I needed a cheap tripod that could keep my camera at around head height without falling over.
First Impressions : The tripod looks OK, it does not scream high quality but it does not look like the cheap end either. Its a glossy finish with foam grips on each leg. My impression was "it will do".
So for me the important bit was could it hold my 2KG's worth of camera and my not worry about it toppling, and the answer is yes.
Fully extended the camera ( on the tripod ) is nearly at my eye level ( I am 182 cm ) and the camera is pretty stable, although not rock solid. I generally avoid extending the last section, since it is the thinnest and everything will get a little wobbly when fully extended.
The last segment just look like a good kick would crumple them , but then a good kick would have me worried about other things.
That said I have had it full extended and walked away with only minor worry of everything falling.
If there was any sort of wind I would probably not walk away.
It has some nice little features like the bottom pads can be screwed in to reveal little studs that can be embedded into the ground for a little extra grip. If you indoors simply screw the pads down and the studs disappear. I like that.
There is the usual hook to hang some ballast off of.
The central piping can be removed and reversed if you want upside down shots, and the piping is in 2 sections if you wish to reduce the amount is can be extended.
The legs are lock in place by clips, and they work well so no complaints. Personally I prefer the screw tighteners but this is a cheap, functional tripod and I am not going to get fussy now.
The head is the usual ball head and is not my favourite. The base piece locks in with the lever snapping into place and then a small brass lock double locking for security. This is a nice feature to have and helps ensure you do not accidentally unlock the camera while not paying attention.
The one hassle I have is that the base when locked in is not locked in tightly, there is a fair bit of play. This means that if I have the camera at an angle or sideways I need to compensate for the wiggle room when making adjustments ( so a bit of guessing is required ).
The ball head adjustments also tend to be a little stiff to work with and any micro adjustments can be a process to get right, especially since the head is not 100% tight ( although it is secure ).
For the price I paid ( around £30 in 2013), I reckon I am getting my fair values worth. It is not a great tripod. It will not handle being thrown down a set of stairs very well. It will however hold you camera in place while you take a picture.
If you want a steadier tripod or better build spend more money, it really is that simple.
UPDATE : 1 1/2 years after purchase.
This tripod is still going well and holding together nicely. I will not I have reduced the star rating from 4 to 3 since I do not believe this tripod is a £50+ tripod, at the £30-£40 mark it is definitely worth considering, any more than that and you have better options at this price range.
I still like my tripod though.
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