MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

I use a small circular leveler I picked up at Lowes. It is about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. When the bubble is in the center it is level 360 degrees. I set it on top of the tripod and turn it all the way around to check the level in the full 360 degrees. It is very cheep and for me is effective. I have used it on several different tripods.

gunflint Loc: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

So does that mean you take your head off, level the tripod, and put the head back on for every time you shoot a pano sequence?

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a tripod head, buy a hot shoe bubble level for under $5.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.Xhot+shoe+bubble+level.TRS0&_nkw=hot+shoe+bubble+level&_sacat=0

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Your tripod might dictate what can be used.... For example, I have Gitzo leveling platforms on two Gitzo tripods. The design of these particular bases includes a handle that protrudes below which only allows them to be used on "systematic" tripods (made by Gitzo, RRS and a few others) in specific sizes. Really Right Stuff, Feisol and a few others make a similar "handled" leveling platform (as well as one or two other types). This type is very quick to set up... Simply rotate the handle to loosen, use it to move the head until the bubble level is "centered", then re-tighten the handle.

Other designs may be more universal and usable on other types of tripods.

For example I also have a Manfrotto (actually an old Bogen) tripod fitted with an old style Manfrotto leveling platform that can be installed in between any tripod and head that use 3/8" mounting bolt and socket, but is much slower to adjust (uses three thumb screws). They no longer make this style, but another manufacturer (Desmond) makes one that's very similar.

The current Manfrotto 438 is also relatively universal, but now is controlled by a single lever for quicker setup. RRS, Sunwayfoto, Acratech, Oben and some others make similar.

Compare the size and load capacity of any leveling platforms that you consider, to be sure they are a good fit for your tripod and up to the task of supporting the weight of the head you use plus the heaviest gear you need to mount on top of it.

Any leveling platform will add some weight to your tripod... but they can be worth it to make setups faster and easier on uneven ground.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Just so we all know, there are a couple different ways of leveling the head.

One way is to have a tripod (usually a VIDEO tripod) that has a leveling "bowl" capability. These bowls vary in size and lock in place - generally we are talking about + or - 15 degrees fine adjustment at the most - the coarse adjustment is at the tripod legs.

There is also this type - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kingjoy-LB-60-Tripod-Leveling-Ball-Head-Camera-Base-For-Canon-Nikon-Monopod-DSLR/253064695806?hash=item3aebd4cffe%3Ag%3AeY4AAOSwp55ZeM9e&_sacat=625&_nkw=leveling+base&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

and also this kind - https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-Mounting-Screw-LP-64-Precision-Leveling-Base-Tripod-Head-Plate-US/222614751419?hash=item33d4df88bb%3Ag%3AErYAAOSw%7EbZbM2n0&_sacat=625&_nkw=leveling+base&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

..

river rat

Check put the Sunwayfoto leveling heads at BHPhoto. Very high quality at a price one can live with.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

The leveling base on tripods are OK but I think the leveling of the camera is more important. My camera, as many do, has a level built into thee camera. A very inexpensive device is a three way leveling cube that you place in your cameras hot shoe. What I do is level the tripod by eye and more importantly level the camera using the leveling cube. Easy, cheap and it works great.

gunflint Loc: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

For panorama photos that will be stitched together, most of the time the camera will be level side to side but not necessarily front to back. Also if the tripod is not level you can't pivot the camera because the head isn't level.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

When you're shooting panos, using a ball head and you level the camera with the ball head and the camera's built in horizon indicator, if the ball head base isn't level when you pan, the camera will loose its level as soon as you start.

User ID

He's just generously sharing some received
wisdom. As you've discovered for yourself,
received wisdom pales before experience.

But often enuf , received wisdom has some
useful advice in it, if you avoid treating it as
gospel fact.

--------------------------------------------

FWIW, a leveling base is just a convenience,
easier than leveling the tripod itself, which
tho a bit more tedious is really no big deal.

I have a pano "head", a very simple rotation
device that works perfectly on any ball head
by using it on top of the ball head instead of
under it. The ball head levels the pano head
so I don't hafta level the whole tripod. I can
be as lazy as the next guy, even more so !
But I don't need a "leveling base" to avoid
leveling the entire tripod ;-)

User ID

Simply leveling the camera as you suggest is OK for
single images. It will in no way enable level rotation
for stitchable multi shots for a panorama ... which is
the topic of the thread.

gunflint Loc: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

EXACTLY RIGHT!! That is my question and issue...like I said above I have ordered one and hopefully it will work for my purpose.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

I interpret that as using a ball as a leveling base.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

Like it already said ---- IT WORKS -- It is also well made & compared to what I had its light by about a half a pound -- It's a great ball head