I got the best picture I have ever taken using the monopod part of this sturdy tripod. The picture was a long exposure of a waterfall. This tripod is sturdy but weighs quite a bit for me to pack as a rather small woman. One of the many neat features of this tripod is one leg (it's identified) can be taken off and used with the center piece as a monopod. The monopod I'm willing to tote on a hike. The monopod gave me the stability I needed for get the picture without any shake. It was fairly easy to get the pieces back in place when I returned. This tripod does extend really high which is helpful when shooting over fences such as those put up to keep the public safely back. I like the idea of using this tripod better than taking along a ladder which I've seen some photographers use for abandoned buildings and ruins. Although I haven't made full use of the range of positions this tripod permits, I like its availability. I also like how secure my camera feels on the tripod. This comes with a carrying case so when it's not in use, this tripod doesn't take up much room. My rating is 5 stars because of the sturdiness and I love being able to also use this as a monopod.

I love this tripod ! Very easy to set up and has multiple options of using. Cannot wait to use in the coming weeks

I've been using this tri-pod for about a month and I like it a lot it. It isn't perfect but it works well. Its to large for a travel tripod or a hiking Tripod but with the protective case andhoulder strap I am able to carry it along with me and go to shoot locations. I also found it works great for macrophotography and product photography. Being able to move the tripod main shaft into a perpendicular position I was able to get the perfect straight down shot. It even converts into a mono pod. I haven't used this option yet since I had a decent monopod during my last hiking trip. I misplaced the monopod and I think its a goner. I plan on taking it on my next long trip in the late fall.The ball head screws that tighten down and lock it into place are ok but at the right angel it becomes difficult to hold in place. For large camera and lenses this could be an issue. The screw mount also makes a cracking sound if you tighten it down to much. So be careful.This is a tall and heavy tripod. Its great for windy days or shoot about the crowd's head. At full extension its almost 7 feet tall I think. When all the extensions are extended and stowed away. It uses a screw style locking system. They hold tight and I haven't had them loosen up while in use or transport.If you need a good tripod that can reach over the heads of the crowd, transform into monopod, or need a perpendicular tripod mount, then this is a great option. As always, I will update this review if anything changes.

This tripod has a very sturdy feel to it. All of the knobs are made out of aluminum, so i know that it will not break or fall off. The ballhead is very smooth for when I need to reposition my camera at different angles. I think it also goes to a very good height. It is very compact and easy to bring around. The ability to use it as a monopod is definitely very useful and makes it very versatile. It definitely takes some time to learn how to use and get used to but once you get the hang of it is is very useful. It also comes with a pretty good carrying case which I thought was a nice touch.

The main features of this tripod that set it off from my others are:-Lightweight: Hardly weighs anything so to maneuver it is super easy. Downside is it isn't the most stable when a camera is mounted on it in the offset position. I counter it by having the tripod lean a little away from the camera. Still I wouldn't choose my other heavier tripods for photo work. For video work though i would prefer my heavy tripod.-Versatility and adaptability: From mounting upside down to get close to the ground/floor to offsetting the camera from the base to reach around something this tripod can pretty much do anything. It doesn't take long to switch it up either which is nice. Much easier to do with the camera off the tripod though. The downside is this tripod has no handle so still video only. Photos no worry.-Size: The size goes hand in hand with the versatility and adaptability section but i think it deserves its own section. I am 6’3” and still find myself a lot of times holding the camera over my head to get different angles. This tripod is very tall and now when i need the high angles I have stability too which is nice. That being said it also makes itself small too.Overall I am impressed with this tripod. I was skeptical because of how light it was but it is great. For the price i think you are getting a good quality piece of equipment that will last a good time.

This is one of the most versatile tripods I've used. There are a lot of options for configuring it, from the normal straight up position, to the inverted position (great for macro and close-up photography!). The top section can be positioned at a 90 angle to the main shaft, with a ball in the center, so my camera can be rotated 360 degrees at the end of the arm - this is great for video when I want a nice, smooth pan. Its also great for taking panoramic photos- my camera lines up on the top of tripod and rotates around it, so I can get nice, level shots which are better for stitching into panoramas. One leg is detachable, for use as a monopod, and unlike other ones I've tried, this one actually comes on and off easily!Overall the design is wonderful.The tripod is very lightweight, and it comes in a very rugged carry bag too.I'm quite pleased with this tripod and have already gotten some very good use out of it!

So the first thing standing out is the striking color of some of the details of this otherwise black tripod. That alone is worth a consideration, but looks isn't everything.The first contact with the tripod is to set it up. it folds over to hide the center column and that keeps it compact when stored. Overall, however, that also takes a bit away from the stability. Extend all the skinny legs, and you'll find it to be somewhat shaky. That's nothing a timer for hands-off trigger release can't reduce, but it also makes the camera susceptible to gusty wind or simply walking by on anything other than rock-solid ground.But described stability issue may be an acceptable compromise as this is light and relatively compact. What less expected is how tall this thing can extend between the legs and the center column. The taller the shakier, but still better than trying to take a picture on your tippie toes with your arm extended out. That's about as tall as this thing is or at least feels (depending on your stature). Of course, you need some form of remote for that, so make it a wireless one to prevent vibration of the camera.Another cool feature (in this price range) is the ability to mount the camera off center. You do so by extending the inner tube of the center and turn it 90 degree and lock it there. You have to fully extend the shaft as there are two possible orientations in the head with no in-between, so you have to disengage and put it in the second hole.Overall, it's a cleaver tripod with quite a surprising amount of features for the price, but it comes with the caveat of being somewhat flimsy. For professional work or macro photography, you may want to invest in a sturdier design, especially as lenses then to grow in size and weight. Others should be safe considering this tripod, and if nothing else, it sure is pretty.

I'm a tripod guy - I have at least a dozen. I have compact ones for travel, big rugged ones when I need a heavy duty model, carbon fiber, aluminum and combination. If you use this tripod a few times you'll realize that whomever designed it took the best features from several tripods and combined them here - although they missed a few.So I'll start with the misses. The feet - strictly rubber feet. They can be spun out and removed, but there's no spikes to replace them. Spikes are fantastic for dirt, sand, etc. The feet spin out easily - you'll want to tighten them and leave them all the way in - or I guarantee you'll lose them. The ball pivot. It's straight or at a 45 degree angle. I'd prefer if there were locking options with inbetween angles. You can accomplish these varying angles by changing the length of the tripod legs and adding a weight to stabilize it, so that's kind of a wash. There's no place to stash the included hex key. This can come in really handy, but it's not needed when making a monopod out of the tripod.The legs lock in three fixed positions. This is a feature I have used many times on tripods. Hiking in Utah and shooting from boulders I could angle the legs as needed for a secure perch. The wider the legs, the more stable the tripod, making it exceptionally good for timelapse and long exposure. There's a center column hook for a sandbag - it's pretty light duty though - a steel shaft in a plastic housing with plastic threads. I would not go more than 5 lbs. If you really need weight, open the legs more and use sandbags. I've also used tent stakes with a paracord loop around the feet.All of the dials and knobs are aluminum, not plastic. That's really nice and increases the life of the tripod by years. Plastic knobs eventually break. They snap if bumped too hard. Aluminum bay dent or scratch, but it won't break like plastic.All the hardware (connecting screws, nuts, bolts) are stainless.The included ball head is also darn nice. It has the thicker 3/8-24 thread which is typical for a tripod head. The plate is an Arca-Swiss style sliding plate, and the camera screw has a built-in thumb-catch for hand tightening. No tools (or coins) needed. The plate can be loosened and slid back and forth but will not slide off the head. You need almost two full rotations of the locking knob to fully release the plate. Nice. There's also a built-in bubble level. The ball mechanism sits in a Teflon pocket - so it's smooth.The top of the tripod (where the head attaches) has a reversible screw - 1/4-20 for cameras or 3/8-24 for tripod heads. The top orange collar locks it in place. It's all hand tightened, so it is possible to start spinning off the ball head without realizing it - there's no locking screws to lock the tripod head in place. The best way to attach the head is to remove the dual sided screw and collar. On the tripod head, loosen the big locking dial and move the plate to the 45 degree position (so it's tucked in the notch.) Thread in the tripod mount screw until it stops - it's actually pressing against the ball at this point. Now spin on the orange collar. Loosen the screw 1/2 a turn. Tighten the collar as tight as you can (without tools!) Now spin on the head and tighten. You'll find it's much more difficult to accidentally spin off.Anyway, great tripod, a little on the heavier side when compared to compact or carbon fiber models, but a good choice for all-around use. Plus being able to convert to a monopod in under a minute is really handy.

it works just like advertised. I may buy another.

I upgraded from a basic Manfrotto to the K&F tripod because I was looking for more versatility. While this tripod requires more thoughtful / time consuming set up, the number of positions and configurations it allows for is much greater than other basic tripod for the same price. The orange accents of the aluminum knobs add a very professional look & feel to the rig. It took some practice to figure out how to use all the different functionality (e.g. to fold the tripod down at the large orange ball, pull the bar all the way up first, and then fold downward), but all in all I’m very happy with this purchase. I started thinking of new film shoots (smooth up-down, smooth circular motion, and lower angles ones) I will do on my next project.