Customer Reviews

Studiohut Hot Shoe Three Axis Double Bubble Level

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This small bubble level proved to be a useful tool while photographing multiple images for panoramic stitching.

PROS...

brighter and easier to read than the 2-axis bubble level on my tripod's ball head;

its 3-axes yield more information than two;

small and easy to transport in camera bag;

snug and effortless attachment to my digital SLR's flash connection.

CON...

due to its small size, I expect to loose it sooner or later.

It is worth its modest cost via Amazon. (If lost I would immediately replace it.)

I bought two of these things. One for my camera and another which I attached to my telescope. They work perfect. This supplier consistently has good prices. The very reasonably priced green laser pointer I bought from them also turned out to be a great deal.

Not much to say about this thing. It's very cheap and does it's job very well. I can't imagine why someone would spend $25+ on similar bubble levels. This thing is great. Highly recommend it.

I did not think the level was accurate on the front-to-back axis. Consequently I am not using it. The side-to-side and vertical levels seemed to be okay. I tested it against a long carpenter's level. I also set the cube on known level sufaces and then when taking picutes I tested it again for accuracy. The front-to-back was just seemingly not accurate.

I just purchased this level to replace a $25 level that I lost in Death Valley. Unfortunately, this level is loose in the hot shoe on my Canon 40D. Applying any pressure to the level causes it to shift forward or back along the lens axis; either position seems stable. This interferes with getting the camera level in three dimensions. Also, the bottom surface of the level has a small lump of plastic in the center that prevents the level from indicating a correct reading when placed on a table top.

I have been a photographer since my teen years a long time ago and over the years invested a lot in various tools of the trade. One issue that can come up from time to time is making your camera perfectly level for shooting landscapes, etc. As products go, the price is very reasonable and the small size is a great addition to any serious photographers gadget bag.

That being said, I must admit I am not using this level for photography at this time. I found another very handy use for this product that has really helped me out in my home workshop. In addition to my photography, I count molding and casting items as one of my latest hobbys. One issue I ran into during working with resin casting is that sometimes the silicone molding material I work with may not be perfectly level when pouring a cast. Sometimes the actual molding area is quite small and using a longer level on the overall mold can give an imperfect level, hence the casting is not level when it hardens. With this small level, I have solved this problem by being able to place the mini bubble level directly into the mold cavity to give a much better level on the final casting. So I would highly recommend that anyone who works with molding and casting materials seriously consider adding one of these levels to their tool kit.

Actually, before I got this I got two separate, very small (1" length x 3/8" or so width) bubble levels to attach to my Manfrotto ball head, thinking I might just go with that arrangement. (I got those little levels from Sinclair. They've a nice selection for anyone looking for levels to attach to something else.) I was careful to glue them straight and even to the sides of the plate on which the camera sits by way of a quick-release plate--one on the front, the other to the short side--where the camera doesn't overhang. I didn't bother with vertical.

Now I have this Studiohut level and so am in a unique position to do some testing. Given prices for these things (less than $2.00 ea. at Sinclair), I have to say all of them are pretty good. I've got all five (three in the Studiohut and 2 ea. Sinclair) about as lined up as one could reasonably expect for less than $50.00, and even at that price I doubt perfection would result. I'm fairly sure that were I to take some shots of buildings or just the ocean horizon, all would be level.

Although there is some variation between the side-mounted Sinclair and front-to-back (bottom level) Studiohut. Not much, but a little bit. Side to side is a match and the vertical on the Studiohut is almost dead center, certainly within the circle line.

I bought this knowing that it's intended for DSLRs or SLRs, while I have a Lumix LX3. The hotshoe on the LX3 will take it but not all the way in, just as I expected. Clips under the flanges of the hotshoe on each side seem to be preventing sliding the level in all the way, and I'm not about to force it. But it slides in far enough without forcing it. There could be just the slightest tilt, which would account for slight difference (referred to above) from front to back. That's okay since I have the one attached to the ball head to go by.

But for those thinking of getting this for anything less than a full-blown SLR-type camera (or medium- or even large format, I suppose) they might do well to bear in mind that it just might not quite fit. Thing is, any issue will be from front to back and so the horizon won't be affected. Side to side is most critical. A slight tilt forward or backward hardly matters unless shooting a building at an angle, in which case there are more problems than one with any camera that isn't an old Pentax with a shift lens or large format.

The vertical still strikes me as pointless, or at best repetitious. One might just as well go with a single centering-type bubble by itself, except that those tend to be unreliable if you haven't a microscope handy, or maybe a loupe. Who knows when it's dead center and just a little off can be a lot off.

This thing will do me when I need it, which won't be often, and now I've got what I think a fail-safe system if/when I really need that, and all for about $5.00 plus S&H, which was way more. And I can use it with my old SLRs too.

I'm a photography major student and have been experimenting with taking panoramas. I took a beautiful panorama of a location, but when I stitched it together, there was a very noticeable bend in a bridge that I had not foreseen. Since I purchased this product, however, I have taken several panoramas with no serious issues like that again. Thanks for the excellent level. I even conned my father-in-law, who is an amateur photographer himself, into getting one.

This level was purchased to assist in exact copy photography. It is a big help in the initial positioning of the camera, but due to a slight wobble in the fit, for the final adjustments I need to use an additional level. This is a bit irritating. Overall it's okay for the price.

I had high hopes for this 3-way level replacing the 2-way level that I currently use and have to change orientation from horizontal to vertical. However, this level isn't even close to being accurate. In fact, I can eyeball things more accurately. I purchased two of these and they don't even match each other.

I'm an architectural photographer and rely heavily on an accurate level to keep my shots perfectly aligned. Sadly this product doesn't do the job. Save your money and buy the more expensive, but infinitely more accurate 2-way level.