The Vanguard VT tripods are extremely reliable and are considered a perfect tripod for the amateur photographer: They comes complete with a carrying handle, strong leg lock system, sturdy aluminum legs, and horizontal leg braces with center lock.
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I am not a professional photographer, so maybe my review of this tripod won't appeal to someone who is. However, I don't know how this is catagorized as entry level. I bought this tripod to replace an older Vanguard tripod that I had for over twenty years. It was almost the same as this one. It didn't extend as high and the legs were not as thick as this one, but it was real close. I own a Nikon D7000 with the standard kit lens and a 75-300 MM telephoto lens. The Vanguard VT528 is more than capable of supporting the weight in all positions. It is very easy to adjust, and I like the spiked feet. I'm not a fan of ball head tripods so I didn't even consider bying one. I've been using this type of tripod for over 20 years and like the way they work. Like anything else, it's just a personal opinion. So if you're looking for this type of tripod and can find one (it's been discontinued) I highly recommend it. I still can't believe they call it an ENTRY LEVEL tripod.
I like this for a fair priced tripod. It does seem to stick a little but a shot of silicone makes it better. Be sure to order some extra mounting plates if you have more then one mount to place on it. The carrying handle is a nice feature. Its a HD built frame and for the money a fair deal.