While it has a tremendous amount of nice features - especially for the price - it's useless when it doesn't do the most basic thing it is supposed to do... hold a camera.
I paid over $200 for this tripod and it has seen mild and always well cared for use. Until the other day, I would have given this a 5 star review but I had it set up in my garage holding a Canon 7D and 60mm macro. The conditions could have been any better for a tripod.. flat, level, cement floor - indoors, no wind - the rubber feet had great grip - and it wasn't unbalanced or precariously positioned... yet when I was just far enough away to not be able to catch it in time, it collapsed to the floor, lens first. Somewhat fortunately, Canon makes robust gear but the lens is definitely damaged and will never be the same and there is damage to the body of the camera.
The reason? The quick release locks on the leg extensions apparently (and inconspicuously) loosed themselves over time to the point where the "locked" position was just tight enough to give me a chance to walk away. The worst part is they need tools to be tightened. If this happened on a trip or during an event, I would be out of luck. If this is out of convenience, I'd rather be inconvenienced when setting up my tripod and know my gear will be held.
I don't give one star reviews lightly, especially on something that is otherwise as good as this one is, but if I can't trust the product to do the one thing it is supposed to do - especially with so much invested in what it holds - then it is of no use to me.
Maybe I am expecting too much and should just carry tools in my camera bag? That'd be disappointing as well but at least my gear will stand a better chance of not being destroyed.
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