SLIK Pro 700 DX Tripod Legs - Black

The 700DX is very sturdy, very tall, and relatively light. The overall size of the tripod is quite large, and even though it is light for its size, it's not so light that you'll want to take it on backpacking treks. However, I don't believe you can find a tripod for less than $300 that will provide you with significantly more stability and function.Pros-Tall-Sturdy-Quick shoe system is awesome. I have never used a better tripod quick shoe.-Short center column allows this tripod to get VERY low for its otherwise large frame.-Built-in levels-Premium build qualityCons-Large-Somewhat heavy-The different lengths of the handles can be frustrating if you screw one into the wrong place-The bag is a bit flimsy, but it does the job well enoughI use this tripod for photography, and have used it in just about every position imaginable. It is extremely easy to adjust to suit your needs and the specific shot you're trying to acheive, and its versatile range of heights virtually eliminates the need for any other tripod. I have never noticed any sort of shake or shimmy in any of my shots, even when I am outdoors in high winds, and I have absolute confidence that this tripod will hold my gear steady.I can think of only two reasons why it would make sense to avoid this particular tripod:1. You don't like the panhead (in which case, it's cheap enough that you could probably buy a different head and still come out with some savings vs another tripod of comparable stability and build quality).2. If you need a small, light tripod, this is not the one for you. If I was going to be taking a tripod on 10-mile hikes every other week, I'd probably go for something a bit smaller and carbon fiber, but then you're talking about getting into a whole different price range of tripods.If the two criteria above don't describe you, I would recommend that you buy this product. You won't regret it.

This review is for the SLIK Pro 700DXQ AMT Tripod with 3-Way Pan & Tilt Head. I have been a photographer for a long time and have made do with cheaper and lighter weight tripods over the years. I just stepped up to a nice Sony RX10 Mark 4 camera, which is a little heavier than any of my previous cameras, and wanted a truly nice tripod to match. This unit definitely fits the bill. It is not a lightweight backpackable type although you could carry it with an improvised, over-the-shoulder and head loop sling if you wanted to.This is an extremely well designed and made product with excellent fit and finish. Boy does it feel sturdy. It does not flex and cause your camera to shake nearly as much as cheap tripods when you rest your hand on it to make adjustments or press the shutter. The separate pan and tilt handles are fantastic for adjusting the camera to either landscape or vertical portrait orientation. Despite what other reviewers say, let me assure you that yes indeed, there are two separate bubble levels underneath the head of the tripod that you can use to exactly level your camera.The quick detach adapter is a round puck with the standard 1/4 inch threaded stud that screws into the bottom of your camera. What I particularly like about the adapter is the large wing on the head of the screw that makes it easy to grab and turn on and off without needing a coin or a tool. The puck sits down into the head of the tripod and a very secure lever cam with locking button holds it in place. This arrangement seems very secure yet is easy to release.The legs telescope very smoothly and have very wide paddles with a secure feeling cam action that lock the legs to the length that you want. They open and close quite easily and although they are plastic, they seem to be properly engineered and beefy enough to be able to last a long time. The upper portion of each leg has a tight fitting tube of urethane foam that makes them quite comfortable to grab and keeps your hands from getting chilled in cold weather so you don't have to grab bare metal. The legs have molded rubber feet on their bottoms, that are non-marking and are secure on all surfaces I have tried. There are no sharp points that can be used as on other tripods and I have not missed having them.I am super impressed so far with Slik brand products. I also have their heavy duty monopod which is similarly well made and excellent.