Three Legged Stool

I need to add a tripod to my equipment list, a small one perhaps but sturdy. My current tripod had telescoping legs but the tightening mechanisms cracked and have been replaced by non-telescoping duct tape!

I need to experiment a bit with minimum distance to focus. Taking pictures of my (messy) bookcase doesn’t seem to focus as well. That might be a function of film lens having a narrower field of view on a digital camera. Might also be a function of my eyesight.