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I have the 3021BPro version of these legs, with the side mountable column. These legs are quite good considering the price. With the 488RC2 ballhead I have on it, the camera is eye level for landscape orientation for me without extending the centerpost, and I'm almost 6' tall. Portrait orientation makes me stoop if I don't raise the center column at all.
This tripod is very sturdy, and keeps the camera darn stable. In snow, it will flex a bit, but I haven't purchased the optional spike feet which would solve that problem. The flip locks are very easy to use, and make setup a breeze. (I must have a newer flip lock design than some because I've never pinched a finger like some have reported).
The sideways mountable column has come in very handy on several occasions, allowing me to use my tripod in a wide angle shot extending over a fence so the fence wasn't in the shot, for a 1/2 sec exposure, plus on lots of macro setups, where the ability to boom the camera is very useful. You do have to be careful when using the column mounted sideways, though, as it becomes pretty vibration prone with the camera cantilevered out that far.
The only real issue I have is when removing the bottom of the center column (for low to the ground shots), the clamp that secures the post can't grip the bottom of the short column, so there's a slight loss of stability. If you are using light lenses, this isn't a problem, but it could make shooting low to the ground with a heavy lens a problem for slow shutter speeds.
Overall, this is a very sturdy and well built tripod, and is an excellent performer given its price class.
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