The best tripod (and I had like 10 tripods in my life) I ever had.
353016
This is the travel tripod of my dreams!!!
I LOVE IT.

Actually, this is my main tripod now out of the studio.

Pros:

1. It's very sturdy, the feeling is very metal and solid for a travel tripod.
Everything, all screws are metal and very rigid.
I used it on a windy sandy beach and I don't see any way and sand can get into any joints.
It held like a charm my Canon 6D and 24-105 lens, but it can handle larger lenses as well, as it's So sturdy!

2. And it's HIGH! I have several "normal" tripods which were much lower than this one.
It's even higher than I need it to be!! I'm 6"0 and usually I roach, but here it was soo comfortable!
So, if you have a really heavy lens, don't expand the last sections (which are quite thin) and it will stand solid.

3. I like so much that you can swap the central column and point it down, very handy with the second legs position.

4. You can unscrew all 4 screws on each leg with one hand twist, if your palm's wide enough.

5. And the monopod leg. It's amazing now they didn't come up with this before!
Will never buy a conventional monopod any more.

6. It also had this spiked ends for the feet. This wasn't in the description.
They were (plus a small wrench) in the internal pocket of the bag, which I didn't notice first.
The spikes are so solid, the screws are very thick and the legs then look even a bit dangerous, like hi-tech spears :)
I even thought if you assemble the monopod with one of this spikes you can hunt with it :)

7. A very solid and rigid ballhead.
I though of buying a large ballhead to use with it, but now I'm good with this one.
The inner ball is quite large and the screw holds it very fast.

8. The bag is very strong, comfortable and convenient. Didn't expect it to have a little pocket inside.

9. And last, but not least, IT'S SMALL.
When packed in its bag, it fitted _across_ my carry-on suit-case.
It's just unbelievable!

Cons:

Really, no cons, but here are some things I could list here:

1. The little bolts which hold the camera from falling when it's "almost" taken off.
They could come up with some other idea, probably. Not a deal break though.

2. The camera plate has one of this "you should have a quarter in your pocket" screws.
No quarter  no tripod, unfortunately. I prefer the ones with a little handle.
Not a dealbreaker too though, I always have my keys with me, for example.

TL;DR
The best tripod (and I had like 10 tripods in my life) I ever had.
You must have it!
683460
Awesome tripod . Best item purchased for a camera. Highly recommended.
4607793
I love this tripod. I have been debating between this Benro and the Manfrotto 502 head for quite some time. I recently got the Benro S6 monopod and after seeing the quality of the monopod it was a no brained for me. At almost $100 cheaper than the Manfrotto I got exactly what I was looking for. A completely sturdy tripod that is buttery smooth on pans and tilts. The whole thing feels like quality. There is a plastic button to release the mounting plate that I wish was metal, but that is really the only thing I have negative to say. It does not have an adjustable pan drag, but the natural resistance built into the head is just about right for most situations. The illuminated bubble level is another really cool feature. The fact that you can get a partial ball head on a tripod in this price range is also pretty amazing. No matter the terrain you can have this thing level in seconds. I would definitely purchase again.
4128837
I cannot say enough good things about this tripod.  It is lightweight so it's easy to carry, especially with the included bag.  It has a handy dandy bluetooth remote so you can start and stop video or snap pics without being behind the camera. Before this, I had to stack boxes and set my smaller tripod on top of them to get the right angle for photos. But this one is so versatile! It extends high (see pic next to my dining room chair!)  It holds my iphone 6 securely and I have no fear of it falling out and cracking.  This tripod really twists and turns just about any way you would need it to to get the perfect angle.  It has been such a huge time saver when taking photos and videos!

EDIT: 9/6/15:  After having this about a month, two of the three legs fell apart and I had to tape them together to make it stand.  To be fair, I did use it several times a day every day religiously so I think I just wore it out.  This is still a decent tripod for those who will be using it occasionally.
280187
I will keep it short and sweet. I researched 20+ tripods of various manufacturers. This one is obviously more expensive than many but I honestly believe it is worth every penny. If there is a better tripod out there for the money I would like to see it. Sturdy, quality manufactured, just a really nice piece. Combined with the Manfrotto 128RC Micro Fluid Head and RC2 Rapid Connector Plate it is the perfect base for my Sony HDRPJ810 video camera to film the kids during sporting events.
3677794
My favorite tripod. If I had to choose one tripod for the rest of my life it would probably be a Joby. It's so easy to carry anywhere and can be rigged up for any angle. It may take extra time to find your angle but for the size and portability it's worth it. I always strap it to the handlebars of my bike in case I need it when I go out. I also go out shooting "bagless" with very little gear. If I'm doing a specific project I may bring a larger tripod, but if I'm not sure what I'll be doing this one goes without question. The ball head is awesome and the build quality is excellent.
2741547
I've had it for several years now and it's solidly built, very heavy, and reliable. Its not light so it might not be advisable for those who travel. I know the rage is to have a ball head, but at the time, there were none that could properly shoot panoramas. This one is brilliant. I often shoot with the handles all loosened and pan and swing the camera around following birds or animals. Its hefty enough to use almost like a ball head. It also locks easily. A nice quick twist locks it in that direction.

The spirit level is also great. I have two: one on the head and the tripod. Between the two, it makes levelling very easy. Its sturdy enough to hold a 500mm lens, making it easy to make micro adjustments.

While the overall build quality is excellent, I was most annoyed at the poor quality chrome on the handles. It looks like that cheap chrome/galvanise on nuts and bolts these days. The short handle promptly began rusting months after purchase. The rubber grips are good too and years later, they still feel great. Having said that, I look after my equipment, and clean it regularly. I live at the coast and often shoot on the beach.
2797791
I am in love with the functionality of this tripod, it is so useful! The legs glide out easily when the clips are released, the feet work excellent for uneven ground, and quite a convenient carry handle attached, for when the tripod is out of the bag, in use. I also love the added features of the removable plate for the camera, the levels and the plum line holder. This is the best tripod I have ever used, and I highly recommend it!
1280432
I do have to agree with a lot of the other customers. This is a very nice tripod. Has good weight aluminum and very solid plastic. For the legs it has rubber tips that screw in to have a central metal spike for rough ground. The legs are sturdy square tubing. Even the last little legs are sturdy. I have no problem with mine when trying to put it on uneven ground, you can lock each of the legs in any lengths. Thats awesome for when you need to have it set on a uneven ground. The Built in Clinometer (circle bubble level) will help you keep it even. It also has another built in bubble level in each of the 2 Quick-Release Mounting Plates(my camera is to big and it covers the bubble level on that but it's still nice it's there). It will hold your camera in any angle and can be locked in place (even vertical). It telescopes up and locks in place well, Fully extended and legs fully extended 58 1/2'' at the mounting plate. It's not a 100$ tripod, but this is perfect for most people. Unless you have a 1000$ camera get this Tripod it will last with a good amount of usage. I'm very happy with this product. I will Update
652559
UPDATE - 9/18/2011 - So, the other day I hung a 5lb weight on what I thought was the weight hook, and it broke, so be careful.

This is an amazing tripod. As an freelance videographer, I appreciate equipment comparable to professional quality. I love the fluidness of the panning, the stability of the legs, even when at full height. Its just an amazing tripod!
1751570
Awesome tripod. My friend was trying to convince me to spend a fortune on a tripod... this one does the job, if you know how to use it! It did take a little bit of moving back + forth to break in the tripod so it moved smoothly, now it's flawless.
2740724
I love this tripod. It's sturdy and lightweight. I take a lot of nature photos and long-exposure time lapse and this tripod has never let me down. I especially love the way it contorts to get stable shots from any orientation. I wish it had an Arca-Swiss plate, but that's on me for not getting the proper head. I would still heartily recommend this tripod.
595998
The Slik Carbon Fiber 814 CF-II tripod has been excellent for me.  It's bar far the nicest tripod I've ever owned.  It is nice and stable and is reasonably light.  I use a Really Right Stuff heavy duty ballhead on this tripod and it is a perfect combo.  I highly recommend this tripod for someone who wants a carbon fiber tripod but doesn't want to shell out a ton of money on a Gitzo.  I am very happy with this one.

I would have given this 5 stars if it were just a tad lighter, but other than that, it's great.
2795236
I've been shooting for more than 20 years and have almost always carried a tripod around with me.  I have been using a mid-range Manfrotto head the last 10 years but the wife decided to buy me the Acratech for my birthday.

It is not only a thing of beauty, but is by far better than anything I've used before.  The ballhead not only does everything you could want from one, but has a few nifty features I didn't even realize I needed until I bought this ballhead.

It is certainly pricey, but this ballhead will be the last one you ever buy, and will make the difference on getting good shots and super-fine stable shots in the future.  My rig is a 50D with a battery pack and a 70-300L lens attached to it.  My previous ballhead would drop no matter how much I tightened it down.  It is now rock stable.
2415545
This tripod is without a doubt one of the finer tripods I've ever had the pleasure of using.  Although its not suited for large format photography: I'd say any camera under 3 lbs and most lenses that aren't either really long or really heavy, will work perfectly.  Unless I am trekking across rough terrain or long distances, I love the weight. If I need to climb a mountain to take a picture, I would consider taking another tripod. But the weight adds an insane amount of stability for HDR photography. You can search youtube for a video I've posted with a D200 and a 500mm lens (search "D200 penny test"); in the video, I place a penny on the barrel of the lens and snap a few pictures.  The tripod is so heavy, the penny does not fall with multiple slaps of the mirror.  Albeit its not a medium format camera, this does attest to the stability of the platform.  The feet on the tripod are ball-joint hinged feet, with a bit of rubber grip.  I shot in sand, and the tripod held well enough.  I've shot on tile floor, and saw no slip.  The legs extend to what I would say is "too far", but that's not a complaint.  You simply don't have to extend the legs all of the way.  I haven't used the tripod for shooting on a steep slope yet, but I am sure the excessively long legs will serve well.  The head can pan, tilt, and shoot in portrait/landscape with incredible ease.  The locking of the movements is quite sturdy, but in landscape I have seen some downward drift with a heavy lens.  I've seen complaints with other tripods that screws are missing or loose, none of that applies with this item.  The build is incredibly solid; most of the parts are aluminum, cast, stainless, or tough feeling plastic.  The only part not of the previous materials is the foam padding at the top of the legs.  This is nice, as cold weather and aluminum can be uncomfortable to handle.  Included instructions say not to carry a camera on the tripod (like a hobo), but I feel completely comfortable doing so.  The ONLY complain I have: it is a bit of a hassle to remove the pan head and invert the apparatus to the bottom of the tripod.  I have yet to need to do so, but may in the future.  This complaint is a two-sided coin: the extra effort required to remove the head also shows the solid build.

If this tripod is ever lost or stolen, I will replace it with the exact same model.

*update, 5 years in*

This is still an amazing heavy duty tool.  Nothing has worn out, it's still doing all I need.  My only complaint:  The carrying case is not easy to carry.  A single adjustable strap would be much better so it could be worn across the chest.  It's heavy, but heavier when you can't "wear it".
3023694
tripod lasts forever i still have it i love it for making videos or taking outdoor picture 5 star quality thanks so much
4297928
Tried it out last night with a Manfrotto 804RC2 head. I'm quite impressed. It's a little on the heavy side, but I don't necessarily find that troublesome in a tripod. I'm totally thrilled with the mechanism and little touches on this tripod. Five stars!