Electronic level/horizon indicator

[Evrim KAYA]

I have seen the finished housing, controls and components of an HD level that attaches at the centerpost. It's from a very reputable company but I don't think I'm at liberty to say anything more than that. It won't be cheap but it will be of the quality and feature set we all expect. Even Ron will like it I think!

 

Robert

 

 

Hello Robert,

 

Hearing about different options is always good. Are you talking about a gyro stabilized-or similar- level indicator thus immune to false readings due to accelerations or a dampened one.

 

I, personally, would prefer the gyro one even it is unable to overlay on the HD-SDI image. And with the external LED read-out, HD overlaying becomes less of a problem-it still is a problem but not a big one-

[RonBaldwin]

Can't wait to see it in person, and check out the optional cables and power options available :-)

[Robert Starling SOC]

Hi Evrim,

 

I don't know whether it's a gyro stabilized bit or not; it very well may be or may not. Just because a manufacturer offers and touts some new feature does not make it a benefit or necessity. I thought I'd never be able to live without my tilting top stage but I got over that in about :30 seconds after I bought my XCS Ultimate.

 

Keep in mind 100's of thousands of great shots if not more have been done for many years with a simple liquid bubble level and then again as well with the XCS PDL and Marrel levels.

 

Fancy isn't always better than simple and well thought out.

 

Robert

[Evrim KAYA]

Don’t get me wrong, I didn't mean that a non-gyro electronic level is all bad. As I already own and use a dampened electronic level on my rig, another one wouldn't interest me -even if it can overlay an HD image- as long as mine still works. But an immune to acceleration electronic level might.

 

Other than that I dream of being able to deliver images as clean or precise as Larry McConckey on a model3. Operating skill itself is our most important value.

[Jerry Holway]

And then again this level is something different than we've ever had - so one can trust it always. It can become a more integral part of your cycle of attention.

 

It responds instantly to one's deviation from level (no evident damping) and it is virtually immune to acceleration. You can see this in the video clearly.

 

So it's a tool you can choose to use or not, and you can use it on any rig, HD, SD, whatever.

 

In the little time I've had with it, I keep the rig more level with it, within about +/- 1/4 to 1/3 degree in strong lateral moves vs. nearly twice that without.

 

Jerry

[James Baldanza SOC]

And then again this level is something different than we've ever had - so one can trust it always. It can become a more integral part of your cycle of attention.

 

It responds instantly to one's deviation from level (no evident damping) and it is virtually immune to acceleration. You can see this in the video clearly.

 

So it's a tool you can choose to use or not, and you can use it on any rig, HD, SD, whatever.

 

In the little time I've had with it, I keep the rig more level with it, within about +/- 1/4 to 1/3 degree in strong lateral moves vs. nearly twice that without.

 

Jerry

 

Price and availability?

[chris bangma]

The Cinetronic level is gyro compensated as well. It currently works with the Cinetronic monitor, and adds no additional delay to the image. We will have a stand alone version as well, with an LED bar.

[Victor Lazaro]

I found an iPhone app thad does gyro level (with iPhones with Gyro and accelerometers, 4, 4s, 5), this could be a cheap solution for some people, with a Paralinx USB P-tap adapter to charge the phonehttp://www.paralinx.net/store/paralinx-usb-tap and a phone holder http://www.adorama.com/KUIPH4PTACL.html?src=iToolshed.

 

It's called Tiltometer http://epplersoft.com/tiltometerThe app is originally for 4x4 cars and avoiding to tilt over while driving.

[EDIT] this app works great as well https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/airplane-gyroscope-attitude/id385491648?mt=8 for aircraft. Don't activate the in flight option, it resets the level when not moving to avoid gyro drift, just calibrate the gyro then hit cage to zero out the level. [/EDIT]

 

Not to diss the professional versions, a dedicated tool is always preferred, but this might be an alternative/backup for cheap (if you already have the phone)

[chris fawcett]

This interests me greatly.

 

I've tried the Tiffen one, and it sure does improve my level. At present, I dial in a vertical line in the centre of my Transvideo monitor, so that any vertical that passes through the centre of frame should line up with it. I rely on this for level during most moves, but I also need to use the bubble too. That's 2 items in my cycle of attention that I can now reduce to 1.

 

I'm in!

 

All the best,

 

Chris

[steve wagner]

I think it's great that levels are now gyro stabilized in honor of Sarah who got this thread moving along way back when

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Steve,

 

Tiffen isn't the only one doing a 6 axis level.... Good thing too since I don't shop there

[steve wagner]

In any case, I hope you will give it a fair chance and give it a try. A lot of art, sweat, tears and practical science went into making it.

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

Prices?

[steve wagner]

New info for Tiffen's level including pricing now on the Tiffen Steadicam site

Steve Wagner

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

Steve, why is there a 30 second warm up time?