Leveling base: To create a level platform for panning, what is your evaluation of the RRS Leveling Base TA 2U vs. the Panning Clamp PC-LR on a ball head?

oregonfrank Loc: Astoria, Oregon

To create a level platform for panning, what is your evaluation of the RRS Leveling Base TA 2U vs. the Panning Clamp PC-LR on a ball head?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

oregonfrank wrote:

To create a level platform for panning, what is your evaluation of the RRS Leveling Base TA 2U vs. the Panning Clamp PC-LR on a ball head?

For years I did fine using the in-camera azimuth and a ball head (Arca-Swiss z1) with a tripod that had a bubble level. Two easy steps

1. level the tripod apex
2. use the azimuth in the camera to level the camera, using the ball head to adjust

From this point forward, the camera and ball head are plumb to the top of the camera. If you move the camera you only have to level the top of the tripod again. Using a leveling base is just slightly more convenient.

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

Some phones have a compass app that included a level feature that you can use to check for true level, else you can get a fairly good and small fisheye.

tcthome Loc: NJ

I own a RRS series 3 tripod with the TA-3LB-HK Leveling base & love it. Like Gene says you can level the tripod with the legs but, Nowhere near as fast & if you move your tripod, it is possible & most likely you will have to level it again. I find the leveling base a real time saver. If they had the TA-2U style leveler for the 3 series tripods, that would be the one I would of purchased.

Have fun, Tom

Canisdirus

The RRS Leveling Base TA 2U seems to be RRS's upgrade from the panning clamp.

Being able to level the camera quickly and consistently makes these things gems to use.

Especially if your tripod is on very uneven ground...leveling up is really fast as you move around.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

Put a panning clamp on top of a ball head, and you have the same thing as a leveling base. I was all set to buy the leveling base, and RRS talked me out of it. It's heavier and bulkier, but I had the ball head already, and the ball head has a much wider range of motion, i.e. leveling capability.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

Canisdirus wrote:

The RRS Leveling Base TA 2U seems to be RRS's upgrade from the panning clamp.

Being able to level the camera quickly and consistently makes these things gems to use.

Especially if your tripod is on very uneven ground...leveling up is really fast as you move around.

The leveling base by itself doesnot include a clamp, just like a ballhead does not (always( include a clamp. Also, the leveling base has no panning built in.

Canisdirus

moonhawk wrote:

The leveling base by itself doesnot include a clamp, just like a ballhead does not (always( include a clamp. Also, the leveling base has no panning built in.

The RSS leveling base has everything you need to level up. Personally...not having a panning scale is no big deal. Good cameras do it all in house anyways. The most important thing is...the sensor is level while panning.

Besides these products...it's just great to be able to level up the tripod without moving the legs.
That's the advantage that keeps on giving.

leveling by moving the legs up or down...is the long way round the barn.

oregonfrank Loc: Astoria, Oregon

moonhawk wrote:

Put a panning clamp on top of a ball head, and you have the same thing as a leveling base. I was all set to buy the leveling base, and RRS talked me out of it. It's heavier and bulkier, but I had the ball head already, and the ball head has a much wider range of motion, i.e. leveling capability.

Moonhawk, and others who commented on my post, thanks for your thoughts. I am inclined to go with the option of adding the panning clamp to a ball head as suggested by Moonhawk. Short of having a leveling base + panning clamp on a tripod all the time, it’s the simplest and fastest option I’ve seen. Frank

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

Canisdirus wrote:

The RSS leveling base has everything you need to level up. Personally...not having a panning scale is no big deal. Good cameras do it all in house anyways.

True but you still need some sort of clamp, and something that will rotate and remain level. The RRS panning clamp is ideal, and you can either put it on a ballhead, or on a leveling base. I already had two ballheads, so the choice for me was simple.

Plus, with the ballhead option, you have a nice ballhead that stands on it's own when you're not doing panos.

Most of the time, however, I just handhold panos. The image stabilization is getting better all the time.

Canisdirus

moonhawk wrote:

True but you still need some sort of clamp, and something that will rotate and remain level. The RRS panning clamp is ideal, and you can either put it on a ballhead, or on a leveling base. I already had two ballheads, so the choice for me was simple.

Plus, with the ballhead option, you have a nice ballhead that stands on it's own when you're not doing panos.

Most of the time, however, I just handhold panos. The image stabilization is getting better all the time.

Well, it's not a head. It's simply a very convenient way to level anything you place on top of it...like a head...or camera.

It helps older tripods get an upgrade. I won't use a tripod without top level capability...it's that much better.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

Canisdirus wrote:

Well, it's not a head. It's simply a very convenient way to level anything you place on top of it...like a head...or camera.

It helps older tripods get an upgrade. I won't use a tripod without top level capability...it's that much better.

I'm just saying you can do the same thing with a ballhead, which also works as a stand alone tripod head.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

oregonfrank wrote:

To create a level platform for panning, what is your evaluation of the RRS Leveling Base TA 2U vs. the Panning Clamp PC-LR on a ball head?

Had the same desire for a more accessible way to level than adjusting tripod legs and got the leveling base by Acratech. I sold my ball head and got the Acratech long lens head. The leveling base is very nice quality at approx. $165.

Canisdirus

moonhawk wrote:

I'm just saying you can do the same thing with a ballhead, which also works as a stand alone tripod head.

Yes, once you get the tripod level. This makes it level...it's not a replacement in any way to heads.
It's the leveling foundation for the head.

Ball heads can level, but it's a pain...and as soon as you unscrew the wrong knob (and you will) while looking through the camera for an adjustment...it's time to relevel.

This just makes it fast...and simple.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

OK, whatever.