Zomei Z888C Ball Head Compact and Carbon Fiber Tripod for Camera - Silver

I ordered this, and planned to put on an ARCA SWISS P0 head on it, with a top bracket from a different manufacturer. I ended up returning everything with the exception of this tripod--which I love. I still plan on replacing the ball head with an ARCA SWISS P0, with the ARCA SWISS combo top plate. While that P0 is expensive, it works way better than this ball head. I'll be selling this ball head on eBay. If I find I need another ball head, I'll stick with the P0. Once you use a high quality product like that you can't go back to the typical crap ball head most people sell.As for the rest of this tripod. I think it is fantastic. The legs and locking mechanisms are fine. Be sure you tighten them down properly. My older tripod has clamp levers which I prefer, but I'm ok with the twist lock on this tripod. This model is slightly heavier, but taller than the cheaper ZOMEI models.I don't care about the monopod option. I have a separate monopod. I think it might break if you switch back and forth too much. I want a tripod to be a tripod. This serves well. The leg can adjust in a number of ways at several angle. There is a hook for a weight at the bottom which must be removed to mount a camera on thsat end. Also included was a short aluminum extension with a 3/8' stud, for lengthening the center support I suppose--I may toss that out. The manual that came with it does not explain what it was for, but it matches the carbon fiber center support. Note this center support does not tilt over like some tripods do.The case is very nice. There is also a pouch for the ball head to help keep it clean. I like the attention to deail. Having a case covers up what it is, and if onlookers won't get a hint you have expensive camera gear.There are two plastic D-rings and a removable shoulder strap. Hint: You can secure this to a camera bag or backpack. Mine is black so it looks like it was meant to go together, or you can keep is separate when you want to travel lighter.I would give it 6 stars if I could. It is one of the nicest products out there. The price is good too. Compare this to other brands costing four times the price. I easily could afford to buy the ARCA SWISS P0 ball head and this tripod for the cost of a bare set of Gitzmo carbon legs.Ball Head: A few more words about the included head. It is ARCA SWISS plate compatible, using a thumbscrew. The thumb screw can be loosened but won't fall off--it will only back off so far. There is a release button to adjust and remove the included plate once the thumb screw is loosened. There are two bubble levels--one on the side and one in the thumb screw. That means you can only level in one horizontal plane. The level in the thumb screw might still require adjusting the legs--a major PITA. I give the spirit levels a C- as they are not particularly useful, compared with the P0 head which has one bubble level, fast and easy to use.Final Thoughts. There is a cheaper alloy leg version that had a panning ball head. I may buy that for home use, although I'd like to have a better quality fluid head. I considered buying both, swapping the head and selling the alloy tripod with the head that comes on this one, but ultimately decided to stick with the P0 head.Weight. I did not weigh it, I will do that and update it later on, both before and after I install the ARCA SWISS P0 head. Simply, it is a pretty light combo, and I hope the P0 ball head shaves off a few ounces. It's the sort of tripod you can travel with, or hike up a mountain, and take it places you can use it where a heavy tripod would be left behind.Update. The top bracket on the ball head has a quick release button with a pin that rises and falls to lock in the plate. My pin is stuck in the down position. I am reducing my rating to 4 stars. This is annoying like getting a raspberry seed stuck between your teeth. I was planning on selling this item to reduce the cost of the ARCA SWISS P0 I put on this tripod. I have tried for two days to free up. Nothing works.

UPDATE: Zomei customer service came thru for me, and provided me with the parts to make a repair. The tripod is fully functional, and provides a steady, secure mount in pretty much any position you could possibly need! A very good value for a solid performer- and good to see a company provide service persistent enough to get the fix made.**Seemed to be decent quality, but then the center post wouldn't slide positions. I took off the locking collar to examine, and the plastic inner sleeve came off with the threaded collar. I re-installed the pieces, but now it won't work properly; either it locks & won't change height or it won't tighten down to lock position. Tried to return to amazon, but because it was a christmas gift it was only returnable until end of Jan. Still have not been able to get contact with zomei customer service for replacement part or guidance on how to repair. HELP!!!!??

I'm a professional real estate photographer.. I read tons of reviews, this one had a great review and I bought one of the most expensive tripods they have. I have had this tripod for over a month now and have used it for real estate photo shoots. I bought it with a d810at the same time so I needed a fairly heavy duty tripod since it will have large wide angle lenses on it. I have about a 5.5lb set up.. Right at about a month the safety pin stopped working.. it will not spring back up effectively not saving the camera from any kind of fall and making me very nervous! Zomei contacted me and sent me a new ball head that works perfectly...

A feature-rich tripod that is very easy to use and fairly light-weight. I like to keep my camera mounted on a tripod to catch the changing landscape, on a moment's notice, on our farm and the Zomei Z888C is very sturdy and easy to maneuver to catch landscape and family shots with ease.

good

This tripod is great! It’s light weight but very sturdy.

An exceptional piece of equipment for the money! Well-engineered, beautifully constructed and manufactured, lightweight yet sufficiently heavy duty, particularly as a travel and general purpose tripod. Of particular note is the support Zomei provided and in the honoring of their warranty. While on an extended photo trip, a part malfunctioned and needed replacing/repairing. Zomie replaced the tripod with only minimal -- and understandable -- questions and verification. I'm truly appreciative of both this tripod and the support that accompanied it.Thank you Zomei!

I love the fact that you get a tripod and monopod all in one device. It comes with a carrying case, ballhead and it packs away neatly by folding the legs all the way up around the ballhead and center column. Carbon fiber is a great asset as it's light weight and dampens vibrations well. Keep it dry and don't allow it to strike any rocks and get cracked. Once cracked, and then wet a few times, and any carbon fiber will weaken and break eventually. This is not a negative on the tripod, but a fact with carbon fiber products in general.