My ideal tripod choice!

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Bill16

Senior Member
What tripod would you buy if you could have the tripod of your dreams? Do you have a favorite brand you would automatically go to, and a favorite style?

Well my choice would be a Gitzo systematic traveler! It is a compact but very strong tripod without a center pole, with a max capacity of 88lbs! There is even a cool looking ball head designed for it, but I prefer the Arca Swiss Z1DP ball head! I believe this is a great all around tripod, and especially great for landscapes being such a ridged tripod so a regular wind won't be such a serious issue! A good center weight should take care of a moderate wind, and then your set!:)

Gitzo GT5562LTS Series 5 6x Traveler Systematic 6 Section Long Tripod GT5562LTS
 

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Bill16

Senior Member
My tax returns should come in this friday hopefully. I have to pay a big chunk to badcock and more to lower my payments, and keep in good standing in case I need credit for something like a bed later.
But with this being the last big tax returns, I'm going to do something that might be considered foolish even by myself. I'm going to buy this tripod, as I already got the Arca Swiss Z1Double Pan ball head for it. I will need to sell my guitars, but it will be worth it to me. I'm hoping my neighbor friend will be willing to sell my guitars for a precentage of profit, since I am no good at selling anything.

If anyone is looking for a guitar, let me know, and I will try to list the brands and models of the guitars I have. US lower 48 only please, to keep things as simple as possible.
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Bill, I've been hesitant to write this but please get real. Spending money on a tripod when you don't even know if you'll have a space to live in a few months, weeks or even days is, to say the least exactly what you wrote yourself: " I'm going to do something that might be considered foolish even by myself".

Well, it's your life alright, but man it sure looks foolish from the outside.

Sorry to disagree with your choices man.

Please take care of yourself and try to sell before you buy and save a bit for maybe difficult times to come.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Well, it's your life alright, but man it sure looks foolish from the outside.
Poking my nose into other people's finances is not something I normally do but I'm making an exception right now and I'd like to reiterate everything Marcel has already said.

Bill, I wish you good luck my friend; methinks you're going to need it.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
Thanks for your post my friend. There are aspects to recieving state help that makes some of your suggestions un workable, but I appreciate your caring suggestions anyway buddy.:)
I can't save money or it will count against my getting state help. So I am spending about half on a credit to help lower my payments. After buying the tripod, I will try to sell my guitars to pay off more of the credit, and see to buying glasses , along with helping with getting an appartment if I can find one cheap enough.

I also posted asking for suggestions on going simi-pro, to make a little money to help out in taking care of my needs. Anyway, thank you again for your post Marcel buddy.:)

Bill, I've been hesitant to write this but please get real. Spending money on a tripod when you don't even know if you'll have a space to live in a few months, weeks or even days is, to say the least exactly what you wrote yourself: " I'm going to do something that might be considered foolish even by myself".

Well, it's your life alright, but man it sure looks foolish from the outside.

Sorry to disagree with your choices man.

Please take care of yourself and try to sell before you buy and save a bit for maybe difficult times to come.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
After figuring my monthly income and monthly bills I need all the good luck I can get.

Finding a low income housing, or help in the form something like equal pay on rent and electricity. Steady help is what is needed most. Maybe my councilor will be able to help find a low income appartment.:)



Poking my nose into other people's finances is not something I normally do but I'm making an exception right now and I'd like to reiterate everything Marcel has already said.

Bill, I wish you good luck my friend; methinks you're going to need it.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
My councilor just called and said that I should get a call in the next few days about housing help! I don't have a clue what form of help it might be, but if it is subidizing I might have a appartment to try for that is close by. I wish they could have gave me a date to expect the call, so I'm sure not to miss it by going to town on the wrong day.

Maybe you wishing my luck HF is working buddy.:)
 

Bill16

Senior Member
Well the councilor's help was a bust, so I will go to the housing authority in the next few days to see if there is any help there to be had in the next couple months. I will keep looking, and maybe your luck you sent me will kick in soon HF!:D
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Bill, as has been said, I don't get it. But I've seen guys who barely ever drive more than 10 mph over the speed limit drop stupid money on a car that can drive much faster and handle much better than they'll ever need or want, even when they let their testosterone flow when showing it off to someone.

I don't like to pull punches, so I need to ask, when the hell will you ever need a tripod that holds 88 pounds unless you're planning on using it to hang small game while draining the carcass while out on safari? There are tripods rated at half that costing about 1/3 the price that you'll still never test fully.

That said, it's your money, it's your head, it's your life. Just take it from me, no one has ever been made happy simply by owning something. If you're gonna use it, then have a hell of a great time doing it.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
It's a compulsion I think. To have things that are really overkill.
I think it is for me anyway, to be truly honest. I think it comes from my childhood where my abusive stepfather would throw away my toys if they were even just a little damaged. There is more, but you get the idea, right?

Anyway, if I get it, I will surely enjoy the hell out of it!;)

Bill, as has been said, I don't get it. But I've seen guys who barely ever drive more than 10 mph over the speed limit drop stupid money on a car that can drive much faster and handle much better than they'll ever need or want, even when they let their testosterone flow when showing it off to someone.

I don't like to pull punches, so I need to ask, when the hell will you ever need a tripod that holds 88 pounds unless you're planning on using it to hang small game while draining the carcass while out on safari? There are tripods rated at half that costing about 1/3 the price that you'll still never test fully.

That said, it's your money, it's your head, it's your life. Just take it from me, no one has ever been made happy simply by owning something. If you're gonna use it, then have a hell of a great time doing it.
 

Kevin H

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

I wanta slap you with a carp
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I think I post this stuff just to give my friendssomething to yell at me about. Lol;)

A carp?lol :D

I currently have food and shelter.:)

Bill WAKE UP eating and shelter should be your first priority you really need 3 Gitzo's??????????????????????????????????????

I wanta slap you with a carp
 

crashton

Senior Member
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.
 

RobV

Senior Member
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.
 

weebee

Senior Member
I think I post this stuff just to give my friendssomething to yell at me about. Lol;)

A carp?lol :D

I currently have food and shelter.:)

True, but the 1300.00 you are thinking of pissing away on something you don't need could ensure food and shelter longer. I should be the one to talk. I have way too much gear. And am thinking about another purchase. But, my purchases do not hinder my other important duties. You've got some great gear. Hold on to what you have. You don't need that tripod. It is so much overkill then what you need. I'm talking to you as a friend. And sometimes friends need to say the obvious. Pull your head out of your ass. You've been through a lot. Don't make it worse by making poor decisions.
 

Spottydumplings

Senior Member
Bill,

I don't know what the rules are with your circumstances, or whether you have the room, but rather than moving could you not get a paying "lodger" to help with your finances?:concern:
 

Bill16

Senior Member
If I owned the house, your suggestion might be a good solution.
But I only have a limited amount of time that I'll be able to stay here.

But thank you very much for the great suggestion.:)

Bill,

I don't know what the rules are with your circumstances, or whether you have the room, but rather than moving could you not get a paying "lodger" to help with your finances?:concern:
 

Bill16

Senior Member
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. :)

True, but the 1300.00 you are thinking of pissing away on something you don't need could ensure food and shelter longer. I should be the one to talk. I have way too much gear. And am thinking about another purchase. But, my purchases do not hinder my other important duties. You've got some great gear. Hold on to what you have. You don't need that tripod. It is so much overkill then what you need. I'm talking to you as a friend. And sometimes friends need to say the obvious. Pull your head out of your ass. You've been through a lot. Don't make it worse by making poor decisions.
 

Kevin H

Senior Member
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. :)

Money I had saved for a D500 after real tests is going to be gone I'm seeing a dental surgeon Thursday
 
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