Orion 5378 Paragon HD-F2 Heavy Duty Tripod

This is one of the best tripods I have ever worked with. I have worked with tripods that range from $20 all the way to $1500, and I have got to say, it is incredible. It is amazingly durable, and very smooth and precise in its movements.Let's start with the durability: I use the tripod for film-making, to support my small-ish Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR, which is not by any means a heavy camera, but judging by the weight and heavy metal of this tripod, I would say this could hold a weight of up to 25 pounds or more ( Just guessing.) I wanted to invest in a high quality tripod that would last me a long time, and, though I've only owned it for a couple weeks now, I would say that it will last me quite a while, despite heavy use. The tripod is quite heavy, but that's not a really big issue unless you'll be carrying it long distances like on a nature hike or something (I'm sure a bag would make it much easier to carry, though.) Long story short, the tripod is quite heavy, weighing in at around 7.5 lbs, but is definitely worth the extra workout because of it's incredible durability.And it's not just a bulky, heavy-metal tripod, the head that comes on it is a very smooth and fluid two-way pan head that is perfect for any purpose. The locks for the head's movement are incredibly sturdy. The vertical lock, when moved firmly into the lock position is, well, locked into place. Go ahead, try to move it. And of course the horizontal lock is the same, very sturdy. Even the elevator crank is fluid and smooth! I have gotten shots using the elevator crank to move the camera up, and the final result was not shaky and, in fact, very smooth (Of course this comes with a tension knob to control how easy it is to turn the crank.) I'm not an astronomer or even an owner of a telescope, but I can say that, if you need precise and accurate movements, this tripod is perfect. Long story short, the tripod has a beautifully smooth two-way pan head that offers precise, smooth movements.Overall, this tripod is definitely one of the best tripods I have ever worked with due to its durability and its smooth panning and tilting abilities. And for only $100? This tripod is a steal! Well worth the money, considering I'll probably get a good number of years using it. Filmmakers? Definitely. Stargazers? Absolutely. I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a durable, sturdy and smooth tripod. I would not, however, recommend it to anyone wanting something they can carry around with them a lot. While 7 lbs may not seem like a lot, walking around with this heavy of a tripod can make your arm feel a little tingly. If you do carry it with you, I'd suggest buying a bag so you can sling it over your shoulder.

I bought this tripod for digiscoping. I had tried a number of tripods before I stumbled across this one; I had given up because other tripods in my price range simply couldn't handle the weight of my spotting scope and camera. The one drawback is that the tripod is heavy, but I won't deduct stars because that's to be expected at this price point - decent carbon-fiber tripods cost hundreds of dollars. In addition, the weight helps to stabilize the tripod. I plan to take it on occasional short (1-3 mile max) walks/day hikes and I expect it to be a burden; it is definitely not for longer hikes or for backpacking.Pluses: This tripod is very strong and sturdy indeed, and the head is more than capable of supporting scopes and heavy cameras even at extreme angles. There's a circular level. It's tall enough to be comfortable for my 6'2" brother to stand and look straight through a camera. The quick-release plate is very easy to use; this is a fantastic feature. Knobs, screws, and levers tighten securely. The feet are spiked on the end for rough terrain, and they also have rubber "boots" that can be lowered to provide stability on flat/hard surfaces and to protect vulnerable surfaces such as my hardwood floors. The legs and the knobs on the head have markings so that you can measure your adjustments.All in all, this is a remarkable bargain. Highly recommended.

This stand is everything I needed to start my stargazing hobby with my new binoculars. Easy to set up, even in the dark of night, sits even & sturdy on concrete or grassy areas, great height adjustment, easy to rotate/swivel binoculars while looking thru them. Light & folds up compactly to make for easy carrying from car to viewing area, and glad I paid the little extra money to buy these instead of the cheaper tripod that was suggested. You get what you pay for and this tripod was well worth the $99.

Holds my astronomical binoculars very firmly. I am 5'10" and this unit is tall enough for me to stand at the eyepieces and look up without hunching over. Good value.

Had tripod for a couple of weeks now. I would say it is well built and designed tripod. Nothing flimsy about it.One major advantage of this tripod for me is , I am 5'9" tall, The tripod is tall enough for me to very easily and comfortably stand and using my binoculars, (Orion 10x50) look almost totally vertical if desired.. Other reviewers stated it was good for this and they are all correct. Was major reason I went with this tripod. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive for this tripod and I have to agree with them .For the price this is a solid choice plus I know when I get a larger pair of binoculars this tripod will handle them as well.was shipped from Orion so it took about a week but I am in the middle of nowhere, very rural. I don't even have ups or fedex home delivery..

For the price, this is a good, sturdy tripod for my new spotting scope. I needed to be able to move it from inside to the porch and back with ease. It's lightweight enough for that. I wish it came with a carrying bag, though.

I bought this as Orion has a GREAT reputation. And ALL my earlier Orion purchases were as said. This looks like ti should be great. BUT... I was fortunate enough to flip the extension tab of one leg indoors and the who thing right out. I found one plastic spacer right. The second took some hunting. Even replacing it/them didn't fix the "fall apart" problem. The other two legs are fine - they hold together. ATM, I am debating if I need to find a bonding agent and be Very Careful, or just return this thing. Other than that, it is impressive - even impressing a fellow not given to complimenting things. If ONLY this thing would HOLD TOGETHER!