I only gave this tripod a four-star rating because so far I've only used it one time. On the whole, my first experience was positive.

The vanguard Altra pro 263AT Aluminum Tripod more than meets my exportations. It is strong, durable and priced wright. I would recommend it to the members of hour photo club.

I owned a 8" schmitt, and a 102mm mustav. After a time, I sold them both. Coupled with a tripod, these "Giants" provide easier viewing of night sky and daylight terra views. Ease of set-up, portability and other factors make binos a great alternative, you may end up using more often, and for longer periods. Living in Maui, with available dark, clear skies, offers larger vistas of the milkyway even in winter. I can get a big view of already familiar skies.One negative...just to be realistic. Binos on a camera tripod, though convenient for terra views, are difficult to view overhead objects, due to mechanical design constraints. The closer sky objects are to the horizon, the easier the head-tilt angle.It makes sense why astro teles and binos have 90-45 degree eye pieces.Nevertheless, I anticipate I'll use these not only for myself, but to show friends the sky, and the earth more than I ever did before.

This came with SO many things and so far everything has been very useful. The item I use the most is the little tripod- definitely loving the case it come with.

Really impressed so far with this product. It works as advertised. Great to have my camera available but not occupying a hand, especially when hiking or scrambling on steep trails. I had on a moderately sized lens and it didn't alter my arm swing or anything like that. Much more comfortable than any other option I've tried.Fits securely on the two packs with which I've tried it (Gregory Zulu 30 and Z65), without getting in the way of the sternum strap. It takes some playing to get the strap in and the clip base closed but not more than a minute or so. Once the camera is clipped in, I don't worry about it falling out.The hardware seems sturdy and not cheap. It seems like, too often, fastener threads are seen as an opportunity to cut cost, but happily not on this product. I have not had any issue with them backing out so far, either.The cost is on the high side but it is a hunk of metal, and that isn't particularly cheap anymore, either. The machining and finish are very nice and the few parts that move do so freely. And again, the fasteners are good quality. This isn't a disposable piece of gear.Cons: the hex wrench needed to remove the plate is begging to be unfindable or in another backpack if/when I need to tighten the plate during a hike. That said, I don't see how else one could get enough torque on that bolt to ensure it doesn't back out WHILE keeping the bolt's profile low enough to not interfere with the holster when clipping it in. So the wrench is probably the best solution, despite that annoyance. I will probably just buy a handful of wrenches and stash them in every pack I might use.The standard plate's inability to accommodate a tripod mount is slightly more irritating than I thought it would be but I knew that going in. If you use a tripod more than once every couple of weeks, it may get tiresome. Shelling out for the other plate that is tripod compatible would be worth it in that case.

I Purchased the Celestron Travel Scope 70 Telescope for travel and remote Photo shoots with myself and Husband. With the stats reading 400 focal length We also knew it would take the place of a "Focal Reducer" for Moon and Sun shots (full view) and provide wonderful wide field vista shots as well. Our expectations have been exceeded. Yes, the Scope comes with a standard Camera tripod, which wobbles. Though by adding about 5 pounds of weight,(rocks, etc.) to the tripod (sling the pack under the tripod frame hanging under the center) It stabilizes nicely. We used this Scope just yesterday to Photo Shoot the Venus Transit across the Sun on a computerized mount with Excellent results! The finder scope is touchy, though all of them are, (and upside down) unless you wish to pay $60.00 just for a right side up finder scope. One can "add on" to this little Scope later. The Eye Pieces are of Kellners design; (A Celestron favorite to "package" with Scopes), and are of Quality Craftsmanship. The Service was in fact Outstanding, with the Package at my door three days after opening. Can't go wrong with this Scope for It has many Practical uses when "there's nothing to see in the sky". Take a Road Trip and a Camera, you'll get some great Tele Photo views!

Excellent product, definitely get what you get for! Highly recommended!!

My video cam is old and heavy. Walking around with it at a concert risks lots of shaky clips. Not with this clever rolling stock, which adjusts to fit your tripod. Yeah!