NEW192

One of the feet was turned wrong had to set straight. Nothing major.

I needed a better tripod than my light-weight travel one for studio work, and this absolutely fits the bill.The storage case is heavy-duty, padded nylon with securing straps inside and a small storage zip pocket for wrenches, extra plates, etc. Outside, there is a large shoulder strap and also carrying handles that secure together with a Velcro flap. This tripod is heavy (about 18 lbs) and the case is 40" long, so it's not ideal to carry on long treks.The feet have dual spikes and removable rubber feet that fit into a ball socket on each leg so they can pivot around. The rubber feet are only good for solid, mostly flat surfaces, and you'll have to use the spikes on carpet, gravel, grass, ice, or non-rigid surfaces.The legs are two-step extensions and don't have any wobble or play at any extension. The tightening nuts secure firmly. From floor to the top of the legs (not including the head), the minimum height of the tripod is 31" and the max is 70". The head adds 5 inches to the height. A mid-level spreader keeps the legs rigidly in position.The half-ball base adjusts by loosening the handle that inserts from the underside, and a bubble level helps you get the head leveled.The head is a "fluid" type . Both the pan and tilt are friction-less and very smooth, but have a fair amount of tension due to the very think grease that's used to lubricate and provide the friction-less movement. The tilt has a spring-loaded counterbalance, preventing your equipment from suddenly shifting and falling. The tension of the spring is static and cannot be changed. Dual tilt-locking knobs let you fine tune the amount of play in your tilt. Range of tilt is a full 90 degrees forward, and about 80 degrees backward. The pan bar can be removed and switched to either side of the head, and set at any desired angle.The mount and plate are Manfrotto 501-compatible, with the standard safety locking pin on the quick release to prevent the plate from accidentally falling off. The plate comes with both 1/4" and 3/8" equipment mounting screws, either of which can be removed.I was pleasantly surprised at the build quality - it's a lot better than I had expected, especially at the price. With rated max load of 15 lbs, it easily supports my DSLR with 70-200mm lens (plus a 2x extender). I'm very happy with it and highly recommend this tripod.

The media could not be loaded.  UPDATED REVIEW(Check out the review below for my initial thoughts)After using this Tripod for a total of 6 events now, I have decided to update by review from a 4 star to a 5 star! Here is why: The only reason I initially rated it a 4 star was because as I said below I thought the build quality could be a bit better, however after using it for many more events now and owning it for months, I believe the build quality is perfect, it has given me 0 issues and it is VERY lightweight, which I can't get over how easy it is to carry around and pop it up. So that is the reason why I have updated it, the quality of this Tripod, the fact that it cost less than $200, and that it is exactly what it is described as, I felt I had to change it. On another note, hopefully the sellers sees this and improves it to make it even better, the next version of the Tripod, give the removable feet a clip-on option to secure it indefinably. I still like the rubber a lot, it makes it very flexible but I've had a foot come off only once which I very easily put back in place so it doesn't take away any stars.I randomly came across this tripod as I was looking for a professional level and heavy duty tripod that wouldn't cost me $800+. I've already used it for 2 full weddings, so I have some useful insight for anyone looking to purchase this tripod. Since my review video is a bit long, I will keep the text short and sweet. This is a VERY GOOD Tripod but an even GREATER Deal (less than $150 bucks at the time I purchased it)! Here are some things I liked about it:-Great quality carrying bag-Lightweight-Very tall (extends up to 74")-Great fluid head, very smooth tilt and panning-Every lock whether on the legs or around the fluid head tightens and locks good, even after I put my body weight on it or tried to jerk to see how good it would tighten-Heavy duty! This fluid head/tripod hold up to 15 lbs!-Can set up (Take out of bag, extend up to 74", level) in a matter of minutes!Things that could be improved:-The tripod is of VERY GOOD quality, I believe the build material could be a little better quality in order to be GREAT. Perhaps fiberglass legs?

I am used to spending several times the prices of this unit on tripods. I took a chance on this unit and am pleasantly surprised with how good it is. The height is amazing, the ball joint is smooth, bubble levellers is a nice touch. The friction release tabs on the legs can be a little awkward. I wish the spreader was detachable so I could use it with my dolly.

While I like it for static video, any rotating movement is jittery. The rubber feet "give" which causes the entire tripod to jiggle ( I found if I hold my foot on the centre support, it's better). I guess I got what I paid for. It's ok. But not great. Definitely do not try to use with a mini slider.