I know it's expensive, but as far as I am concerned, I am always happier to have and not need than to need and not have. So I tend to spend a little extra to get something better that the run of the mill:
The tripod I already have, the SLIK F730 (2.7K), like all mass market tripods, is a flimsy piece of kit that can never keep a camera steady. I will creep, it will sway, it will tremble - in effect, it is your worst enemy in trying to get a good picture when you need it. You never always need it, but when you do, it is a real PITA to keep steady.
A good tripod, on the other hand will cost almost cost what I spent here, and in many cases way more.
Take any combo of a set of Manfrotto, Benro, Gitzo (and it hurts just to say that name), Vanguard, or other good brand of tripod legs, pair them with a good quality ball head from any of the poor selection available from any of those manufacturers in our piss-ant market, and see how much it costs. I can guarantee you will end up with a figure around how much I spent. If you go Gitzo or a Carbon Fibre tripod from any of the above manufacturers, you will be looking at something way north of 25K.
So I'd rather have a good steady tripod for my occasional use at a high price than a poor one that makes me miss the shot when I need it the most.
The camera and tripod most always travel with me in the car, so I can be ready for a good shot if I ever have the luck to be in the right place at the right time (which I almost never am).
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The CF version of this tripod, the Abeo Pro 283CT, costs almost 8K more than the Aluminium Abeo Pro 283AT which are the legs I am getting at a weight savings of only around 250 gm (legs alone). The head is the GH-300T in both cases, so that makes no difference.
The reason I am buying head and legs together as a kit:
1) Although they are available separately, and I originally intended to buy them that way, I later found that they are available as a kit, so there was no need for me to buy as separate head and legs and then have to go through the hassle of attaching them.
2) Prices on Snapdeal.com:
a) Vanguard GH-300T Gun Type Ball Head : Rs 11321 (minus 5% discount - Rs. 566) = Rs. 10,755/-
b) Vanguard Abeo Pro 283AT Aluminum Tripod : Rs 13253 (minus 5% discount - Rs. 662) = Rs. 12,591/-
TOTAL : Rs. 23,346/-
c) Vanguard Abeo Pro 283AGH Aluminum Tripod with GH-300T Grip Head : Rs 23613 (minus 5% discount - Rs. 1180) = Rs. 22,433/-
ie a savings of around Rs. 900/- for exactly the same equipment, only sold together as a kit instead of separately as legs and head.
And I still have the option of changing out the head or legs later if I see the need to.
The tripod I already have, the SLIK F730 (2.7K), like all mass market tripods, is a flimsy piece of kit that can never keep a camera steady. I will creep, it will sway, it will tremble - in effect, it is your worst enemy in trying to get a good picture when you need it. You never always need it, but when you do, it is a real PITA to keep steady.
A good tripod, on the other hand will cost almost cost what I spent here, and in many cases way more.
Take any combo of a set of Manfrotto, Benro, Gitzo (and it hurts just to say that name), Vanguard, or other good brand of tripod legs, pair them with a good quality ball head from any of the poor selection available from any of those manufacturers in our piss-ant market, and see how much it costs. I can guarantee you will end up with a figure around how much I spent. If you go Gitzo or a Carbon Fibre tripod from any of the above manufacturers, you will be looking at something way north of 25K.
So I'd rather have a good steady tripod for my occasional use at a high price than a poor one that makes me miss the shot when I need it the most.
The camera and tripod most always travel with me in the car, so I can be ready for a good shot if I ever have the luck to be in the right place at the right time (which I almost never am).
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This is the Aluminium version.
The CF version of this tripod, the Abeo Pro 283CT, costs almost 8K more than the Aluminium Abeo Pro 283AT which are the legs I am getting at a weight savings of only around 250 gm (legs alone). The head is the GH-300T in both cases, so that makes no difference.
The reason I am buying head and legs together as a kit:
1) Although they are available separately, and I originally intended to buy them that way, I later found that they are available as a kit, so there was no need for me to buy as separate head and legs and then have to go through the hassle of attaching them.
2) Prices on Snapdeal.com:
a) Vanguard GH-300T Gun Type Ball Head : Rs 11321 (minus 5% discount - Rs. 566) = Rs. 10,755/-
b) Vanguard Abeo Pro 283AT Aluminum Tripod : Rs 13253 (minus 5% discount - Rs. 662) = Rs. 12,591/-
TOTAL : Rs. 23,346/-
c) Vanguard Abeo Pro 283AGH Aluminum Tripod with GH-300T Grip Head : Rs 23613 (minus 5% discount - Rs. 1180) = Rs. 22,433/-
ie a savings of around Rs. 900/- for exactly the same equipment, only sold together as a kit instead of separately as legs and head.
And I still have the option of changing out the head or legs later if I see the need to.
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2k tripod here, pretty pleased by it - got a slight slant at the default "horizontal position" but no biggie 
