How To Level A Ball Head Tripod

One of the most popular types of tripod heads is the ball head. It’s versatile, easy to use, and performs well in just about any condition. However, the trouble you may be running into is how to level your ball head tripod properly. This is an issue I faced when I first began using a ball head, but luckily it’s a lot easier than it seems.

To level a ball head, you need to use the bubble levels on your tripod. After the tripod’s base is securely set up, use the levels on your head to balance the camera and create a level image. Adjust the head until the bubble sits perfectly between each leveling line.

Now, if you need a little more information than that, you’ll love the next section. Let’s go over the step by step process of leveling a ball head tripod from square one.

Step 1: Level The Base Of Your Tripod

Before you start working on the ball head, you need to start at the base. The base of your tripod is essentially everything below the tripod head. From the legs to the center post, this section is crucial to level before anything else. After all, if you don’t have a level base, you’ll have a much harder time leveling the ball head later.

On most tripods, you’ll find a small circular bubble level on the top of the base section. This bubble will tell you exactly whether or not your tripod is standing perpendicular to the ground. The reason a perfectly straight angle is so important is so your ball heads level doesn’t change as it rotates. For example, if your tripod was high in the front and low in the back, your ball head level would change drastically in different orientations. By having a level base, you create a perfect starting ground for what follows.

Once you’ve decided on a spot you want to set up the tripod, take note of any high or low points of the ground. Especially when you’re shooting on uneven terrain, one tripod leg might be a few feet longer than the other one. If you’re facing downhill, put two of the tripod legs on the downhill slope for the best support.

After an initial setup, look at the base’s bubble level and figure out which legs need to be extended or shortened. With a little bit of fine-tuning, the base’s bubble level will be perfectly centered. With a balanced base, you gain better weight distribution for a more stable tripod.

Step 2: Attach Your Camera And Find Your Composition

Some people might tell you to level a ball head before you attach a camera. To be blunt, this is a complete waste of time, but here’s why.

The reason you’re using a tripod in the first place is to set up a photo. There are a ton of different compositions you might be interested in looking at once you’ve attached your camera to the head. Rather than wasting your time and leveling beforehand, attach your camera and keep the ball head loose. That way, you can easily move your camera around until you find the exact shot you’re looking for.

After you’ve found the composition you like, lock the ball head, and start to consider what needs to be done for leveling.

Step 3: Level Your Ball Head Using The Bubble Levels

Now that you know where you want your camera to be looking, it’s time to look at the ball head’s bubble levels. There will be a bubble level on most ball heads near the actual head or on the quick release plate. If you don’t see a bubble level, it would be good to grab a hot shoe level for the future. Without a level, this step wouldn’t be possible.

Since your tripod’s base is already perpendicular to the ground, you don’t need to worry about the tilt angle of your camera. Instead, you want to look at the horizontal axis of your frame. For example, if your photo’s right side is higher than the left, you’ll have a crooked horizon. The problem with these is they’re super distracting and a true sign of a newbie photographer. Rather than fixing it in post, it’s smarter to get it right in camera with your bubble levels.

Loosen the ball head and adjust the cameras horizontal (side to side) axis. You don’t need to worry about the up and down angle. Taking note of the bubble level on your tripod head, adjust the angle until the bubble sits between each leveling line. If you’ve done the job right, the bubble level will be perfectly centered, and you’ll have a straight horizon!

Step 4: Take The Photo!

Now that you’ve figured out how to level a ball head tripod, your photo is completely straight, and your tripod is secure. Go ahead and hit the shutter button to snap your photo!

Should You Always Level Your Tripod?

It’s easy to get lazy and stop leveling your tripod while in a rush. I’ve been there myself, and I’ve learned from experience that it’s always worth leveling. If your base isn’t quite level, you end up creating a headache for yourself as you search for different shots.

Rather than being perfectly level in all directions, you might end up level in only one direction. Having to constantly adjust your tripod gets annoying, but that can quickly be avoided by spending the time to level it properly.

Especially when it comes to horizons, leveling a ball head is super important. If you’ve taken a whole bunch of beautiful photos, but every horizon is crooked, you’ve just created a lot of work to do in post. Instead of having to straighten your photos in Lightroom, spend the extra time to level your tripod head and get a straight horizon. It not only saves time but also makes you look a lot more professional.

How Long Should It Take To Level A Ball Head Tripod?

It all depends on how comfortable you are with your tripod and how many times you’ve done it. At first, these steps to level a ball head might feel forced and a bit awkward. Since you’re learning something new, it takes a bit of time until it becomes muscle memory.

After you’ve spent some time with the leveling process, it becomes second nature. Before long, you can immediately judge how and where to best set up your tripod in just about any location.

Besides the actual process of leveling a tripod, the time it takes varies on different terrain. For example, you won’t be able to level a tripod as quickly on a mountainside versus a smooth concrete pad. If you’re in snow or sand, dealing with legs sinking can get to be time-consuming as well. The terrain is generally a big deciding factor on how long it takes to level a ball head tripod.

For a total beginner, this process might take around 1-2 minutes on average, especially in rough terrain.

If you’re more experienced and familiar with the process, it can be done in under a minute.

Learning how to level a ball head tripod is one of the more tedious but necessary skills of being a photographer. By spending a bit of time before you set up your camera, you’ll make the entire shooting process run a lot smoother.

– Brendan 🙂