Sunpak 9002DX Tripod with 3-Way Quick-Release Pan Head

This tripod is looking cheap. And the joints are not that good. It is s bit difficult to smoothly turn.

Mine arrived with the ball head broken off. The packing was awful, but that even wasn't the mail reason - the inner Sunpak box was barely deformed. I truly understand that I shouldn't have expected much for 29 bucks, but I expected it at least not to fall apart. The overall quality was very bad as well, the whole thing wobbled too much. And this model does not come with the carrying case. Shortly after I returned it I accidentally came across a similar quality level no-name tripod in Ross, but there were three key differences. First, it costed $5.99 (that is - six bucks) - a fair price for this. Second, it was WAY more stable and sturdy and did not break down so far (couple weeks since I bought it). And third - it came with a nylon case. It is still a very cheap and low quality tripod, but unlike this one, it works, and it costs 1/5th of its price. Hope this helps to make a decision.

Works well, although doesn't exactly have the smoothest movement in the world. Best suited for still photography or video where the camera won't need to be moved. The carrying handle is hard to grasp, as the legs get in the way when closed -- so the handle is really only helpful when repositioning it with the legs open. The nice bonus is the extra quick release head, so if you have 2 cameras (or lose a head), you'll have a spare!

At first I got to admit I was a little skeptical about what kind of quality I would get for the price, yet upon arrival and after taking it on a test, the SUNPAK 9002DX really impressed me. The plastic parts that it is buit from do not seem to be the highest quality but it does not look cheap. The aluminu legs are thick and sturdy. One good feature is that its got the hook at the bottom of the middle rod, to hang you camera bag of backpack from. Overall, it is definitely a great buy if you are not a professional photographer and if you are just looking for something that looks and feels well without having to dig deep into your wallet.

Firstly, the shipping was super-fast, I ordered this item on the 16th and it arrived on the 18th! I initially bought this tripod from circuit city (labeled there as the Sunpak 6464) for almost $55. Although I loved the tripod over my older and flimsier Samsonite, I still felt it was over priced, but once I saw this tripod on Amazon for half price and I realized its the same tripod with a different model number. So I immediately bought it. The tripod has some nice features:

Pros:
1. Two quick release plates
2. Bubble levels on plate and body
3. Versatile height adjustment, pan and tilt controls
4. Quite sturdy (for medium DSLRs, won't be effective for large telephotos)
5. Includes weight hook
6. Includes carrying handle.

Cons:
1. Quick release plate isn't small enough to leave attached on the camera.
2. No easy way to secure the legs together when the tripod is folded.
3. Carrying handle not well positioned.

Overall the pros outweigh the cons and I recommend this tripod for any amateur to semi professional users.