Avella VH501 Video Tripod System,72 inch Professional Heavy Duty Aluminum Tripod, with Detachable Fluid Drag Pan Tilt Head

Really nice tripod with very fluid adjustable video head at a very attractive price point. Comparable to Manfrotto.Comes with a spare camera plate (which is compatible with lots of other designs)! Fairly heavy, thus sturdy and stable, yet portable and easy to carry. Has a bubble level and an extremely convenient half-ball levelling control. No adjustment of leg clasps tension was needed - they worked perfectly right out of the box. Been using it for 2 years and can't imagine going to a show without it now.I only have 2 things to note (worth maybe half a star):1. If you have tripod at full height, the handle doesn't extend far enough to be conveniently used from sitting position. Would be great if it was at least 10 cm longer.2. The handles on the bag are offset to one side (while the load weight is balanced and thus centered), making it awkward to carry - see photos.

I have to say it took a lot of thought and studying the reviews of these before pulling the trigger on my need for two of them, but I did and they seem really a decent bargain for how much they will be used. I have some Manfrottos that are a similar form factor, but they were quite a bit more money (double? triple?) and have held up OK and I have hopes for these as well. These get taller than my Manfrottos, too.I didn't see any of the problems that other reviewers have reported.A huge bonus to me is that they came in what seem to be decent quality carrying bags, and each on had two quick-release plates with them. The hugeness of the bonus is that the plates also fit my Manfrotto stands/heads, so it won't matter which camera has which plate. I very much appreciate that.The one weak-seeming part to me is the way the handle attaches to the head does not seem to tighten very tight on the handle, making it easy to rotate when it should be solid. I think I'll be able to figure something out for that, and these will mostly be for assistants to use, so I'll only be vicariously aggravated if they do rotate. Some applications won't need to use the handles.I like them so far.

Great tripod, amazing quality for the price. I teach film/video production and I need tripods that can stand up to student abuse. This tripod is amazing; well built, easy to use, easy to level and really sturdy. The carrying case is great and the fact that it comes with two mounting plates is a real bonus. I now have four of them and they are awesome. These are not ultra light but I want a tripod to be a solid base and a little bit of extra weight is actually a plus.

The tripod is lightweight, seems durable, and operates well. Panning and tilting is smooth. The hydraulic head is removeable which is great for using high hats and dolly's. We did have one issue, the back of the flip locks needed tightening after using it over the weekend. So far, we really like this tripod!!!

***Mind the tension settings (see photo) on the leg locks, esp the lower legs that you don't use in most situations. A Torx 15 wrench fits them and they are not adjusted when you get them, so the locks can slip if you haven't set them up properly. It's easy to do, but there isn't a wrench included.***I got this tripod to use with a Lumix GH5ii mirrorless camera rig and it is the right size and weight for that. It extends to about 72" in two leg sections and is sturdy and with its flip locks on the legs set up is quick. The ball-leveling head (with bubble level, but no light) adjusts and locks quickly and the pan and tilt work but drag is not adjustable and is set to match a small camera. There's a lock off on both pan and tilt. Overall, I'd recommend this tripod and head for mirrorless cameras or small camcorders up to 5 lbs.

I was on the hunt for a really good tripod that wouldn't break the bank. I had previously bought an Avella Monopod and have so far really enjoyed using that one as well. I am so happy with this purchase. From the quality of the carry bag to the functionality and versatility of the fluid head (with half-dome bowl) - I just can't recommend this tripod enough. This tripod is a fraction of the cost to something like a Manfrotto, but it looks and feels like a really high-quality product. I already have two more in my cart and waiting for some additional funds to roll in so I can pull the trigger and replace my other two cheapo tripods.

This is a high quality tripod that is very stable and comes in a thick carrying case. Goes great with my binoculars

It's not Manfrotto but it doesn't have to be at 1/5th the cost.I'd take 5 of these over 1 Manfrotto any day... oh wait, I have.Had one arrive over-tight and the Pan-head jumped a bit every 10th of a rotation but this was easily fixed by loosening the screw a bit.I do a lot of multi-cam broadcast and my gear tends to get beat up by operators of variable experience levels. With a bit of maintenance from time to time even my oldest Avella 501 is still working fine. The cross brace is a bit flimsy and you have to watch for lost screws there... that's my only real complaint.