Review on SUNPAK 620 080 Sunpak Tripod by David Romo

Me: Amateur who just bought an M43 camera (Panasonic G3) and is studying art or photography that involves long exposures that require a tripod. However, I don't have $1,000 to spend on gear and need to max out the value, not premium gear across the board. I felt that the tripod was an accessory I could compromise on, not lenses. Tripod: It pretty much matches the description and rating here. Lots of plastic compared to more expensive tripods and heavier than carbon. However, it gets the job done and I haven't had any issues or concerns about the safety of my relatively light camera. I had an issue for the first few weeks when the camera alignment plastic collar broke - I would have given this review 1 star but the manufacturer sent me a replacement part straight away and I didn't have one. any problems since then. I would be careful not to overtighten the alignment collar, just enough to hold it in place. So I'm not sure that another $100-$200 will make my camera more stable, although I'm sure it will cost more. a lighter tripod and possibly a more versatile head which I don't need at my skill/experience level. I am more than satisfied with this price and can easily upgrade later if necessary. [Update] Ultimately, the plastic parts on this tripod did the trick. Excellent rating but for the price I could give it a 3. I ended up investing $90 in a dolica with lots of metal parts that has served me well and in my case is well spent.