22 lbs capacity the manfrotto 055 gives 15.4 short center column built-in, legs spread independently , solid tripod. I use a manfrotto 808CR4 on it(and a slik SBH-280 ballhead as well) holding a 1Ds MarkII and 70-200 2.8IS with no problem excellent tripod, not for casual shooting around town (it's heavy!)

these legs are very solid, very tall (eye level without extending the center column) i am 5'11 and it comes with a bag, it folds down nicely. there's really nothing i dont like about it.

This is a very solid tripod. It is large, both heavy and long when folded, but it suits my needs. I use this tripod with a Canon 7D and Sigma 150-500 OS and it is rock steady. The weight and folded length may be an issue for someone wanting to hike or fly, so you need to keep that in mind.

Solid, stable legs. You can't beat them for the price. Very good for 90% of my use. I WILL NOT be carrying these legs on the back of my backpack. I'm 6'4 and these are among the only reasonably-priced legs I've found that I could shoot at eye level without extending the center column.

The 700DX Tripod legs are very well built. Able to hold a 40D with long lens. Legs are easy to deploy. Great tripod for the money.

Just got this in today and mounted the Slik 504QF-II Video Fluid Head. The head accepts only a 1/4-20 threaded connection, but the legs shipped with a standard 3/8 connection. I was ticked until I actually read they instructions and saw that the mount is reversable to a 1/4-20 fitting. Once I got it switched, the head works great. I use a 3021N Manfrotto at work and was considering a 055XB, but my personal budget couldn't take the additional costs. Our old Manfrotto is a great tripod, but there are some things I like better about the Slik - cost for one. Another is that the padding on all three legs makes carrying it in cold weather or on your shoulder much more comfortable. Overall, I highly recommend this tripod and will probably buy another soon.

This is a sturdy aluminum tripod with a ton of flexibility to meet just about any situation. I personally really like flip locks on tripod legs since they are so quick and easy to use, and they also make adjusting the legs easy once the tripod is set up. The 2 section center column is easy to adjust and can be inverted for work close to the ground. The padding on the upper legs is a nice touch if you will be shoulder carrying. The 700DX more than meets my needs for spotting scopes or long, heavy zoom lenses. There may be better tripods out there, but for the money the 700DX is hard to beat.

For those who don't like to read long reviews: I really like this tripod. For those that want to know why keep reading. I'm comparing this to my Manfrotto 055 XBPRO legs. The legs on the Slik are a little 'beefier' than the 055 and that translates into just a little more weight but also a very sturdy feel. The leg angle locks on the Slik must be pulled out and then pushed in manually to set the locks where the 055 leg locks are spring loaded. It's not a big deal. The leg warmers on the Slik are longer and SOFTER than the 055 warmers and they are on all 3 legs...very nice! Both tripods are the same height, just right for video cameras. The leg extension locks on the Slik seem a little more robust for a real solid feel when adjusting leg lengths. The Slik has a 2 piece center column which allows the tripod to get very close to the ground. The head mount on the Slik is a little smaller than the 055's and it does not have set screws to secure the head to the legs. That is really my only gripe with these legs. The rating should be 4 1/2 stars because of the small head mount. Overall this is a very nice tripod at a very good price. I use it with a Manfrotto 701 fluid head strictly for video use.

My father is a professional photographer and swears by his Manfrotto 3221 but he was extremely impressed when he checked out my new Slik tripod. This tripod is built with quality. Very stable with Nikon D2X with 70-300mm lens using Bogen 322Rc2 grip ball head or Giottos MH1001-300 ball head. It's not feather light, but I didn't want that considering the $$ amount of equipment my tripod holds up. For half the price of the Manfrotto, this tripod is a steal and worth every penny and then some!