GEEKOTO Carbon Fiber Tripod Monopod 62" with 360° Ball Head, Aluminum Quick Release Plate DSLR Camera, Video Camcorder, Compact, Capable Beautiful Tripod(CT25 Recorder)

I used this tripod for three weeks during the wildflower season trip and then on a two week tropical trip in May and I have to say it beats the other four tripods I have used before in the $100 to $200 range for the following reasons:None of my previous tripods was as steady; two were slightly lighter tripods but not as steady. This was able to hold my Canon 5Ds and a 75-200 mm telephoto lens in a vertical shot aimed at the sky (with camera turned 90 degrees) without any sliding down. I actually think this exceeds the weight limit they list for it; the 5Ds and the telephoto lens would not even move when I put my hand on the lens to make focus or zoom adjustment. So I would call this the most steady travel tripod I have ever used for under $200.The turn knobs that hold the leg sections in place worked reliably; you need not tighten them too hard; they will hold in position.The carbon fiber material is the way to go if you plan to take pictures near or in water. Also, this must be the most attractive tripod I have used, shipped in a nice bag to travel with.Finally I want to comment on their customer service. It seems that my kit did not come with a small piece that keeps the center column of this tripod attached to the lower tri-leg assembly. So I had to raise the center column slowly so it would not pull out of the lower section. The tripod worked so well that I used it for three weeks like that and I was going to live with what I thought was a small flaw. But then I decided to write to them and see if this was a flaw or just the way it worked. They asked for a video to show them what I meant. I shot a short video and sent it to them. I got a reply the next day with an apology and a promise to ship me a replacement, which I did not expect at all. I had hoped for perhaps a missing piece at best. I got the replacement tripod before my second trip and I have to say it is now perfect. So, on top of being an excellent travel product, you should know they really do try to make you happy and if there is an issue they will do their best to make you a happy customer. Good value, great product and excellent customer service.

I'm a professional photographer who's owned many tripods over the years. I must admit that I was skeptical at first about purchasing this tripod. When I research something to buy online I usually stay away from the lesser known brands because 9 out of 10 times you're left disappointed. Its either cheaply made or doesn't quite look like the picture that's posted of it. In this case however, the tripod was more than I could have hoped for. Its very high quality... in fact I challenge you to find a better made tripod, with all the features, quality build and made from carbon fiber, that's even close to this price point. Just about everything about this tripod is done to a level that would make a professional photographer feel confident about using. It comes with a velvet pouch that covers the ball head and a nice case that fits perfectly. The legs are solid, fit nicely, slide smoothly and the lock collars only need a half twist to tighten and a half twist to loosen, so it sets up really fast and breaks down just as fast. Its super light and compact and the ball head holds my Nikon D810 with a battery pack and the Nikon 70-200 zoom with no drift! It's as good as any ball head I've ever owned. There's no need to have to strip the skin off your fingers tightening it, like with other ball heads I've used. In fact, I like this tripod so much that I regret purchasing my Manfrotto 190XPRO! The Manfrotto cost more, weighs more, is more difficult to set up and break down, and on top of all that it didn't even come with a head. Not that I'm slamming Manfrotto, they make some really good stuff. I'm just trying to give a point of reference. My brother owns the Manfrotto MKBFRC4-BH Befree Carbon Fiber Tripod and we've compared it to the Geekoto and found that the Geekoto was more solid, the ball head held the heavy gear in place better, it had more features, was about as light and it cost almost $100 dollars less! I'm not surprised that 92% of the reviews for the Geekoto are 5 stars. If you're looking for a lightweight, professional level, high quality, travel tripod that can actually hold professional level gear, do yourself a favor and buy this thing! It's easily one of if not the best online purchase I've made.

The media could not be loaded.  I'm a filmmaker and have had this tripod for about a month. I've been using Manfrotto and Gorilla tripods for the last few years, and am very surprised at how nice this is for its price. The equivalent price point for Manfrottos won't get you ball heads and carbon fiber. This tripod is lightweight, has an exceptional build quality, and is easy to use. I've never had my camera fall out of this tripod like it has from my old Manfrotto countless times, and despite not having quick release latches, it's amazing how fast you can open this thing up and get going. It's 3 main setups allow you to get any angle without much hassle. This is about as close as you can get to serious production quality without dropping 500$+ on studio tripods. I would recommend it to any filmmaker or even casual photographers.

I really love this tripod for all of its versatility and lightweight manner. It has done a great job when I needed it. The only problem that I have run into is the locking method. There are so many locks for each sections of leg, which is awesome! But when you are trying to make fine adjustments, or have to get a bunch of angles and heights, I had to unlock and lock often. The locking devices are simple to use, but are rough on your hands after a lot of use. I walked away from the day with blisters at the base of each of my thumbs. I think a snapping device would be better, but I still am happy with the product.