Magnus Aluminum Travel Tripod with Monopod and Arca-Type Ball Head

The tripod is rock solid and easy to use as a tripod. Beyond that, it's not that easy to convert to the monopod configuration. I even quickly skimmed the instructions! That said, I'll probably never use the monopod so it's not a big deal to me.

I love this tripod and head. I use it for webcams for Zoom, smartphones for informal video recording, and my 10x50 binoculars for astronomy. Highly recommended.

Although I'm keeping my trustworthy but clunky, 40-year-old Velbon AEF-3 for use in the studio, I finally replaced it with this Magnus tripod. It's exactly what I was hoping for - light, functional, versatile. I can take it everywhere...well, almost.

Lightweight, adequately tall, with a clever design (one of the 3 legs can be detached and used as a monopod), this travel tripod is so light! Great for studio and content creation work. Outdoors, in windy conditions, I would recommend weighting it down using its center column hook. Its center column is sturdy. I detect no play (the fit and tolerances are excellent). The head is large/ sturdy enough to be used separately on several other types of mounts such as a suction cups or magnet on a car or RAM Mounts solution. It is a clever and good value buy in that sense. It inspires confidence using an APS-C body + even with a heavy lens. The legs spread with a ratchet push-to-release secure releases and are made from 4 sections, 3 of which extend out and clamp in place. The clamps feel faster to use than the twist-to-lock I have used on other tripods. Two of three legs have a foam grip (I usually only see one on other tripods) which is great when handling the tripod in cold temps. The aluminum construction has allowed me to use it in salt water and later hose it down to wash the sand and debris away. I have been strapping it to my Peak Design Everyday Sling (6L) bag and have not needed to use the great carry caae it comes with. Not designed or intended for super heavy rigs but anything smaller/ lighter, it's easy to recommend a solid first tripod or a well intentioned gift for someone with a new-found interest in photography. I don't see why it wouldn't last for many years. Attached are photos from my last use of it at the beach in Southern California. .

I am loving this tripod. It packs up very small and is super light, but still feels sturdy. The ball head is smooth, well built and I like that it is Arca-type. This makes things very easy to adapt and use. I'm super impressed with the flexibility it provides. Can go very high with the legs and center column extended. I mean surprisingly high for a tripod that collapses into such a small package for storage. It also comes with an additional shorter center column to go right virtually on the ground with the camera. It can also be configured in an underslung mode which is very cool. But that's not all, it can also be configured as a monopod! I love this feature. Just unscrew one of the legs, pull out the center column and screw them together. Super easy to do. Having this ability is awesome. The flip-lock joints on the leg sections work well and feel very secure. Another fantastic feature I really like is getting an included storage bag. This is a nice little touch that I appreciate. I love having my tripod and head in a bag to keep it safe. This prevents a bunch of wear and tear especially when traveling or on location. And it's awesome how small this tripod packs up. That's very convenient. Overall this is a fantastic tripod that offers a lot of flexibility for a fantastic price.