I have seen some reviews on this tripod where they say that something or another is not strong. I would agree. Although, I am happy they did not create this using a lot of heavy metal or it would not be lightweight or compact. Also, if they used a lot of expensive alloys, it would be a lot more expensive. With all the unique set-up options available, I call this a specialty tripod. It gives me the opportunity to create a picture or video that is different than when using a standard tripod. When I used this tripod fully extended and the legs were close together, my 2 pound camera was not stable in a strong wind. But when I put a 20 lb photography weight bag on the provided hook that is at the bottom of the center arm, the tripod became extremely stable. I now store an empty weight bag in this tripod's carry case so when I'm on-site, I can fill it with rocks, sand and even water with the plastic bag I also included. The small provided carry case looks well-made and has a longer carry strap, so is very easy to carry when doing a shoot out of the studio. I really like that I can set the three legs at separate heights and angles and even mount the ball head going down between the legs. There are so many angle options on this tripod, I am thinking that I need to become much more creative to use them all. The provided bubble level works when the head is upright but not when the head is going down. JL MS recommends the K&F Concept 70 inch camera tripod for those who want to become more creative.

Ordered this tripod for... this. Primarily, Vine reviews, but also for casual photography whims. In the past, I've tried to take photographs of products where holding the phone steady was awkward or difficult. A desktop tripod may have been more suitable for some cases, but this works well standing it adjacent to the desk with the ball head slotted so that the phone's lens can be aimed at the desk's surface. Not being a professional photographer, the finer points will certainly be missed. However, on durability, professional experience is not necessary here to realize the limits of plastic components. Notably, the socket that the ball head fits into at the top of the tripod and the joints connecting the vertical shaft to the three legs are likely failure points when the plastic has aged. For my usage, I expect to keep this cool and out of the sun, so I'm not terribly worried about the durability aside from occasional bumps while moving the tripod. Certainly, if I had needs for a tripod to take on long trips where I had little control over the environment, I would be inclined to pay more for something that I felt offered greater durability. At the price point, the critical plastic parts should not be terribly surprising, but deserve mentioning. It's one of the few, arguable, faults that can be found with casual observation. It is versatile and I believe the product description to be accurate regarding its feature set. That is, every knob, screw, extension, or latch on the tripod behaves as I would expect them to. The only feature that seems to come up short is the integrated circular level on the head. It does not appear to be accurate enough to offer substantial guidance. However, this is a conclusion formed without rigorous testing and measurements. A review might be incomplete without some applaud for the panoramic motion offered on the head of the tripod. It is exceptionally smooth, and feels luxurious. For a budget market solution, I'm not sure that it would be expected of a tripod. With some certainty, this appears to be a great product for anyone that wants to explore photography without making a substantial investment or just happens to need a tripod for some brief period.

This is a lightweight tripod that folds into a really small rod once you close all the legs. I think it's perfect for travel, especially if you're backpacking, shooting on-location, or doing site-specific landscape photography. The metal is surprisingly sturdy on the body and should be able to hold the weight of my Canon 5D Mk IV pretty well, so long as no one or wind tips it over! I recommend this for anyone on a budget!

I like this product and that it's made sturdy. I am not sure about the plastic clasp that holds and locks the leg. I have a lot of problems with tripods that are designed like this. I can tell you that if you're looking for a tripod that is reasonable, this is one to go with. This has a ball joint which makes it easier to connect with camera and other devices. This also comes with a smartphone adapter so you don't have to worry about that one. Includes a carry case along with a strap so you can just sling it on your back and carry it.

I'm a very amateur photographer, but I do have a heavy DLSR with a long zoom lens, and I'm often trying to take pictures of birds at full extension, so I wanted to try out a tripod that I could fairly easily take on walks or pack for trips. This tripod seems great so far.

It folds pretty small and comes with a nice carrying case. For casual use at home, I can set it to my preferred height and then invert it to tuck neatly into the corner of my living room for easy access - it stands well on all three legs and the legs lock in place. There are three adjustment segments for height adjustment, plus center pole height adjustment - the maximum height is well above my (5'6") head, and the minimum is low enough for resting on a lower surface if needed. The legs have adjustable angles but not infinitely - there are three or four fixed positions. The instructions are actually incorrect regarding how to open the legs back out - the locking clip on this model needs to be pulled up to disengage, instead of pushing down as they indicate.

The camera screws onto an included plate - the plate comes clipped onto the tripod and is somewhat confusing, but you loosen the plate screw to remove the plate, then attach it to the camera. Otherwise you can't reach the back of the screw to actually tighten it. This is actually a really nice feature because 1) you don't have to spin your camera around to attach it to the tripod, and 2) you can leave the plate attached to the camera even when you aren't using the tripod, and then quickly clip it back on when needed.

The tripod head has a ball level for adjustment, but the camera doesn't actually look level to me when the ball says it's in the right position, so I don't really trust it. It does absolutely help making sure that it's vertical side to side, but my camera lens is definitely pointing somewhat downward, so forward-backward vertical may not be accurate. There is a 360 degree horizontal rotation via the lowest adjustment knob, so once you have your position locked you could take pictures all around and not lose your horizontal line. The second adjustment knob is a full ball rotation, so you can move the camera in any direction in order to pick your position and then lock it there. Both very useful features, and seem to work well. The locking screws do hold tight, even with a very heavy camera setup in place.

There is an extra attachment piece to hold a phone, that then screws vertically onto the tripod. I'm sure that's a nice feature, but I don't think it's a selling point. If you're lugging around a tripod, it's not for your phone pictures.

All in all, excellent tripod. I'm excited to take it on my next birding adventure.

This Lightweight Camera Tripod has all the features of a good tripod and even more. One notable feature of this tripod is that the legs can fold upward instead of inward making the tripod compact and easy to carry on a field trip, hiking or camping. The legs and extension can be adjusted from 18.9 inches up to 70.7 inches. The Ball Head can be adjusted to move the camera in any direction and is capable of a holding capacity of up to 17.6 pounds. I have three cameras, the heaviest one weight 5.6 pounds. The Ball Head has a quick release plate for mounting a camera. Shipped with the package is a convenient storage bag for carrying, or the tripod will fit in a backpack. A cell phone clip is available to attach to the tripod. A sandbag can be attached to the hook for stabilization in a windy environment. The center extension can be removed and used as a monopod.

I like how tall this expands considering how compact it is when folded. The reverse mounting center column and head is a great feature. This should fit in most people's luggage so a good choice for travelers. I was surprised to find there is more plastic than I norally see on good tripods, including a plastic quick release plate. The plastic dies seem very strong, so perhaps it will be fine, and potentially could grip more than the metal style if they lack rubber grip material. I was fighting a metal quick release plate twusting on my metal camera body this week, so even though the plastic first struck me as a cost cutting disadvantage, as long as this lasts over years, then it might not negatively affect functionality.