New Tripod!

[gjtoth]

Just got this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230212750558&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=013

I have one good tripod for the office but the one I had by the back door is so cheap and wobbly, I figured I'd better get a decent one before it collapse completely. Funny, I never noticed how flimsy it was until I was able to compare it to a GOOD tripod. :) I'm making a light stand out of the cheapo one.

[dkippen]

Gary -

Nice catch - Manfrotto tripods are basically top of the line tripods. I have an older aluminum SLK that so far works pretty well for me.

[Snappers]

Wise move Gary, I have a new tripod which I got free with my lens kit. Although the legs are stable on it, the head part is very cheap feeling and I do not trust it at all, I have a good tripod in the car which I use when out and about but may well get a second tripod for use at home.

[jonrayner]

Spot on Gary, like Debbie said, Manfrotto are one of the best makes there is out there. Good find.

[gjtoth]

Thanks, all. Andy, I got this specifically for the car and travel. I have an Dynatran Pro tripod I got from Amvona. It's extremely well-built and as steady as a concrete bomb bunker. But, it's a bit heavy to be lugging around. It's a knock-off of a Manfrotto and a pretty good one.

[LensBaby]

I have an old antiques tripod from the early sixties...talk about sturdy. It is very sturdy if you are a body builder and can carry it around with you everywhere! Nice for at home though.

[ladyups]

That's a great buy, Gary. I'm going to have to break down before long and get one. I've got a cheap wally world one and it does in a pinch but its not very sturdy and its too short. I want one that I can stand up and not have to lean down to look in the view finder. I'm sure I want a ball head on it too. I'll get one before long. I just ordered an external flash and anxious for it to arrive.

Maybe you can keep your eyes open for me a good tripod.

Mary

[gjtoth]

That's a great buy, Gary. I'm going to have to break down before long and get one. I've got a cheap wally world one and it does in a pinch but its not very sturdy and its too short. I want one that I can stand up and not have to lean down to look in the view finder. I'm sure I want a ball head on it too. I'll get one before long. I just ordered an external flash and anxious for it to arrive.

Maybe you can keep your eyes open for me a good tripod.

Mary


Sure thing, Mary. If you, or anyone here, desires me to post/PM any deals I come across, just let me know. I practically LIVE on eBay (when I'm not here or the DPR forums). If anyone has specifics, let me know. For our friends across the pond, I'll do my best but... well... you know how shipping will most likely kill a good deal. But, I'm willing to give 'er a shot. :)

[ladyups]

Sure thing, Mary. If you, or anyone here, desires me to post/PM any deals I come across, just let me know. I practically LIVE on eBay (when I'm not here or the DPR forums). If anyone has specifics, let me know. For our friends across the pond, I'll do my best but... well... you know how shipping will most likely kill a good deal. But, I'm willing to give 'er a shot. :)

That would be great, Gary...since I have to spend my days at work, I don't have much time to 'shop' for the best deals. Thanks also, for sending that link to check the integrity of online stores. The store I ordered my external flash from was listed and now I'm just a bit worried cause its been 2 weeks and I've not heard from them but they have my money. It was on backorder but I thought they would have it by now. I won't get really worried for another couple of weeks. I got an email that stated the manufacturer gives 1/26 as a release date to them.

My computer tech showed up at 6:25 tonight, put in the new mother board and battery and was out my door at 6:45...it would have taken me longer than that to just open the case. :D I hope my computer woes are behind me now.

Thanks, Gary!

Mary

[gjtoth]

That would be great, Gary...since I have to spend my days at work, I don't have much time to 'shop' for the best deals. Thanks also, for sending that link to check the integrity[FONT=Comic Sans MS] of online stores. The store I ordered my external flash from was listed and now I'm just a bit worried cause its been 2 weeks and I've not heard from them but they have my money. It was on backorder but I thought they would have it by now. I won't get really worried for another couple of weeks. I got an email that stated the manufacturer gives 1/26 as a release date to them.

I've been waiting on a couple of things I got on eBay from a vendor I've dealt with before that ships directly from China. Seems like it takes FOREVER. But, then, I go back and look at the date the auction closed and it's been like a week. Hope all works out for ya.


My computer tech showed up at 6:25 tonight, put in the new mother board and battery and was out my door at 6:45...it would have taken me longer than that to just open the case. :D I hope my computer woes are behind me now.

That WAS pretty quick. I hope he/she made sure it booted before he ran out the door.


Thanks, Gary!

Mary

Mucho gusto, Maria! :D

[ladyups]

That WAS pretty quick. I hope he/she made sure it booted before he ran out the door.


:D yep, hooked it all back up, booted fine and then he told me it would take a minute or two before the new MB got familiar with all my stuff. The mouse didn't work, the card reader wasn't on, etc...true to his word, a couple minutes later, everything worked.

I had the computer unhooked and sitting on the table waiting for him so all he had to do was open and remove everything on the inside (well, not quite everything, but pretty close), take out the MB, put the new one back and then plug everything back in.

Mary

[ladyups]

Just noticed your avatar...is it cold there? It's freezing here. Our high for Sat. is suppose to reach a whopping 15 degrees with wind chill of -10. Burrr....

Mary

[gjtoth]

Just noticed your avatar...is it cold there? It's freezing here. Our high for Sat. is suppose to reach a whopping 15 degrees with wind chill of -10. Burrr....

Mary

It's 27 and headed down. C'mon Spring!!!

[dkippen]

And I bet that computer tech made more in that 15 minutes that you do in an hour. I hate when that happens. I had Geek Squad install 1 memory chip in my computer for $40 - took them 10 minutes. But, it was a cheap price to pay after I opened up the computer and saw the wire jungle.

[gjtoth]

And I bet that computer tech made more in that 15 minutes that you do in an hour. I hate when that happens. I had Geek Squad install 1 memory chip in my computer for $40 - took them 10 minutes. But, it was a cheap price to pay after I opened up the computer and saw the wire jungle.

Sheesh... I don't get anywhere NEAR that! Of course, *I* don't rip people off.

But, I guess if ya have nowhere else to turn... ya gotta do it, eh?

[dkippen]

I missed the posts on the weather - Our low for tonite is -0, the high for tomorrow is 22 and sunny and it goes down from there for the rest of the week.

[ladyups]

And I bet that computer tech made more in that 15 minutes that you do in an hour. I hate when that happens. I had Geek Squad install 1 memory chip in my computer for $40 - took them 10 minutes. But, it was a cheap price to pay after I opened up the computer and saw the wire jungle.


Luckily, it was still under warranty. He couldn't believe that Dell replaced the MB too. All that was wrong with it was the CMOS battery but Dell sent an MB too so he replaced it all. He says its a new system now. Except for the video card, sound card, hard drive, power supply, etc, etc, etc..:D So the repair cost was on Dell. I had taken out the 4 year plan and glad I did.

I have to tell a funny story on tech support. My last computer was a Dell too and the fan on the video card was starting to make lots of noise. I had already opened the case and check to see if I touched the fan lightly if it would stop so I knew the fan was going bad. I called Dell to get a replacement and the tech had to 'test' it. He told me to power down and then to open the case and then power it up and touch the fan to see if I could stop it easily. (Which I told him I had already done but he insisted..:D). After 'he' determined that the fan was definitely going bad, he told me he would send the new video car overnight mail and that I would be contacted by the computer tech on a time that I would be available to have him install it. I said, "You really don't have to send a tech, I can put it in myself." His words...and I quote..." Oh, no, you will void your warranty if you open the case!" :D Guess he forgot he had already told me to open it!

I put a new gig memory stick in about 3 months ago. I can go 1 more gig and then its maxed out. But, I love what the new stick accomplished. My Photo Shop runs much better now. I'll be putting another stick in soon. I'm finding out when you work with photos, you need all the memory you can get.

Sorry, I've again wrote a book.:o

Mary

[jonrayner]

Luckily, it was still under warranty. He couldn't believe that Dell replaced the MB too. All that was wrong with it was the CMOS battery but Dell sent an MB too so he replaced it all. He says its a new system now. Except for the video card, sound card, hard drive, power supply, etc, etc, etc..:D So the repair cost was on Dell. I had taken out the 4 year plan and glad I did.


It is like insurance, I hate having to pay it until you actually need it, then it is the best thing you have ever paid for!!



I have to tell a funny story on tech support. My last computer was a Dell too and the fan on the video card was starting to make lots of noise. I had already opened the case and check to see if I touched the fan lightly if it would stop so I knew the fan was going bad. I called Dell to get a replacement and the tech had to 'test' it. He told me to power down and then to open the case and then power it up and touch the fan to see if I could stop it easily. (Which I told him I had already done but he insisted..:D). After 'he' determined that the fan was definitely going bad, he told me he would send the new video car overnight mail and that I would be contacted by the computer tech on a time that I would be available to have him install it. I said, "You really don't have to send a tech, I can put it in myself." His words...and I quote..." Oh, no, you will void your warranty if you open the case!" :D Guess he forgot he had already told me to open it!



Very Good, you hear some good stories about support calls. The Tech support will be just reading from pre-written scripts, a lot of them don't actually think about what they are doing or saying!!

[LensBaby]

Haha Mary I had the same thing happen with my computer when I first got it. There was something inside that came loose. Needless to say I get sent to a tech center in India, and I can't understand a word this lady was saying to me. She told me to unscrew the case..open it up and then told me what to do. She then told me if I opened the case it would void my warranty! I was FURIOUS because I thought she did it on purpose, so I said something to her. I was very nice about it still, and I asked her since you told me to do this over the phone this doesn't void my warranty right? She of course said No it would only be if you do it yourself. (Thats right I forget she was here helping me) Haha

[gjtoth]

... and frankly, I'm a little disappointed. Oh, the legs are just fine but the head is a not as substantially manufactured as I had hoped -- cheap plastic. I'm glad I had a Dynatran head for it so, it's perfect for traveling. Folds nicely, it's small and quite stable considering how light it is. Glad I didn't pay MSRP for it! heheh

[ladyups]

Haha Mary I had the same thing happen with my computer when I first got it. There was something inside that came loose. Needless to say I get sent to a tech center in India, and I can't understand a word this lady was saying to me. She told me to unscrew the case..open it up and then told me what to do. She then told me if I opened the case it would void my warranty! I was FURIOUS because I thought she did it on purpose, so I said something to her. I was very nice about it still, and I asked her since you told me to do this over the phone this doesn't void my warranty right? She of course said No it would only be if you do it yourself. (Thats right I forget she was here helping me) Haha

:D Glad to know I'm not the only one that gets people I can't understand. On one call, I had to tell them to switch me to another tech cause I could not understand anything they were saying. I've even been known to tell them they will have to Slooowww down so I can understand. It's bad enough I can't understand but when they are fast talkers I'm really in trouble. At least it gives us something to laugh about later.

Mary (who got the day off to go to the doctor and didn't have to drive around in our new 5 inches of snow):cool:

[ladyups]

... and frankly, I'm a little disappointed. Oh, the legs are just fine but the head is a not as substantially manufactured as I had hoped -- cheap plastic. I'm glad I had a Dynatran head for it so, it's perfect for traveling. Folds nicely, it's small and quite stable considering how light it is. Glad I didn't pay MSRP for it! heheh

Sorry to hear you were disappointed with your purchase, Gary. I've placed bids on a couple but haven't won any. They are going pretty cheap but I'm not here when the auction ends and I get outbid at the last second. I'm in no hurry for one so I'll get one eventually. It would help if I knew how to pick a good one.

Mary

[gjtoth]

Sorry to hear you were disappointed with your purchase, Gary. I've placed bids on a couple but haven't won any. They are going pretty cheap but I'm not here when the auction ends and I get outbid at the last second. I'm in no hurry for one so I'll get one eventually. It would help if I knew how to pick a good one.

Mary


Mainly, in the head, Mary. I've worked that out and it's fine and quite usable... unlike the one it replaced where simply clicking the shutter button would make it tremble. heheheh :rolleyes:

[dkippen]

Gary -

I'm surpised about the Manfrotto - they're supposed to be one of the best, but if you have a workaround, that would be good.

Mary -

Hope all is well after your dr. appt. It appears you're getting what went south of us. We're just waiting for the cold. Brrrrrrr!!!:eek::eek: I get frustrated too when I call tech support, cust service, etc. and I have to repeat myself 15 times - we have better things to do than while away the time with someone that doesn't understand. As for watching something on Ebay - which goes in spurts, I have the luxury when it's quiet at work that I can watch.

[ladyups]

Gary -

I'm surpised about the Manfrotto - they're supposed to be one of the best, but if you have a workaround, that would be good.

Mary -

Hope all is well after your dr. appt. It appears you're getting what went south of us. We're just waiting for the cold. Brrrrrrr!!!:eek::eek: I get frustrated too when I call tech support, cust service, etc. and I have to repeat myself 15 times - we have better things to do than while away the time with someone that doesn't understand. As for watching something on Ebay - which goes in spurts, I have the luxury when it's quiet at work that I can watch.

Thanks, Debbie,
It was a follow up from a screening I had done. All of me is fantastic except for something they saw on my thyroid that they wanted me to have looked at. Today, they just drew some blood and then scheduled me for an ultra-sound this coming Monday. This is turning into an expensive screening...LOL...not only the doctors visits but the days pay too. We don't have sick days so any time off is unpaid. I try and schedule all my appointments during my vacations but I won't be on vacation until May and didn't think I should put this off that long.

I wish I had the luxury of quiet time at work but that has never happened at my job. We have lighter days but you still have to move pretty fast. Oh to be retired! :D

Mary

[Snappers]

So you have fitted a seperate head to it Gary?

[gjtoth]

So you have fitted a seperate head to it Gary?

Short answer - yes. Long answer - I had to get a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter and put a GOOD head on the Manfrotto cheapie. Doesn't look as bad (or stupid) as it sounds as the good Dynatran head is a good match-in. I'm sure there's a way to actually REMOVE the Manfrotto head. Just haven't had the time (with over 500 slides to convert and the rest of life comin' at me) to do it. I figure it out then, aaaaaaaaahhhh, Nirvana! All will be well with the world (at least for a few minutes :D)