Amvona tripod disaster

[dxqcanada2 1]

Hmm, is this a repeated story ?
Seemed like a good deal until the quick release dropped a Canon 7d and lens onto concrete - Google Search

 

[table1349]

Ya know, a little shy of $200 doesn't sound THAT cheap. I think OP should contact the company he bought it from and make them aware of the situation. Couldn't hurt anything and maybe they would feel bad and try to do something (probably not, though).

Which sounds cheaper to you ...... $200 or ....... $2400? Buying a cheap tripod for an expensive camera and lens is like buying K Mart house brand tires for a Lamborghini. Also, my guess is the tripod is either old or bought used as I believe Amvona went out of the photography business.The End of an Era: Amvona moves on ... - Canon Digital Photography Forums

I'm confused....

Didn't OP say "A carbon fibre tripod for under $200. " So you can't get a decent tripod for around the $200.00 mark?

Decent is a relative term. 200 will buy a decent tripod for a P&S, home use video camera, or entry level DSLR with light short glass. 200 will not buy a decent tripod for a 1D MkIV with a 400mm f2.8, and may not buy a quality tripod for a 5D with a 24-70 f2.8 or 70-200 f2.8. I paid twice that for a used Manfrotto aluminum studio grade tripod. Heavy but solid as a rock. I trust it with everything but big glass, and that is due to the head on it.

For travel/serious field use I trust my Gitzo 5441LS with a RRS BH-55 head on it. Me, I wouldn't trust a 200 dollar tripod with 2500 dollars worth of gear. Especially from a knock off manufacturer. To each their own though.

 

[Derrel]

"Cheap" has got very little to do with price when one is talking about POS, Chinese-made stuff that is farmed out to whatever company is going to have its importer's name/brand/moniker slapped onto its lots of 1,000 items...

Cheap means badly-made....and there are plenty of $200 items that are badly-made these days...

A carbon fibre tripod that was priced at under $200 and is/was sold by Amvona??? Well...nice story that goes with one owned by a lucky user who got a great deal. NOT!

 

[TheBiles]

I definitely think you can get a quality tripod for around $300. The Manfrotto 055XPROB legs are only $180, and a great head like the 808RC4 is $115. I'd trust a gripped 7D, 580EX II, and 70-200 2.8 on that. You definitely don't HAVE to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a tripod when you can get a very quality tripod like a Manfrotto for a solid $300 investment. The more expensive legs primarily come into play when you're worried about weight.