In May we are off to Italy, Greece and the Holy Land. Then in August, Alaska. I have been stressing over what camera and lenses to take. Then I remembered. About 30 years ago we went to France, Germany, Switzerland, and England and all I had with me was my Olympus XA2 and came back with hundreds of wonderful photos and slides. And then I remembered a very recent trip to Yosemite loaded with cameras and lenses and spending a lot of time changing lenses, lugging around stuff and seeing more of Yosemite through my finder than with my eyes. I missed a lot. Although I will probably take more than an XA2, I will simplify, simplify, simplify. When did it become so complicated? Serious gear for birding, at the shore, in the woods. Simple gear for vacations.

I have a very good Vanguard TBH Tripod that weighs about 5.3 lbs including the ball head. I'm preparing for a photo tour that includes a couple of days of backpacking and am thinking of something lighter. At first what I saw from Peak Design and others was that for roughly $300 I could get the weight down to 3 pounds. That hardly seemed worth the money. But now I'm seeing that Ulanzi has some options for a lot less money and slightly less than 3 lbs. So now I'm interested. Here's my questions. Does anyone have experience with Ulanzi? And my second question is carbon fiber vs aluminum. Ulanzi Ombra weighs 1.1 Kg and supports 8 Kg of weight. It's aluminum. Their more expensive MT 60 weighs 1.25 Kg and supports 10 Kg. so pretty close to the same payload to weight ratio and the Ombra stands a little higher - meaning it will be more comfortable for me to use without having to extend the center column. So what am I missing? One thing is I would expect the carbon fiber to be more durable. What else?

OK.... I’m a reasonable woodworker with a wood shop. Normally I don’t sell photos but the MDI Photo Club had a show at Birch Bay(retirement community), and at the show somebody wanted to buy one of my 13 x 19 inch photos.

And so, since it was for someone else, Murphy got involved.

First thing I discovered was that my router would not do the job, too much wood to remove.

Then, I discovered that simple cutting the inside with my table saw did not work. I need a dado blade.

Then I discovered that my old table would break the RSV fence off when the bolt glued itself on by rust.

Then I discovered that I needed to cut to the new blade insert.

Then I discovered that I could not glue up the frame without putting a template on the inside where the glass goes to glue the frame against against or it becomes a RHOMBUS, and one side will not be parallel.

And then I discovered that the hardware store will not cut the glass if it's not square.

And then I discovered that if you use gel stain on the wood instead of strictly water based or oil based, it will form a thick solid top if its not sealed tightly (which is hard to do with gel anyhow)and you can’t get the stain out.

And then, I discovered that if you fall on the ice and need six stitches in your head, you will also break the glass and damage the print and get blood over everything.

And then I discovered that the device that puts the little slips of metal to hold the backing on will break the glass AGAIN if you use it wrong.

And then I discovered that mat board is horribly expensive on Amazon, and that I could cut plastic decking to fit, but that it was almost as expensive as mat board.

And then i discovered mat board for 7.50 each.

And then after ordering 15 pieces for $112, that I HAD GIVEN them the wrong inside diameter, and of course thye would not take them back since it was my error.

And then I order new mat board, with a coupon for $101.

And then I discovered that I COULD NOT FIND a way to put the paper backing on, and so the inside of the frame now needs to be stained when it was not before. Along with this I discovered that it's not a good idea to use a staple gun because unless each one is perpendicular and in the middle it will spit the wood on the outside.

I DID DISCO0VER the nice lady who has been waiting at least q week so far longer than I agreed, is not upset, but doe sneed it by Xmas.

She paid $150. But I have already spent close to $300 to make this one frame.

Of course now I know what not to do.