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I purchased my DSLR w/ grip two years ago and purchased this tripod one year ago. This tripod is not top of the line, but it's not a cheaply made entry level gimmick. It's well built and sturdy, extends enough for me to stand straight up while shooting both portrait and landscape (I'm 5'10"), and doesn't weigh a ton.
I just wanted something that would get the job done without breaking the bank. I'm able to go from fully compact to fully extended and locked in about 20 seconds and then back to compact in about 15 seconds (not trying to blaze through it, just average speed). I'm not a professional.
I do a lot of long exposure night shots, so I can take time to get the camera exactly where I want it, though I'm sure with a good ballhead I could get the framing a few seconds faster (though I've heard cheap ballheads tend to slip as they get older). It doesn't have to be the lightest, most compact, most functional tripod on the market; I just need it to work. And it does.It's a very well rounded tripod in my opinion.
It's small enough and light enough to fit perfectly against my Lowepro Flipside 300 Backpack (Black), and I will happily be traveling with it to Guatemala next month for a week of taking pictures.In summary: I'm sure there are quicker locking mechanisms, lighter carbon tubes, more compact legs, and nicer heads on several other nicer tripods, but I enjoy purchasing just what I need and utilizing it to it's full extent. It's a great all around tripod that just gets the job done, and that's exactly what I wanted.I have never felt limited/handicapped in taking pictures by the functions/quality of my tripod.
It feels very well made, is light enough, is easy to use, and feels quite stable. The 785, while much lighter and incredibly compact, felt really flimsy and didn't seem very stable. I debated over this Manfrotto tripod and the 785SHB. The quick release head mount is very useful. I might still purchase it for hiking and whatnot. But for everyday tripod use, the 728 has been a godsend. Saves a lot of time being able to just latch and unlatch my Canon 40d. The plate mount is small enough that it doesn't compromise the overall size and still fits in my camera bag with it on.
I purchased this item at a local camera shop. It looks great and sets up easy but the plastic leg locks have broken on two ocassions, rendering it useless. I took it back twice for repair under the warranty. The third time it broke I said to heck with it and just shelled out a few bucks more to buy a good tripod with metal leg locks.
It is so responsive I can follow a flight of birds with my 20x spotting scope. The case can be carried over the shoulder easily until the unit is needed.
This tripod is great. After being asked to pay an exorbitant fee at the airport to place my old tripod in the hold, I knew I needed something more compact.
It can be set up in almost no time at all. It fits in my check-in bag just fine.
The model is steady and expands enough that even six-footers can use it easily. Light-weight and very mobile.
Very glad I purchased it.
I trusted this tripod with my Canon XHA1, and it didn't let me down. Purchased for a media fam trip to France, it fit perfectly in my camera case. Bungee cords worked well to tie the tripod down to the case when in operation in the field. Tripod setup and adjustment were fast and easy.I put this tripod through a "professional duty" workout, and it performed nicely, much better than the cheaper compact tripods.
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