My ideal tripod choice!

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Bill16

Senior Member
I am looking for a appartment, though after reading your post, I think I should try to get it all insured.:)

I will also pass on to my councilor what we talked about in this thread, so I might get help to achieve a little more moderation in my wants than I currently have.:)

RobV said:
My favorite tripod so far is the Dolica GX650B204 Proline GX Series 65 inch Aluminum Tripod and Ball Head Combo for $65 from Amazon.

That said, I am really hot for a LensMaster RH-2 gimbal mount at $238 USD.

Bill, I am not a very good money manager, either, but losing my job at the beginning of the year really shook me up. I quit doing a lot of silly things that I could no longer "afford". Like smoking pot to the point of abuse, and I immediately filed for bankruptcy (two abused credit cards) and let my older car with 4 years left on the note go back to the bank. I got 8 weeks severance, and I was fortunate to find a one-owner Civic that was 2 years older and 70,000 miles higher than what I had, that I was able to pay cash for. I sold the D610 and three (cheap, but Nikon) lenses at a "buy me now" price of $1200.

I can now pee clean (it took TWO months!), and while I still don't have a job, I am feeling better about myself. I am lightening my load, having sold my lifetime collection of vinyl (I am going to be 60 this summer), as well as my DVDs and CDs.

I did spend too much of my cash-on-hand on a refurbished D5300. And yes, I could have gotten something much cheaper with a lot less doo-dads. Obviously there is still work to be done. :)
But, I am seeing a therapist and just started generic Prozac Sunday night. (wow, is my head spinning!) I was trying to spend and smoke my way to happiness, and it was not working.

I have never been religious before, but I was lucky enough to have met a wonderful Quaker pastor via my 2nd ex-wife 16 years ago.
When I was working, I worked Sat. nights/Sun. mornings, after which I would go home and smoke myself into oblivion and sleep. I rarely attended.
Now I have the time, and I find the more time I spend with these people, the better. Tai Chi practice every-other Thursday is great, and this week we are housing 3 homeless families and I am volunteering for a few hours tonight.

I thought that being an Uber driver was going to be the answer to my troubles, but after reading a couple of Driver's Forums, I'm not so sure. I have not gotten my Green Light (ha ha) yet on that, but I will see how much money I lose on the proposition before I give up. I am going to be picky about my fares - NO drunks! I really hate the idea of beating up my nice car to net $10/hr.

Ultimately, though, I would be VERY paranoid about having a lot of VERY expensive camera gear in a public housing situation. Or perhaps I am not reading your post right. Take care, Friend. I would not pour my heart out here publicly if I did not care.
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Bill16

Senior Member
I am going to the housing authority in the next day or so, so I can maybe find an appartment that I can afford better.

If not, I will get into an appartment, and squeek by as best as I can until my bills get paid down enought to make the appartment affordable.:)

crashton said:
Bill buddy, listen to your friends. They all want the best for you as do I. If you can't put that tax return in your bank just stuff it in your mattress, but don't spend it on something you really don't need. That tripod may be sweet, but it won't work well if you end up using it as a tepee frame to sleep under. Reading your tripod post makes me worry about how you are & how you'll cope if the stuff hits the fan.

Please take care.
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cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
I have been thinking about the same way as others who have already posted. I have hesitated to say anything because I sometimes come across a little gruff even though not intended that way. Bill, you are a great guy and very friendly. I guess that is why I am writing this, because like others, we are concerned about your current thinking process. Please let your counselor do whatever they can for you. You previously stated that you were going to use part of your tax return to pay down you credit bills. Instead of buying a tripod, etc. use the money you were going to use to purchase it to pay down more of your credit debt. The more you pay it down, the lower you can make the payments. Sell you guitars and use that money to pay down the debt also. Any extra money you have needs to be used for your needs. There are wants and there are needs. The needs are what you should be concerned with right now. As you get the debt reduced to a manageable level and you get your other things squared around (future housing, etc) then you can think about the luxuries of MORE camera equipment. You probably have more than enough camera equipment to try your "semi-pro" desire without purchasing more. If you get that going to gain income, then maybe you will be able to purchase more equipment as desired.

Again, please let your counselor give you a reality check.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
On a side note. Does anybody know of a great center weight bag for tripods that is not too spendy? I don't have any, and I need at least one.:)
I prefer to fill with sand I think.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
As so many others have stated, I don't believe the money should go for any additional photography equipment. If they are monitoring your bank accounts, then stash the cash somewhere secret.

As far as the tripod goes, Jake nailed it. That tripod doesn't have a center column and stands just under 5-feet tall. Its weight is heavy enough that once you add a tripod head to it, it might be close to 10 pounds. I will hazard a guess that it is geared more towards medium or large format equipment...not a DSLR. It simply isn't a practical tripod for DSLR photography.

I have a Bogen/Manfrotto tripod and head combo that weighs in at about 10 pounds. It isn't the type of thing to carry around for outside work. I'm keeping it because it will be a good tripod to use for indoor portraiture, but the one you are considering is not practical or functional for your needs. Save the money, Bill.
 
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Bill16

Senior Member
I really appreciate all of you writing, putting your opinions on what you believe is best for me! Especially those of you that woeked to keep it positive. You are all great friends that I treasure your opinions even if they don't aggree with my oun opinion.:)

Well I will consider your overwhelming group opinion! Lol But no promises!lol ;)
 
cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Bill16 said:
Well that would be cheap! Lol :D but I think I would want a little better quality bag!lol :)
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I agree with better quality if it is possible, but I am on a fixed income too and I have to solve problems within my means. Sure, if I could find a better bag for free or practically nothing, I would use it. Right now to look at a solution for a weight, I have the gym socks. Ha! That is how I look at things. That is also why I own a grand total of two DSLR's, two lenses and one 35 year old, el cheapo ($35) tripod I bought for an 8mm video camera. :encouragement: Taxes, house payments, utilities, car expenses... come first before...
 
cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Another solution, cut the leg off of an old pair of pants. Sew the ends up to make a bag that could be filled with sand/dirt.
Go to Goodwill and get a bag/old purse for $2.
Think outside of the box for "Cheap" - "Free" solutions. :D
 
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Ironwood

Senior Member
I'll throw my 2 cents worth in too. Buying that tripod is not necessary, it wont make you take better photos, or be a better photographer. The tripods you already have are more than adequate for your needs. Use the money more wisely.
 
Dawg Pics

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Kevin H said:
Bill WAKE UP eating and shelter should be your first priority you really need 3 Gitzo's??????????????????????????????????????

I wanta slap you with a carp
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slap3.gif
 
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weebee

Senior Member
Bill16 said:
I can't save the money without risking losing my state help, including my medicaid. Medicaid will cover dental, and if I can deal with my phobia, I really need dental work.

I had planned to sell my guitars in order to replace the money used to buy my dream tripod. :)
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Dream or nightmare? I have dreams of winning $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and getting a porn star for a wife. But, sometimes, dreams are what they are. You already have a awesome tripod set up. If you must.spend the money. Then put it towards something else. Say an extended warranty for the high mileage truck you just bought? Or something you can flip if times get rough. Camera gear is a small crowd. What are the limitations in having ready cash versus the state help? If you're penalized a couple bucks then so what? You still have a reserve if needed. What if medicaid only covers 80% and you need the extra to cover it. One more question and I'm done. What are your real motivations in wanting the tripod? Your real desire. Or just want to say you have it to impress your friends here? Cause really Bill, this is a waste of your money. There, I'm stepping off the soap box.
 
Dawg Pics

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Kevin H said:
Put your glasses on it's a fish :mad:
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???
A carp is a fish. This is a gif of a smiley hitting another smiley with a fish. Did I miss something?
If so, I apologize. Just trying to inject some humor. I'd be happy to delete it if it makes you that angry.
 
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weebee

Senior Member
Oh, I just forgot something. You mentioned that you are thinking about doing portraits for extra cash. Do you have a good portrait lenses? If not. Then put the money into that instead.
 
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