This tripod has the same design features and materials as models from other manufacturers that are twice the price. It's a really good budget choice, especially if you're balancing huge lenses or heavy rigs. It is extremely stable and reaches up to my head height. The inclusion of a leveling dish is very nice. However, there are a few areas where tripod budget comes into play. The leg lock material can be deformed with enough pressure. The leg locking mechanism itself requires full manual control (no fancy latches). Finally, the twist locks on the leg sections just seem cheap. If you can overlook these shortcomings, which were probably necessary in this price range, then you have a very good value tripod that is almost as light as comparable offerings from industry giants.