Dolica AX600B250 60-Inch Aluminum Alloy Proline Traveler Edition Tripod with High Performance Ball Head (Black)

Friends, let's face it... some top quality tripods can cost even more than our cameras (or our car payments) and for many of us shutterbugs, their high sticker price can simply go beyond our meager budgets and are often more tripod than many of us actually need most days. So what do we do? Do we save a few bucks and settle for some flimsy piece of junk tripod to hold our precious DSLRs and pristine lenses and prey that they don't fail us at the worst possible moment? Certainly not. That is why I am very happy to introduce you to the amazing Dolica Proline AX series of tripods. In my humble, semi-professional opinion, the Dolica AX620B100 62-Inch Proline Tripod is a great choice for any photography enthusiast looking for a quality tripod that doesn't want to sell their Grandma to pirates to be able to afford an awesome piece of gear that is packed with tons of killer features.After receiving my Dolica Tripod in the mail, I was delighted that it was packaged very well and that was shipped to me insanely fast. Upon opening the box, I was immediately impressed by the included padded carrying case with adjustable shoulder strap with a very durable zipper. It was a great unexpected bonus for me since often I give the cheap carrying cases that come with mail order photo gear to my neighbors dog as a chew toy and buy something that will actually protect my valuable gear. The awesomely squeezable, soft foam leg grips, built-in compass (that actually works) and bubble level are also some very tasty features you might see on other, higher priced tripods and were things that I did not expect to see on a tripod at this price point. The solid, all-metal flip lock that holds the camera to the ball head works very well and is easy to manage, even for a spaz like me. I can pop my camera off the tripod for a quick handheld shot in a flash and pop it back on into its self-locking position in no time. I only wish that I could also attach my new hand strap over the lock mount on the bottom of my camera after I remove it. A bit of a bummer, really. However, the secondary safety lever that prevents accidental release of the mounting lock is one of the Dolica's great features that made me feel quite confident about mounting even my heaviest lens without fear of watching it fall off its seat and bounce down the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.I take my camera backpack on my mountain bike a lot and this tripod has a surprisingly substantial constitution for it's relatively light carrying weight and is easy to take with me wherever I want to go. What's more, it's sleek design doesn't have any sharp edges or pointy parts on it (if you remember to extend the rubber feet, see below) that will poke a hole in my camera bag or through a femoral artery. I have experienced no creeping or sagging whatsoever when I locked everything down well, and it holds my camera in tight position, even in a high wind or on uneven ground. There is even a hook at the bottom of the central post where you can hang something heavy (like a backpack) for extra stability. A thoughtful feature. The Dolica is surprisingly fast to set up with the retractable legs and ball head functioning smoothly and locking securely, making getting ready to shoot at any angle, fast and easy.The three rubber feet are rugged, yet soft and small enough to fit into rocky crags and other tight situations and can be retracted to reveal some solid steel spikes that are great on gravel, sand or grass (be sure to retract these before you stow it away to prevent ripping the carrying case, your camera bag or scratching up your Grandma's nice wood floors). The metal feet are quite sharp and may also come in handy when fending off rabid wolves and hungry bears when shooting deep in the untamed wilderness. Also, it's unlocking leg hinges and movable center post give this tripod the ability to be configured into a surprising array of camera positions for low angle or vertical shooting, another big plus, especially in my small studio. What's more, I am 5'8" and this 62" tripod can be easily raised to my eye level when standing up straight (no more hunching over) while remaining quite stable, even when fully extended. At the same time, this tripod (unlike some of the other 62" tripods I considered) folds down to an incredibly compact size that actually fits inside my waterproof camera backpack without taking up too much valuable storage space. I can't tell you how important that was in my decision to purchase this piece of gear.Overall, I can say to anyone considering this tripod over some of the others available, even some offered at a higher price, that the AX620B100 is fast becoming one of my favorite pieces of gear and I am looking forward to taking it along on many more outdoor adventures and for my indoor studio shoots, as well. Thank you, Dolica, for making a great piece of gear that actually does what it claims to do and more, for a price that most any photographer can afford.

Prior to purchasing this tripod, I was using one of those cheap, flimsy aluminum tripods for my DSLR and it wasn't cutting it. I needed something solid for high quality photos and long exposures and this tripod is SOLID. Here is what I like about this tripod.1- Price: I did a LOT of research before buying this and I must have looked at 200 tripods ranging from $20-$500. For the number of features, and the number of positive reviews this one had, this tripod easily beat out the others. One of the biggest features this tripod has that others in the same price range don't have is the ability to set it up to take macro shots. The set up takes a minute or so but it is not at all difficult.2- Build quality: I've used this tripod in just about every position it can go in and the material quality is fantastic. The leg clamps hold the legs tightly in place. The ball head is solid and easily maneuvered, but stays perfectly when tightened down. Everything extends and retracts fluidly but stays in place well once it is set. All of the components feel like they are high quality. The weakest link I see so far is the plastic on the leg clamps, and even those feel like solid, quality plastic.3- Height: I am 6'0" and I feel like this height is perfect. It can be raised up to a very comfortable level for me. I do not feel like I have to bend over at all to use the camera when it is fully extended.4- Quick disconnect plate: The plate screws in to the bottom of the camera and stays there until you're ready to mount it on the tripod. To connect it you just set the camera on the top of the tripod, press down, and the locking lever snaps into place. Done. When it's time to remove it, you hold town a tab on the locking lever and turn the lever to pop the camera out. It holds the camera snug in place and additional quick release plates are less than $10 (if you have multiple cameras).5- Versatility: This tripod can be adjusted in quite a few ways. It has 3 separate clamps on each leg for extensions. The neck itself can be extended quite a bit (about 1 foot). The angle of each leg can be independently adjusted to 3 different settings. The neck can be turned upside down for macro shots. All these individual adjustments create virtually unlimited configurations for pretty much any shot you can imagine.6- Great misc. features: I wasn't expecting much from the bubble levels but they actually work pretty well and they are very easy to use. It has one single level for both axes so you don't have to balance back and forth between 2 different horizontal levels. The feet can be adjusted to grip the surface with either the plastic feet, or metal spikes. I haven't used the compass much but it is surprisingly fluid and accurate. The counter weight hook is very useful (especially in the wind) and it feels solid. The carrying case feels like a good quality case that will last a long, long time.Cons:1- Folded size: The tripod is a bit bulky, even once it is all folded up, it is about 2' long with the case.2- Weight: The tripod isn't the lightest, but I'm not sure I can really even count this as a con because I know that is why it is so sturdy. Unless the tripod is carbon fiber, it is going to have some weight if it is a solid tripod. Plus 2.5 pounds certainly doesn't qualify as "heavy."3- No monopod function: This isn't a big deal for me, so it wasn't really a factor in purchasing the tripod but it may be for some.If it sounds like I am in love with this tripod, it is because I am. Considering the number of features, build quality, and the price, I'd say it is a great deal.