Hasselblad H5D, User Manual

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
SPIRIT LEVEL
The integrated electronic spirit level provides a rapid and
accurate way of ensuring the camera is either horizontally
neutral in alignment (level) and/or vertically neutral in align-
ment (plumb). It uses two methods that are fully visible on
the sensor unit display and partly visible in the viewfinder.
The method is selected by the camera automatically accord-
ing to alignment. So, if the camera is in a relatively normal
orientation, then Normal is selected and when the camera
is in a more extreme orientation then Repro is selected. You
can activate the spirit level (for both sensor unit and view-
finder displays) by holding down the DISPLAY button for a
second, or, by re-assigning the TRUE FOCUS / AE-L / STOP
DOWN or M.UP button as an activator. See Custom Options
#4
,
#5
,
#6
and
#7
for details.
Normal: Generally used when the camera is mounted on a
tripod/stand in either landscape or portrait orientation. Al-
lows the camera to be correctly aligned in two planes re-
gardless of apparent deviations in the viewfinder. Particu-
larly useful for landscape work where most of the horizon
is hidden, for example, or architectural/interior work where
wide angle lenses can often create a difficult situation to
level the camera visually.
Repro:
Normally used when the camera is mounted on a tri-
pod/stand in a 'repro' alignment, that is, camera pointing di-
rectly downwards (this feature also works pointing directly
upwards). Ensures that the camera is in a truly perpendicular
alignment.
In use:
Sensor unit display – Three scales can be seen in
Standard mode. The scale along the lower edge and to the
right hand side (in landscape mode) require you to alter the
camera's orientation to center the yellow 'bubbles'. When
centered, these bubbles become green. The third central
scale consisting of a large circle with cross-hairs provides
an alternative combined display. The content of the circle
changes from yellow to green when the horizontal orien-
tation is correct. In
Repro
mode, the central scale is also a
'bubble' type. Again, the two yellow bubbles become green
when centered in their respective scales. As an alternative,
the central blue bubble can be centered within the green
circle (no color change to the bubble).
Normal (at default setting)
Not level Level
Not level
Repro (at default setting)
Level
The spirit level as it appears in the viewfinder display.
Custom calibration: There is a default calibration for either mode which is selected
automatically. However you can store a custom calibration for various purposes.
1) Press the appropriate
P1 / P2 / Custom Button
to activate the spirit level. The
text along the bottom of the display reads
EXIT
,
Standard
,
MODE
.
2) Press the Mode button ( Display ). The text along the bottom of the display
now reads CAL , User , MODE , and a green user icon appears in the top left of
the display.
3) When you are satisfied that the camera is securely in the chosen orientation,
press the
CAL
button ( Menu/Exit button ) to store the new setting.
4) Press the Display button to toggle between default and custom settings.
Custom settings are retained for future use. To make a new custom setting, repeat
the above procedure.
Viewfinder display – Only horizontal alignment can be seen
in the viewfinder display. It uses the bubble method as de-
scribed above except the bubble becomes black when the
camera is level. Custom calibration can also be used.
Activate by:
1) Pressing the assigned P1 or P2
button,
or
2) Pressing the assigned True
Focus, M.UP, AE-L or STOP
DOWN button to Spirit Level
(in Custom Options on grip).
User icon
Calculate
button

P1 & P2
Tip
The spirit level can also be activated by P1/P2 even when in tethered mode.