I spent a fair bit of time researching and testing tripods before purchasing this one and the Oben AC-1441 tripod hit all of the marks for me.I wanted a unit that would extend to a maximum height which wouldn't require me to constantly bend over or crouch (I'm 6ft); check.I also wanted a tripod that would collapse to a size that was portable so I could bring it with me on hikes, vacation, or just for a day our shooting pictures in the city; check.I didn't want the weight of the tripod to inhibit me from bringing it out and carrying it around and the Oben is very portable; check.Additionally, I wanted stability and a decent max weight load (11lbs for the Oben) so that my Pentax K-3 and 17-50mm f2.8 lens wouldn't move around or fall; check.Of course I could drop ~$200-500+ for another brand (Manfrotto, Giottos, Really Right Stuff), but I'm on a budget and the price of the Oben was spot on.The build quality seems quite good and I've been pleased with its performance over the past few weeks.There are only a few minor cons:The included ball head is single action, so there is not a separate release to simply pan. However, it works well for what it is.The latches on the legs cannot be tightened or loosened with an allen wrench. This also prevents one from taking the legs apart to clean them (which I'd like to do after having the tripod on the beach).In sum: you can't beat the size, weight, stability, load capacity, and accessories (did I mention the carrying bag that's included is surprisingly sturdy and nice) of this tripod at the ~$100 price point. I'd highly recommend this for anyone wanting a decent, sturdy, portable tripod who's also on a budget.Included photo is long exposure night photography on the beach using the Oben AC-1441.