The tripod is very nice, beautifully manufactured, fit and finish is great and I LOVE the locking system for the mount head—no more messing with screws and fiddly parts in the dark. It is also very lightweight and will make an ideal portable tripod as it is very easy to carry. I would give this tripod five stars EXCEPT that it is very short. Even with the optional pier installed and legs extended to their maximum, it's a full five or six inches shorter than I need for my solar scope—I will be sitting on the ground to look through it. I am disappointed to say the least and while I'll keep this tripod for another smaller scope I have, I now have to try and attach my AM5 mount to something that can be made much taller.