I went into the BestBuy store at the last minute before my daughters wedding, as my tripod had gone missing! And as I scanned the available product, this one really stood out. And despite the fact that I really only needed the tripod for the day, I still ended up purchasing this one. Being able to compare the products side by side (Best Buy's reason for being!), for quality of construction, materials, fit and finish (I'm an engineer and designer), it was clear to me that this product was the real value! Despite the fact there there were many others on display, and some considerably cheaper, I really appreciate a well designed and made product, so I bought it! :-))) In use it turned out to be exactly what I thought it would be. It's easy to use, the ball joint stays where you put it, everything slides, rotates, and locks where it should! It's a REAL QUALITY product.... So much so in fact, that after using it, I don't care if I ever find my old one! :-))) I'm sure that it's not on par with some professional level models, but it certainly overlaps from high end amature use into the lower professional level products. You certainly won't be sorry if you buy it... I wasn't! Oh, and by the way, the wedding was fantastic! And due to the stability of this tripod (and a nice Canon camera also from BestBuy!), I took some really, really nice stills and video to send to all the guests... For memories to last a life time... Priceless! :-)) Hope this review helps! Brian

Hi, Everybody: When I first saw this tripod on sale in my local Best Buy store, it was $79.99, on sale reduced from $99.99. I knew I had to have it, but I was a bit tight with my budget at that time, so I waited. Over the half year or so before I bought it, I examined it (the display model) many times in the store to ensure its features were what I wanted. In one visit I had one of the sales associates try to completely set it up full-size for me to see if it really did come up all the way to my eyes when I was standing up. I did not want a shorter tripod that would require me to bend over, because some of my cameras have fixed monitors. However, apparently the model on display had one of its legs jammed, and the associate said it was somewhat of a cheap item, and he wouldn't recommend it. Nonetheless, I decided to wait, because for a long time it had been $99.99, and I wanted to see what it would be during the week of Black Friday. When the week of Black Friday finally "rolled around," it was $49.99, and I assure you I "pounced!" To be completely honest, my room is super-crowded with "stuff," so I don't have room to set it up. It is unopened in its box, sitting where it has been since the week of Black Friday, 2016, and we're already in the final days of June, 2017. However, among all the tripods in the store that I carefully examined, this one is really the one with the best ball head for its cost, and it is rated to hold a few pounds or so of camera weight. The only feature I wish it had is a "stick" attached to the ball, so I could move whatever camera I will use by the stick instead of by the camera itself. I feel a stick would allow a steadier, more controlled movement when panning to follow a moving subject with the tripod firmly stable on the ground. I understand that sticks for tripods can be ordered online and attached to tripods, so although that would cost more money, this option may be available to improve the use of the tripod if I understand the products correctly. I plan to eventually get around to unboxing and using my tripod, and I honestly look forward to what I think is a great and exciting product. In addition to video recording moving sports events such as running and cycling races, I also plan to use it to make selfie videos outdoors in remote locations with my cameras more or less at eye or head level. As I said, the ball head is a real plus! Thanks, John

I was shopping for a tripod that was more stable than the entry level budget model that I was using. At first I was not impressed with the Sunpak TravelLite, as the display model was thrashed. I took my chances and purchased one, as the other options were very limited. I have used the tripod 3-4 times weekly during the past 6 months. My only complaint is that one of the rubber feet became detached and was lost. The legs extend by partially turning the four knobs on each leg. The system works great and I find it easier than flipping levers as is customary on many other tripods. The tripod locks the camera steadily in place, allows for the camera to be easily rotated from landscape to portrait view, and the panning adjustment rotates smoothly and locks up tight. If not for the rubber foot coming off one of the legs I would have giving this a 5 star rating.

While I appreciate that many pros like to invest big bucks into a tripod, I use one so seldom it's not worth it to me - I saw this one on sale at BB while picking up something else, and bought it on the spot (thanks for having a display model out, BB - I wouldn't have bought it if you'd only had the boxed ones to look at). Jury's out on how long it will hold up, of course, but feature-wise it's great: lightweight, very adjustable, and the included ball head is a solid and pleasant surprise. Works beautifully with my m43 setup, and I suspect will be fine for my larger Canon rig too if I attach a larger ball head to accommodate heavier long lenses. Easy leg adjustment (I prefer this arrangement to flip levers), and it folds down to next to nothing. Great lightweight and relatively inexpensive addition to my gearbag, and a bargain at the price I paid compared to other similar tripods out there.

I'm not sure if I got a lemon, or if this tripod is simply poorly made. But the ball head broke after only using the tripod for 2 months. It's really unfortunate because I bought it specifically for a 3-month backpacking trip in Central America where I am making a documentary, and it's difficult to replace it while I'm out of the U.S. It also couldn't have been the weight of my camera, because I am using it with a Sony A6300 which is extremely lightweight compared to DSLRs. That being said, I absolutely loved this tripod before it broke. It's extremely lightweight, compact and easy to set up and transport, and the built-in leveler are all great. Unfortunately, none of that matters now because since the ball head broke I can no longer angle the camera or make it level and in trying to apply force to the ball head to pivot the angle of the camera another piece just broke and now the tripod is completely useless.

This is the first real tripod I have owned, so take my review as you will. I have a Nikon D3200 (~1lb), and my heaviest lens (that I used with the tripod) is the Tokina 12-28 f/4 (~1.2lbs). This tripod had no problem with my setup. I bought this tripod to bring along during a Seattle hiking trip. My group and I hiked for 3 days. I got a lot of use out of this tripod. It's very sturdy and adaptable. I was able to prop it up against really anything to get a nice shot. It does come with a gear hook to make it more sturdy. I never had to use it though. I think the only downside is its weight. I could really feel its weight after hiking for a while, and it being attached to my pack. It is not a deal breaker however. The ball head is pretty good for what you are paying, but of course it could be better. That is easy to upgrade. All in all, it does a great job at keeping your camera steady.

Was looking for a sturdy tripod with a ball-head, decent height, and sturdy. This fit the bill. I've used it several times now and although lightweight, it is rock-solid for durability and holds my DSLR with large (600mm) lenses without any slipping or "creep". It's not a "quick" setup tripod, as there are numerous leg sections to extend, but the twist-style locks aren't a problem. My only complaint is if your hands are wet/damp, or the twist-lock mechanisms for each leg section are damp (from dew/moisture/humidity), they can be difficult to get a good grip on - have to use your sleeve as a towel. Other than that, it's a great little tripod and well worth the money. The accessory/weight hook is a great feature as well. It folds down nicely into it's own carry case and folds much smaller than other, cheaper tripods.

Fits in a backpack. Extends out taller than my old Kodak tripod, but it can also go small. No worries about using my Nikon DSLR with this tripod. Though its lightweight, its strong. Easy locking clips for setting leg angle, simple twist locks for extending legs. Folds into itself to make it so portable. Nice carrying pouch too. Wish this was available years ago when I was much more active with my camera and always wishing i had a more portable tripod to bring along. Thanks Best Buy for making this available at such a great price over the holidays. I could not find anything else online that compared to my quality and portability requirements at such a great price.