Manfrotto 728B Digi Compact Tripod with Integrated 3-Way Head and Carrying Bag (Black)

After being asked to pay an exorbitant fee at the airport to place my old tripod in the hold, I knew I needed something more compact. This tripod is great. It fits in my check-in bag just fine. The model is steady and expands enough that even six-footers can use it easily. It can be set up in almost no time at all. The case can be carried over the shoulder easily until the unit is needed. Light-weight and very mobile. It is so responsive I can follow a flight of birds with my 20x spotting scope. Very glad I purchased it.

I trusted this tripod with my Canon XHA1, and it didn't let me down. Purchased for a media fam trip to France, it fit perfectly in my camera case. Bungee cords worked well to tie the tripod down to the case when in operation in the field. Tripod setup and adjustment were fast and easy.

I put this tripod through a "professional duty" workout, and it performed nicely, much better than the cheaper compact tripods.

This tripod is absolutely perfect in every attribute that counts. It is easily adjustable, quickly deployed, light-weight, sturdy, and built to last. I use this tripod with a Nikon D60, and even with a 55-200mm lens it doesn't feel the slightest bit wobbly/stressed. I take this tripod with me when I go hiking in the mountains because it is compact and lightweight and fits in my backpack, and the angled rubber feet ensure that it won't slip/slide/move on rocky or muddy terrain. The carrying case that it comes with is nice enough for storage and transport.

I have had this tripod for about 2 months now and so far it has been great. It was a huge upgrade from my old one. It's sturdy, fairly light weight, easy to use and easy to transport. It doesn't have a ball head but it is much less expensive than buying a tripod and then a ball head separately. It is sturdy enough to hold even a relatively heavy camera without much if any camera shake. I myself have not experienced any camera shake. I do a lot of hiking, and climbing and this tripod has never weighed me down. It also it fairly tall. I'm six feet tall and at the tripod's highest point my camera sits at eye level for me. Even when it's not at it's highest it's not uncomfortable to use. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good tripod at a relatively good price.

Since I take mostly landscape photographs, I don't like dealing with heavy tripods. I hike extensively and go on lengthly backpacking trips. This is an excellent alternative to the heavy Bogen/Manfrotto tripods, without sacrificing quality. I'm really impressed with the construction, and I've had no trouble with the head (smooth and easy to operate). The legs are strong and withstand decent stream/river currents without shaking. Each leg operates separately, so propping up your camera in uneven terrain is a cinch. I'm a huge fan of this tripod, and look forward to many years of hard use.