Tips for shooting straight

thebaz

Since i've got into photography, one of my biggest problems is taking a shot that is perfectly alligned , many of my shots seam to be shot at an angle , which i don't want .
I try using the targets in viewfinder, but still find it difficult to shoot dead on straight.
Any quick tips , particularly when taking quick shots, when you have not too much time to setup !

Covey

Take the photos BEFORE you go the pub!.

T.

B0rG

Shoot straight by shooting straight... :-) Not much tips there - just align the camera. It's good that you think about that, most important do not forget it when you're shooting

Sometimes I'd align horisontal focusing points on horizon or on building basement. One thing though - my first hundred photos with every new lens have bad horison... And even after they require 0,5 - 1,5 degree correction.

Valentia

Most SLR's have a facility for changing the focusing screen. The screen could be changed for one with a grid etched into the glass. This would make it very obvious when a shot is crooked. Most professional landscape photographers use them.

Dimy

I posted a tutorial on how to straighten horizons after taking the shot in photoshop... you can find it in this thread.

Assuming you shoot digital of course...

Alun

My D70s has the option to turn on a 3x3 grid in the viewfinder. Useful for aligning horizons and also the good ol' "rule of thirds".

I still end up straightening a lot of my landscape shots in photoshop anyway, because my eyes suffer from the optical equivalent of 'perfect pitch', and even a half a degree of tilt makes me squirm. P.S. don't even let me in a room with crooked pictures on the walls

thebaz

Alun wrote:

My D70s has the option to turn on a 3x3 grid in the viewfinder. Useful for aligning horizons and also the good ol' "rule of thirds".

I still end up straightening a lot of my landscape shots in photoshop anyway, because my eyes suffer from the optical equivalent of 'perfect pitch', and even a half a degree of tilt makes me squirm. P.S. don't even let me in a room with crooked pictures on the walls

I have a D50 , not sure if this has the grid option, must check !

I use picasa to straighten , but the quality of the photo deteriorates , after saving a straighten in picasa !

B0rG

the trick is to rotate before resize :-)
rotate after resize is bad...
I think most of dslr's have photoshop elements bundled with it, I think rotate resize is better there...

Roen

Bubble level ftw!
I have the exact same problem, too many knocks on the head as an adult I think. The only way I can think is to line the horizon or other straight part of a scene with the frame on you camera so it's parallel. Also try using the autofocus squares as mini guides as well, although they are not really big enough to get a proper level off.

JMcL

Roen wrote:

Bubble level ftw!

Hotshoe spirit levels like this are the way to go if you're using a tripod (not of much use though if you're handholding and trying to look through the viewfinder at the same time )

I picked up a dual axis Hama like the second one above in Dublin (Camera Exchage on Georges St., though they should be easily available). A bit cheaper too if I remember rightly - around €15 springs to mind. It's pretty much a permanent fixture on my hotshoe

Fenster

I giggled when I saw the title of this thread.

A spirit level definately won't go amiss.

thebaz

Fenster wrote:

I giggled when I saw the title of this thread.

A spirit level definately won't go amiss.

A spirit level built into the camera would be perfect for me --
maybe we should patent the idea !! or do they exist already on certain cameras ?

Alun

I've got one built in to my tripod head.

JMcL

thebaz wrote:

A spirit level built into the camera would be perfect for me --
maybe we should patent the idea !! or do they exist already on certain cameras ?

Good point, it seems really obvious. I did a bit of googling and they do exist, but seemingly only more niche gear, for example as an option to a Zeiss Ikon here, or on some high end panoramic gear eg here.

Then again, I suppose there isn't much space inside the viewfinder of your average (d)SLR

mervifwdc

Rotating in the software afterwards is fine for 90, 180 or 270 degrees, but you do loose a lot of quality with any other amount of rotation. And I agree - definitly do it before resize, but best of all, before taking the shots.

Lots of cameras have autofocus points. You can use them to judge against the horizon too.

Merv.

sionnach

just get a hotshoe spirit level:

http://www.red-door.co.uk/pages/productpages/hotshoe.html

thebaz

With modern technology , don't see why they couldn't have a virtual bubble level in the viewfinder , which you could turn on / off !!

Anyway as a stopgap , i might get the bubble level from Red door at 41 euros .
Never used Red door before , assume they are ok !

GristlyEnd

Below is a level that fits into the flash hot shoe. Click the picture for more details.



Edit: Just realised this idea has already been posted but this one is more expensive so must be better

thebaz

thebaz wrote:

With modern technology , don't see why they couldn't have a virtual bubble level in the viewfinder , which you could turn on / off !!

Anyway as a stopgap , i might get the bubble level from Red door at 41 euros .
Never used Red door before , assume they are ok !

Got spirit level in Conns for 15 euros -- great shop -- cheaper than the web

Valentia

thebaz wrote:

Got spirit level in Conns for 15 euros -- great shop -- cheaper than the web

You mean for spirit levels I hope. Conns must be the most expensive shop on the planet.

thebaz

thebaz wrote:

Got spirit level in Conns for 15 euros -- great shop -- cheaper than the web

Slight typo - it was Gunnes i got it in - NOT Conns --
BTW - Have you used Camera Exchange on Georges st. ?
Thinking of buying a dedicated sigma flash in Camera Exchange for 200 euros , Gunnes only have the Nikon dedicated , which is a 100 euros more expensive !

Fajitas!

Quick tip...

Check the weight of both on top of your camera...

Think yer not shooting straight now?

thebaz

Fajitas! wrote:

Quick tip...

Check the weight of both on top of your camera...

Think yer not shooting straight now?

The Sigma flash is 320 g , the Nikon sb 600 is 300 g -- not much of a difference -- just checked web specs.

Dundhoone

Nikon Sb-600 speedlight for sale here, might be of interest to you.
I have one of these, its nifty.

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=9438&cat=32

thebaz

Dundhoone wrote:

Nikon Sb-600 speedlight for sale here, might be of interest to you.
I have one of these, its nifty.

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=9438&cat=32

Thanks -- actually bought it on friday -- the flash works a treat , although the camera is not as nimble to use, and straighness once again may be an issue, as Fajitas rightly suggested