Looking for a lightweight travel tripod (cost to 400, -) I came across the Montana Titanium Carbon tripod. Supplied in a high quality padded case and I was impressed by the ease. It grabs all very well, can be after some practice relatively quick to set up and assemble. By Titanium joints it looks also really very pretty. Built it is quite stable in normal soil. I tested the tripod with my Canon 550D equipped with even 17-55, then 24-70 and 70-200 L L. The oscillations in fully extended center column talked yet surprisingly well in the context, in some wind but I would sure call the center column kept rather short and fixed legs with the backpack. Nevertheless, I have the tripod returned because the supplied ball head in no way withstand my OA equipment described. In a few seconds the camera slumped forward on to and by several centimeters. No matter how firmly I put on the ball, the set camera never remained in the intended position. Even worse was the situation in the high position of the camera. The 550D is approximately 500g actually a lightweight among the mirror cameras, the lenses are heavy with (644G / 948g / 762g), but still far from a total weight of 1.5 kg in severe execution. This weight should be able to keep a ball head. Recently I have tested the camera with the kit lens 18-55 with 200g. Horizontal held the ball head the total weight of about 700g more, though was also a millimeters, then survived but in the position. But in 90 degree lateral position (high position), it sagged again.
Had Montana a better ball head I would buy the stand, but it is so for longer exposures useless (even for short).
As a consolation was still told that I have returned even other (brands) stands in this price range, one was super easy but completely wrong and totally rickety (Manfrotto MY 732CY Carbon), another too bulky (Cullmann Magnesite 525) and a Ball head not the truth (Manfrotto 494RC2 mini ball head)
