Keeping the camera square..

[Geoff I]

Every time I use my camera I always find that I am taking pictures lob sided and I have to put them right in the editing software, do any of you have a trick you use to keep the pictures square when shooting.

[Hinfrance]

Every time I use my camera I always find that I am taking pictures lob sided and I have to put them right in the editing software, do any of you have a trick you use to keep the pictures square when shooting.

I try to avoid being too drunk 

Lots of cameras have level displays, or you can get a level that fits on the hot shoe, or look for horizontal or vertical lines in the frame and align them. Or stop worrying about it, concentrate on the subject and just continue to do a bit of pp straightening.

[Beaux Reflets]

The HS20 has a built in Level like a pilot's line across the screen - perhaps only other recent cameras have this ? 

If you plumb for a vertical line one side of the view any lens distortion is often more noticable on the opposing side of the shot.

I often take shots that lean down on the right hand side when pressing too firmly on the shutter button 

[Just Dave]

My 7D has a level indicator or have the grid showing , when use my 400D I use the AF spots as a guide to level my shots 

[Hinfrance]

My 7D has a level indicator or have the grid showing , when use my 400D I use the AF spots as a guide to level my shots 

. . . and there are framing markers on the focusing screen on the K20D.

I still reckon not worrying about it is probably the path to joy 

[Cathus]

I have this all the time with sports photography, when you're flinging the camera all over the place it's unavoidable sometimes, I just get used to using the straighten tool in my workflow, on static shots, my tripod has a spirit level built in for when it's more important but I tend not to bother

[michaelb104]

Try using the focus points in your view finder to keep things level, this is especially useful if you have an horizon or something similar to check against.