I was surprised at how compact this tripod is - a very nice size for a travel tripod. It is suitable for light and mid-weight cameras (up to 11 pounds). Setting it up is trivial - with twist leg locks that work smoothly. There is a latch on each of the legs with two positions for leg angle - which is plenty for me. The feet are rubber - there is no provision to use spikes instead. The tripod has plenty of height to be useful - 61 inches. There is a hook on the bottom of the center column to put a weight - such as the tripod bag or a camera bag. This is recommended since the tripod is so light weight.There are gradient markings around the perimeter for alignment, plus a compass and a bubble level. The mounting plate is metal, but the assembly it slides into is plastic, admittedly very sturdy plastic that I think will hold up well. The plate is held in place with a screw latch, and the camera mounting bolt has a d-ring to allow for hand tightening. The padded case that comes with the tripod is very nice, with an adjustable shoulder strap. The fit and finish of the tripod is exemplary. It is a quality piece of photographic gear that is now my default travel tripod.