EZLeveler 2 + NN5 + D700/24-70mm Combo

[2BeCalifornian]

Hello,

It's about leveling a rig composed of:
- a EZleveler 2
- NN5 + RD16
- D700/24-70mm

After the initial leveling, as I turn the rig, the whole system gets unbalanced: the "bubble" gets out of its "circle" (I am looking at the indicator on the lower arm of the NN5, I position myself to look down on the indicator right where the vertical axis should be). At 180 degrees is the worst deviation...when I'm back at 0 degrees (360 degrees), the rig is leveled again.

Has anyone else observed a similar deviation on the leveling? I'm puzzled.

Thanks!

Philippe

[Vincèn]

Hey,

Just my two cents but I bet your tripod is definitively not stable or not correctly fixed on floor ! Don't you have a way to put a weight hang up under tripod so it doesn't move at all when you turn the head ?

Vinc?®n

[2BeCalifornian]

Hi Vincen,

That was my first thought: I secured the tripod column adjustments and and used my camera bag as a weight on the column hook. The tripod is on a flat surface (terrace) in my garden so really, not much shaking there. I think it has to do with the weight of the rig which creates a torque as one rotates the pano head...

Thanks for your fast reply, it's really appreciated.

Philippe

[Vincèn]

Looks really strange in that case to me Did you screw all elements together strongly so it's not loosy or not completely adjusted ? or perhaps the axe of the tripod is not so good. What tripod do you use ?

Vinc?®n

[2BeCalifornian]

I use a Induro CX214 (Carbonflex 8x).

This flexes a little - because it's made up of carbon. There was however quite a bit of weight to stabilize the tripod. I think the problem is somewhere else.

I also have a Gitzo 2220 that weighs a ton...may be worth trying it.

Cheers!

Philippe

[nick fan]

Hello,

It's about leveling a rig composed of:
- a EZleveler 2
- NN5 + RD16
- D700/24-70mm

After the initial leveling, as I turn the rig, the whole system gets unbalanced: the "bubble" gets out of its "circle" (I am looking at the indicator on the lower arm of the NN5, I position myself to look down on the indicator right where the vertical axis should be). At 180 degrees is the worst deviation...when I'm back at 0 degrees (360 degrees), the rig is leveled again.

Has anyone else observed a similar deviation on the leveling? I'm puzzled.

Thanks!

Philippe

there are 4 possibilities.
1. bubble is not accurate.
2. tripod (esp. center column) not rigid enough
3. tripod moved during rotation (less likely as the bubble return to the center position in one rotation).
4. you read the bubble at an angle to vertical axis, initial leveling is not accurate.

To test the bubble, mount the EZ-LII on the tripod, hang some weight to the tripod. mount the NN5 lower assembly on the EZ-LII. Disable the detent plunger. Don't mount anything else. This will keep the weight low and eliminate the effect of any instability of tripod or tripod movement. Adjust the level so that bubble is centered from view directly above. rotate the NN5 lower assembly to see what happens. The bubble will move to some extent. It should not move out of circle.


Nick

[hindenhaag]

Hi Philippe,

I always level twice, before and after fixing the camera to the upper rail. Specially while mounting heavy lenses the tripod and everything else moves. Take a small mirror like dentists use it in 45 degree on top of the bubble.

Test it once, and you won't believe what difference there is trying to "center" the bubble from aside or in the vertical axis. I also would tell you to fix the upper screws of the leveler against the top, which makes everything stable.

I use a manfrotto 055Pro with a manfrotto555B center column, which works very well.

Heinz