Leveling a Manfrotto Tripod: I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attached. I have found that after I have mounted and leveled a camera with a spirit level with the camera...

Kiron Loc: Wales and Florida

I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attached.

I have found that after I have mounted and leveled a camera with a spirit level with the camera pointing straight ahead, if I rotate the camera 90 degrees to the right or left the camera is no longer level.

With the head removed I checked the tripod top plate with the spirit level and found that with the top legs retracted and fully splayed the level was OK in one direction but not when turned 90 degrees left or right. Fully extending the legs gave the same result.

I have measured the leg lengths and they are all the same. The only remaining cause could be the amount of splay of the legs. Does anyone know if the splay is adjustable, or some other simple fix without having to adjust the leg length each time I set it up?

(Download)

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

gopher22 wrote:

I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attache... (show quote)

Not knowing exactly what your doing or what camera bracket your using you may want to look into one of these - Sunwayfoto LP-76 Leveling Plate Bases LP-76 or similar devise. There are a lot of variables including the floor or ground it is resting on to the camera bracket your using.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

You may find it easier to get all the axis equal by mounting a leveling plate with a round bubble level on your tripod first. Then you can set you legs so they’re stable on uneven ground and finish leveling off via the leveling plate. Then mount your ballhead, or whatever, on top of the leveling plate. Eliminates some of the frustration you’re experiencing.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

gopher22 wrote:

I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attache... (show quote)

The tripod must be level in two directions, 90 deg apart. Most heads can do this. Once leveled in two directions, it will be level full 360.

Your photo only shows one bubble. You can not get a good level with only one bubble, or it will take a long time to do it, unless you use a center bubble, not a side to side, like the one you show.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

pesfls wrote:

You may find it easier to get all the axis equal by mounting a leveling plate with a round bubble level on your tripod first. Then you can set you legs so they’re stable on uneven ground and finish leveling off via the leveling plate. Then mount your ballhead, or whatever, on top of the leveling plate. Eliminates some of the frustration you’re experiencing.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

Level your tripod and then level your ball (or other type) head. A bubble level will level in all directions, as will a 2 or 3 bubble level. But if you only level your tripod, your head is not necessarily perfectly in line vertically with the tripod. If your camera has the capability to show level left/right and front/back, then you can level it and pan 360 degrees.

I use a Nodal Ninja leveler for leveling my tripod and a Manfrotto geared head to precisely level my camera

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

gopher22 wrote:

I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attache... (show quote)

The tripod spirit level, IMHO, is just this side of useless. As pesfls says, a tripod leveling base is the only sure fix. I suffered with really bad, out of level Panoramas until I put a RRS Leveling base on my tripod. Made a huge difference.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

gopher22 wrote:

I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attache... (show quote)

Looks more like a Bogen 3011 to me.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

MT Shooter wrote:

Looks more like a Bogen 3011 to me.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

gopher22 wrote:

I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attache... (show quote)

How are you feeling about cell phones right about now?

Photocraig

Leveling tripods REQUIRE leveling in two directions, 90 Degrees opposed. The simple bull' s eye level doesn't account for that. Jdubu is right. Level your ball head too. Otherwise you've wasted your time.

It is a learned skill, practice.

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

gopher22 wrote:

I own a Manfrotto 144 Tripod with 141 Head attache... (show quote)

Is your spirit level accurate?

I use a Sunway Foto LP-76 "Leveling Plate" which is just a plate with a bubble level that is pretty accurate. It sits between the tripod and the head, and it costs $16.

I also use a Sunway Foto DYH-90 Leveling Base which is an easy to adjust base that would negate the need to use the plate. I do not rely on a tripod to be level without a good accurate level, especially in the field.

Kiron Loc: Wales and Florida

DanielB wrote:

Not knowing exactly what your doing or what camera bracket your using you may want to look into one of these - Sunwayfoto LP-76 Leveling Plate Bases LP-76 or similar devise. There are a lot of variables including the floor or ground it is resting on to the camera bracket your using.

I am using a Manfrotto 141RC head and the tripod is on a perfectly smooth and level floor. It is for desktop work.

Kiron Loc: Wales and Florida

frankraney wrote:

The tripod must be level in two directions, 90 deg apart. Most heads can do this. Once leveled in two directions, it will be level full 360.

Your photo only shows one bubble. You can not get a good level with only one bubble, or it will take a long time to do it, unless you use a center bubble, not a side to side, like the one you show.

Try this, the bubble level rotated 90 degrees on the head, without moving the tripod.

Kiron Loc: Wales and Florida

Photocraig wrote:

Leveling tripods REQUIRE leveling in two directions, 90 Degrees opposed. The simple bull' s eye level doesn't account for that. Jdubu is right. Level your ball head too. Otherwise you've wasted your time.

It is a learned skill, practice.

The level was checked in two directions 90 degrees apart. One showed level, the other was way off, The legs were fully extended and the floor is perfectly level and smooth. It is a problem with the tripod legs not the user. That was what my original post asked about, the splay of the legs, adjustable or not. A leveling device between tripod head and the 141RC could work but would require adjustments every time I relocate the tripod a few feet on the same floor.