Electronic level gauge

[Janos Grapow]

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Any thoughts about the SL2S electronic level gauge not being precise and sensitive? I have 2 SL2S and both have the same issue. Do you think sending it to Leica could fix and improve it?

[huwm]

I've raised this before and been advised to just use gridlines 🙂

[LocalHero1953]

Same on the Q2 and SL2-S. I suspect the device they use is just not accurate or precise enough. I find it good enough to avoid losing much image during straightening, but not good enough to be sure of avoiding any straightening. 

Edited September 12, 2023 by LocalHero1953

[BernardC]

I find that a bubble level in the hot shoe does the trick for me. The viewfinder level display is unintuitive and imprecise. I'm sure it's accurate enough, but it's hard to tell from the display. It's hard to display 6 axis in a 2D widget.

[Jean-Michel]

The electronic level in the SL2 (and my M-P, when using an EVF) is quite accurate, especially considering that this is in a handheld situation. When using a tripod, I happen to have a leveling base from Acratech and an accessory shoe bubble level; but even with all that the Tower of Pisa remains tilted! 

[robb]

The level should be more precise…. It has lots of play.  I’d expect it to be better from a company with surveying history.

but we get by with its general ballpark.  

Robb

[Mak67]

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The "autokeystone Mask" works perfectly as a level indicator, just switch back to standart viewfinder if needed (aspect ratio for exemple) . 

A micrometric leveller is a real plus for this kind of shooting.

 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2023 by Mak67

[jdlaing]

7 hours ago, robb said:

The level should be more precise…. It has lots of play.  I’d expect it to be better from a company with surveying history.

but we get by with its general ballpark.  

Robb

That would be a different company. 

[robb]

3 hours ago, jdlaing said:

That would be a different company. 

USED to be the same company.  
Starting in 1996, the company was divided gradually into smaller units. Thus in 1996, Leica Camera AG was founded, followed in October 1997 by Leica Geosystems AG, and on April 1, 1998 by Leica Microsystems AG. Today these three companies are all independent public companies.

[Stuart Richardson]

The iphone level is also pretty loose...I tried using it to level the camera for artwork reproduction when outside the studio, and it is better than nothing, but worse than a cheap bubble level. I suspect these electronic levels are mostly useful for rough measurements. I agree that the gridlines seem a bit more useful here, at least if you have a horizon or known straight edges. The level is certainly fine for most work, but if you truly need something to be plane parallel, nothing beats something like a versalab parallel or other purpose built tool.

[jaapv]

On 9/14/2023 at 4:15 AM, robb said:

USED to be the same company.  
Starting in 1996, the company was divided gradually into smaller units. Thus in 1996, Leica Camera AG was founded, followed in October 1997 by Leica Geosystems AG, and on April 1, 1998 by Leica Microsystems AG. Today these three companies are all independent public companies.

Not quite. This expertise was acquired by the Leitz/Leica holding company, Wild AG, by a merger with Cambridge Instruments in 1990. The camera and optics part was split off from Wild AG by a management buyout in 1994 (second attempt) into Leica Camera AG which was made public (IPO) two years later. The Leica brand and logo still rest with Wild who lease it out.