Tripod not level

marzipannmarzipann Registered Users Posts: 8 Big grins
edited January 4, 2011 in Accessories
Hi there,

I just got a Manfrotto 190XProB tripod and noticed that when I open the legs to the first lock point, the built in spirit level is not centered. This seems to be the case no matter if the legs are fully retracted or fully extended. Is this normal? Should a brand new tripod be level out of the box in its predetermined lock points, or is there a problem with my tripod and I should exchange it?

I am on a pretty level floor in my apartment (hardwood, and used a leveler on the floor to double check that the floor is level).

Thanks,
Steve

Comments

  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2011
    marzipann wrote: »
    Hi there,

    I just got a Manfrotto 190XProB tripod and noticed that when I open the legs to the first lock point, the built in spirit level is not centered. This seems to be the case no matter if the legs are fully retracted or fully extended. Is this normal? Should a brand new tripod be level out of the box in its predetermined lock points, or is there a problem with my tripod and I should exchange it?

    I am on a pretty level floor in my apartment (hardwood, and used a leveler on the floor to double check that the floor is level).

    Thanks,
    Steve

    A lot of times there is a difference in the thickness of the pod feet.....also are the legs extended exactly the same length......did you measure or just presume that they are traveling the same distance....not being an ass here I have found in my old manfrotto that the legs them selves were not exactly the same length as i was having this prob....so now when i get a new pod that is the first thing I do scew the feet all the way out and measure to be sure thay are the same (I use machinist precision calipers and scales) then i extend the legs to max distance and stand up.......but I do not open the legs I have them all straight up and down....and yes there is a lot of times quite a difference in leg length .......... somethings just get by QA in all companies.....it happens.
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

  • marzipannmarzipann Registered Users Posts: 8 Big grins
    edited January 4, 2011
    Art Scott wrote: »
    A lot of times there is a difference in the thickness of the pod feet.....also are the legs extended exactly the same length......did you measure or just presume that they are traveling the same distance....not being an ass here I have found in my old manfrotto that the legs them selves were not exactly the same length as i was having this prob....so now when i get a new pod that is the first thing I do scew the feet all the way out and measure to be sure thay are the same (I use machinist precision calipers and scales) then i extend the legs to max distance and stand up.......but I do not open the legs I have them all straight up and down....and yes there is a lot of times quite a difference in leg length .......... somethings just get by QA in all companies.....it happens.

    Hi Art,

    I did not measure the legs. I fully extended them as far as they would go, and slid them back in as far in as they would go and in both lengths the level showed the similar degree off centered. I don't have precision measuring equipment to measure reliably unfortunately. Do you actually take the legs apart to measure the pieces or just the rubber feet? I assume if the leg lengths are off, it should be exchanged, or is this so common a thing its highly unlikely I would get a level one?
    Thanks for your insight!

    Steve
  • run_kmcrun_kmc Registered Users Posts: 263 Major grins
    edited January 4, 2011
    Not to minimize your problem, but a hot shoe level may make things easier, unless you'll always be using this tripod in a studio situation. Out in the wild, levels built in to the tripod itself don't do much good. They help you level your tripod, I guess leveling the camera itself is up to you. :D

    +1 to Art's response, too. Pod feet can be millimeters off, and the legs can be millimeters off, resulting in possible centimeters off for the whole kit.
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  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited January 4, 2011
    I measured the foot of the tripod: the part that screws out and if you remove the rubber it has a spike under it....I measured to make they were all unscrewed the same amount, the tools I used , were mine as I used to do aircraft machining :~}} Or else it would have been my 50 cent tape measure :~} ...then I pulled the legs out as far as they would go and locked them and stood them up without spreading the legs so they were straight down and that is when I noticed the legs were different lengths...so I pushed them all the way in and they were off there also, but not as much...so that told me that the 1st section of the pod was off also....that is when B&H customer service and I got to know each other real well :~]

    I sent 3 sets of Manfroto legs back to them before i got a good set......i was sweating it because I was getting ready for a trip to Prague.

    In the end i switched to Giottos and have never had a prob.........it was just a simple thing that the Manfroto pods did not want to live with me.
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

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