor and great lenses, but they lag far behind others in producing feature rich cameras.

--
Mark-B
http://www.msbphoto.com/

 

[FarFarAway]

Grid focusing screen.

 

[Vigy]

On some nikon models you can find virtual horizon. canon not ! wish i had it on mine
--
Be Happy }
Vigy

 

[twan]

I looked up the Focusing Screen and it could be something I'm looking for.

It seems like there are different versions of it. Does anyone use it with a 30D and if yes, which one would you use or prefer?

Thanks guys!

 

[Michael Strachan]

Don't know but saw it in a UK photo magazine from december so will look for the article again and post the details as soon as i've found it.

 

[M_Edge]

I’ve tried the flash-shoe bubble-square. This works marvelously when I’m using a tripod and don’t need it very much. If I’m using it hand-held I find it almost useless, as I can’t see it when I’m composing the picture. I’d agree that an in-viewfinder level indicator would be great, but even a grid-line would be very useful.
--
BJCP National

 

[stratobill]

I used to have this problem a lot- try lining up the horizon with the top or bottom of the focus area you are looking through.

If you can remember to do this it will get rid of most of the problem.

 

[Jim Coplan]

Someone said this already, but its worth repeating: Pick 2 focus points, and make sure that they are both on the horizon. Using the old "rule of thirds," you should use the 2 focuse points just above or just below the widest portion of the array in the viewfinder, and superimpose them on the horizon. Using the "focus, recompose, shoot" technique, the dont have to be the same focus points you are using to actually focus on your subject.

You could use 2 focus points that are directly above & below one another, to superimpose on a convenient object in the picture (say, a phone pole or the edge of a building). But its better to pay attention to the horizon; less problems with lens disortion, I think.

If necessary, press the focus point button to make them all light up. But I havent found that necessary.
--
JC

 

[pikeface]

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/miscellaneous/284814/seculine-action-spirit-level.html

I think this is what is needed

--
Have a look and leave a message
http://www.pbase.com/jeremy_broome_smith

 

[PC Wheeler]

Indeed. I wonder where a good US source for it can be found?

--
Phil .. Canon EOS 40D, 20D, G9, SD700IS; Panasonic LX3, TZ5; Fuji F31fd.
http://www.pbase.com/phil_wheeler
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phil_ox/

 

[///M]

looking around for something like this, and have not been able to find it for some time
--
thank Canon for L and BMW for M