How important is a built in level on a tri-pod?

[Netskimmer]

I bought a Targus TG-P60T tripod on Amazon and it came in today. I could have sworn it said it had a level in the endvertisment but I must have gotten it confused with one of the others I was looking at. I will likely be on uneven ground on many occasions and I've read from others that a level was important. I could send it back and pay the restock gees and whatnot or just get a little adheasive level to stick on it. What do you guys think?

 

[o hey tyler]

You could also buy a $5 level and use it. Or correct any slanted photos in post. That would be a lot less than a restock fee.

 

[mwcfarms]

Not much since you can straighten horizons in most software after.

 

[Trever1t]

what kind of head does it have? If only a panning head then a level would save a few seconds in post processing but with a ball-head I find it only useful to make sure I have stability.

 

[Netskimmer]

Thats kind of what I figured, thanks.

Now I am confused, I took another look at the desription to answer Trever1t's quiestion and it says "3 way pan head bubble level pro series." Am I just missinterpreting this or what?

 

[Aye-non Oh-non Imus]

A bubble level on a tripod is a nice option, so are heated seats (mostly for women), but in the grand scheme of things, it is inconsequential. Do you have the option to add grid lines in your viewfinder? Do you have editing software that allows you to tilt the image. These two are much more useful.

 

[Trever1t]

I love my heated leather seats....oh so nice!

 

[loopy]

I could send it back and pay the restock gees and whatnot or just get a little adheasive level to stick on it. What do you guys think?

You could get a hotshoe level like this one for $3

 

[usayit]

I love my heated leather seats....oh so nice!

Me too.... prolongs the season for driving the convertible with the top down.

 

[Aye-non Oh-non Imus]

I love my heated leather seats....oh so nice!

I left room for the exceptions.

Being from San Jose, and not too far from San Fran, I'll abide with the (falsely attributed) witticism by Mark Twiain.

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.

 

[spacefuzz]

I use the grid lines in my viewfinder to level the horizon. Anything slightly off I just tweak a degree or two in software.

Usually I'm in a hurry and the terrain I shoot on is so lumpy its doesnt seem worth it to dink with a level on the tripod when I can adjust the ball head.

 

[photocist]

My tripod ballhead has a built in level and its pretty awesome.

 

[coldmm803]

It's not that necessary, it only tells you the status of the camera in relation to the ground. What is more important is the object/scene you are photographing in relation to the camera. For this you can use the grid in the viewfinder or in post processing.

 

[Stryker]

My ballhead has a bubble spirit level but I never use it to level my horizon when. Camera Raw and CS5 does it for me

 

[480sparky67 66]

I can say with all honesty that I've never even seen a tripod with a level on it. Either in an ad or in person. Never even gave it passing thought of, "Boy, it sure would be handy to have a level on my tripod".

Fact is, until this thread, I never even knew such a thing existed.