SLIK Pro 700 DX Tripod Legs - Black

After reading all of the reviews of this tripod and others like it, some more expensive, some less, I decided to buy the Slik Pro 700DX. My reasoning, for what I know of what I need for doing photography, mostly HDR, I need a steady platform.I read up on some lighter tripods, even the ultra expensive carbon fiber tripods, and even some of the light weight aluminum tripods, much like the one that I had before buying the Slik tripod. What I can say from experience, is that if you are a photographer, or wanting to become a photographer, having a tripod that minimizes vibrations, and shaking is very important, so when I read all of the complaints about this tripod being too heavy, I knew this was the right one! A heavier tripod greatly reduces vibrations, movement, and excess play, giving you the crisp, steady shots that come out beautiful, especially when using your auto bracketing function. When taking several shots of the same object at different exposures, it is imperative that your camera does not move, to ensure that you get the same frame in every shot. This Slik tripod, and its extra weight that the other weaklings complain about, does exactly that, it gives you the heavier base for ultra steady shots! Couple this tripod with a remote trigger, and you have the makings of a beautiful set up. Since I have received my Slik tripod I have used it exclusively, leaving my more expensive lighter weight tripod in its bag in the corner. Light weight is overrated! This may be just my opinion, however I am sure their are other experienced photographers out there that agree, you will see other tripods that look better because they come with other gadgets, like one I saw recently that had a compass on it. Don't be fooled! The extra gizmos are just a poor attempt at boosting sales, for instance why would you need a compass? Are you going to do a composition titled, northerly photos? Give me a break! All you need is a solid, steady tripod, one with decent height adjustment, like this slik, bubble levels to make sure you are horizontal when the shot calls for it, and the ability to be able to invert your camera angles for macro shots, all of the functions this tripod has! Eventually you may find that you want a different head, but unless you plan on doing moving shots at football games, the 3-way pan tilt head on this tripod is good enough! 99% of the time you will frame your shot, then take it, it's not necessary to have super fluid ball heads, and all the other gimmicks that will cost you an extra 3-500 dollars. Save your money for the important things like lenses, ultra fast CF cards, lighting equipment, etc... One other thing, I also saw several negative comments about the locking mechanism that holds the camera in place, some saying they didn't feel it is secure enough, trust me when I say the locking mechanism on this tripod is top notch! I lock my camera in and then grab the camera with both hands and lift it up with the tripod, and there is no wiggle room or slippage, I also do macros with the camera almost completely inverted, and have had no issues. The locking mechanism for the legs is top notch as well, they are not cheap plastic, and to the guy who claimed he felt like they would easily break, you would have to do something really stupid to break them! It would take a lot to break the locking tabs on the legs, I mean unnecessary carelessness, and roughness. Any photographer that knows what they are doing is going to take care of their equipment, no matter how much they paid for it. Take care of your equipment, and your equipment will take care of you when it is time to take that award winning shot! I highly recommend this tripod, and for those new to photography who are looking for their first quality tripod, you will not find a better tripod for this low price! Trust me I have looked. I found absolutely no negative qualities for this tripod, it is the perfect tool for the job!

This tripod is without a doubt one of the finer tripods I've ever had the pleasure of using. Although its not suited for large format photography: I'd say any camera under 3 lbs and most lenses that aren't either really long or really heavy, will work perfectly. Unless I am trekking across rough terrain or long distances, I love the weight. If I need to climb a mountain to take a picture, I would consider taking another tripod. But the weight adds an insane amount of stability for HDR photography. You can search youtube for a video I've posted with a D200 and a 500mm lens (search "D200 penny test"); in the video, I place a penny on the barrel of the lens and snap a few pictures. The tripod is so heavy, the penny does not fall with multiple slaps of the mirror. Albeit its not a medium format camera, this does attest to the stability of the platform. The feet on the tripod are ball-joint hinged feet, with a bit of rubber grip. I shot in sand, and the tripod held well enough. I've shot on tile floor, and saw no slip. The legs extend to what I would say is "too far", but that's not a complaint. You simply don't have to extend the legs all of the way. I haven't used the tripod for shooting on a steep slope yet, but I am sure the excessively long legs will serve well. The head can pan, tilt, and shoot in portrait/landscape with incredible ease. The locking of the movements is quite sturdy, but in landscape I have seen some downward drift with a heavy lens. I've seen complaints with other tripods that screws are missing or loose, none of that applies with this item. The build is incredibly solid; most of the parts are aluminum, cast, stainless, or tough feeling plastic. The only part not of the previous materials is the foam padding at the top of the legs. This is nice, as cold weather and aluminum can be uncomfortable to handle. Included instructions say not to carry a camera on the tripod (like a hobo), but I feel completely comfortable doing so. The ONLY complain I have: it is a bit of a hassle to remove the pan head and invert the apparatus to the bottom of the tripod. I have yet to need to do so, but may in the future. This complaint is a two-sided coin: the extra effort required to remove the head also shows the solid build.If this tripod is ever lost or stolen, I will replace it with the exact same model.*update, 5 years in*This is still an amazing heavy duty tool. Nothing has worn out, it's still doing all I need. My only complaint: The carrying case is not easy to carry. A single adjustable strap would be much better so it could be worn across the chest. It's heavy, but heavier when you can't "wear it".