How to fine tune tripod height?

[Craig Alan]

Don’t know how heavy your rig is. I step on a apple box, then grab the top handle, then loosen all 3 legs, then pull up on handle as you watch the bubble on tripod, then tighten the legs then fine tuning whatever leg will get the bubble in the center more or less does the trick. have no idea why the default isn’t to loosen all three legs at once with the ability to mod a single leg. Even better would be a Crank-O-Vator like tripod that once you are level you could crank it to any height. But I agree with other posts, if you remove the camera package you can get the tripod head at the height you want easier. Also mark your different heights that you use often. a lot easier to adjust if you know what what height you need. You do have some give or take using subtle tilts. Also if you have help you can pull the handle up with two hands and have your helper tighten the three legs while you hold position. Look at a monitor off camera to see the height that works.

Imacs (i7), Canon 5D Mark IV, Panasonic ENG HPX250P, Canon C300, FCP X, teach video production in L.A., Cool Light Productions, Producing series of multimedia Portraits of creative women in the production arts.