Premium Members Rod Calarco Posted January 18, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 I'm sorry if this has already been discussed but when I put HD digital level in the search box nothing comes up. So here we go. I've finally bought an HD monitor and starting to explore steadicam with an HD signal. Getting out of the cave I guess. Aside from the $10K XCS digital level is there any other way of getting a digital level on my HD monitor. I know I can still use my old XCS level if I run an SD signal to it but doesn't that defeat the purpose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Jens Piotrowski SOC Posted January 18, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 No, that's the only stand alone HD-SDI level. Transvideo has built-in levels in their monitors. Tiffen has a stand alone level sensor with external display, not embedded in the monitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Afton Grant Posted January 18, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 SmallHD has a built in level as well. It's not as good as the rest of the monitor is, but I do use it to check my lock offs. XCS is the only truly universal level and really the best performing one of them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rod Calarco Posted January 18, 2016 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Thanks Afton I was just about to post that Small ND had one too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Victor Lazaro Posted January 18, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 I've been on a waiting list for the Tiffen level. They are out of stock and don't have a deadline to whe they will have more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rod Calarco Posted January 18, 2016 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 Thanks for all the info guys. I think what I'm going to do is fly the Small HD DP7 and use the internal level till I figure something else out. Am I really putting my TB-6 out to pasture? not really ha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Victor Lazaro Posted January 18, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 A warning with the DP7 level, it does not work when the monitor is tabled, you need to keep it in a vertical position for it to work properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Manyluk Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Agreed, the DP7 level gets confused much too easily and can't be relied upon. A trusty spirt level mounted to the top (or bottom, or wherever you like) will get you much further than the SmallHD level. The Transvideo built-ins work very nicely. On the thought of the many great XCS SD units out there, someone with more technical brains than me should take a small, bright, SD LCD panel, cut into a thin, lengthy shape that mounts on top (or bottom) of your existing HD monitor and is powered by the 8pin LEMO and displays just the SD XCS level signal. Just needs a little rework of the level software by Greg to fit the wonky SD screen dimension. That sounds... easy... right...? Edited January 19, 2016 by Brett Manyluk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Victor Lazaro Posted January 19, 2016 Premium Members Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Or, a strip of LEDs, that's what the Tiffen one is supposed to be, but they are having issues with the software (the level goes crazy if you pan too fast apparently) and that's why they are not selling it right now. For now I'm rocking this bad boy on the top of my monitor, old school spirit level. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1077490-REG/joby_jb00124_bubble_level_clip.html Also there is the iPhone app Shot Assistant https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shot-assistant/id961651001?mt=8 (there is also a lite version for cheaper with only the steadicam level option and no extra bells and whistles) Get a iPod touch and strap it to your monitor like a return screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Rod Calarco Posted January 19, 2016 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 Thanks for all the heads up guys. This venture into HD world has proven interesting if nothing else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddy Smith SOC Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 (edited) I have the Tiffen level and love it. It's the coolest feature about my Zephyr. I don't see any issues with it going crazy when I pan fast. I run around the house with it whipping like a mad man and it seems to hold level if I do. The only problem I have is trying to keep an eye on the level and the monitor at the same time. Today, the assistant whispered I was dutch. I glanced up at the level and sure enough I was in the red. Gotta practice watching the frame and the level somehow. Edited January 21, 2016 by Teddy Smith SOC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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