I bought this tripod for a couple of events shooting video and stills. Did not want to go cheap as I need it to withstand travelling and being thrown about/bumped into, but did not want to spend a fortune as it will be thrown about and bumped into!! I chose this one as it is tall, so I can shoot above the heads of a crowd if needed and also has a detachable monopod.First impressions when it arrived was how solid it felt, not very heavy but more solid. The bag that comes with it is really well made, it is not just a thin cheaply made freebie, but a good quality storage bag with a comfortable strap.I noticed how smooth the legs unfolded and the center column rises and falls, the engineering is good and everything is tight and positively locks in place.Two of the best features that you don’t see on many tripods are that you can lock the ball head, but has a separate screw that loosens to let you pan, and also the way the center column can be changed to horizontal. I did this and it gives a better and smoother pan (more control for video), also good for landscape photography when creating a panorama.I am 6’3” (190cm) tall and even when I stand on my toes I cannot see through the viewfinder when fully extended, it is a tall tripod!! It closes up to a really compact size, the center column inverts so the camera can be placed almost on the floor if needed.The only negative I have is that the instructions are very basic. It gives the use, setup and warnings but there is another small tube and screw that I have worked out is used when changing to monopod. It is not a big issue and can easily be worked out, but with the quality and detail in the rest of the product I think that this could be better.The most important thing is that I feel confident putting my expensive camera and lens on this tripod without any worries. I would definitely replace it with the same model if this one was stolen.One very happy customer!!