70-200 2.8L tripod collar orientation marks

[drasulev]

<p>Could sound like a silly question and I still hope for some brilliant ideas in replies :)<br>

There is only one orientation mark on 70-200 2.8L tripod collar - for horizontal orientation. When I want to put lens+camera to vertical position, I have to trust my own eyes. Works ok for me but probably there is some good and reliable way to make exact mark on the collar for vertical position too ?<br>

Thanks in advance !</p>

[steven_f1]

<p>Attach a <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/419395-REG/Jobu_Design_LVL_PL_2_Axis_Flash_Hot.html">hot shoe bubble level</a> to the camera and use it to verify the camera is vertical It is more reliable than your eyes or a mark on the lens.</p>

[mbkissel]

<p>(From the viewfinder side) when you rotate the camera/lens counter-clockwise, there is some real estate on the lens barrel (opposite side from switches) where you could put a piece of tape with a witness mark to line up with the mark on the tripod collar. Or use a Sharpie felt pen to make a witness mark on the barrel itself if you don't mind. Of course, you'll have to decide first when it is exactly 90 degrees out before making the mark.</p>

[pjmeade]

<p>Hello Denis, here's another vote for the hotshoe spirit level.<br>

I only paid about 10GBP for mine, this looks around the same price<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Double-Bubble-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000YJ2Q9U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263991116&sr=8-2">http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Double-Bubble-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000YJ2Q9U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1263991116&sr=8-2</a></p>

<p> </p>

[drasulev]

<p>Thanks everyone ! Looks like Bubble is most suitable solution.</p>

[frank_dzambic]

<p>A bubble level is the best way to know your camera is level. But, since you brought it up, there's probably no good reason why there shouldn't be a mark on the lens for vertical orientation other than maybe nobody thought of it. Now that you've brought it up, I think it's a great idea that would cost nothing to implement.</p>