[Aluminum] i too had one of these in the 1970's. it had plastic handle locking grips. it went through a fire, melted the scratch protection pad on the head, plastic grips, rubber feet and center post shock ring. I cleaned the tripod and installed wooden handles on all of the locking mechanisms; took a picture of it and sent it to the company with its story.



to my surprise they sent me a new scratch protection pad for the head, set of (plastic) handles, rubber feet and center post shock ring along with a very nice letter of condolence. it's hard to find a company that dedicated to its customer base these days.


i gave the tripod away to a friend in 1994 who was beginning a photo career. i jokingly requested the tripod back one day and received the reply (with a wink and a smile), "you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands."


i highly recommend this tripod as quality "pro" tool.

[Yes, Round] The Tiltall TE is heavy and big. It doesn't do a myriad of different things and it takes time to set it up. It is also beautifully well made, smooth to operate and incredibly stable. I like knowing my heavy, expensive, camera gear will work best with this beauty.

[Aluminum] Wanted this simple, yet extremely functional tripod since I was a teenager, but did not have funds to splurge. Now that I'm a senior citizen and using a 160-600 telephoto lens, this tripod is perfect. It's weight is worth it, giving me the stability I've needed. Nothing flashy. A design that has changed little in over 50 years, because it didn't have to. The carrying case is a nice touch.

[21 x 5.5 x 5.3"] First off, contrary to some of the other reviews and answers, nearly everything on this tripod is metal, except for the obvious places like end caps and bearings that are either rubber or plastic, as they should be.
I bought the Tiltall because I was fed up with the poor build quality on the various tripods that I own, some of them Sliks. Even though they are highly recommended, I still had plastic parts snap off and become worn out with little use. And don't get me started on the quick connects that are more trouble than their worth, not to mention they make the tripod unusable if you lose them.
Sure the Tiltall is heavier, but I'd rather deal with that than a broken piece that forces work arounds. Every piece is precision made and moves smoothly, locking down with minimal force.
One piece that persistently breaks on competitor's models is the crank handle for the vertical adjustment. There is no crank on the Tiltall, the Z axis adjustment is accomplished by pulling or pushing instead, which works just fine for me since the lock downs can be tightened or loosened just enough to temporarily hold while you find the right position when you can then tighten it more securely.
A feature this tripod has that my Sliks don't are spikes that can be extruded from the bottom of the legs by twisting a ring there. This is great if you're on slippery, uneven ground; the spikes dig in perfectly.
The carrying case that comes with it protects it snugly and has a shoulder strap that makes it easier to transport off site. It even has pockets for the odd bit of gear.

Overall, this is a tripod that is built to last a lifetime and then some. I just wish I could have bought it earlier instead of wasting my money on tripods that are cheaper, and that are touted in other reviews.

[Twist Lock] This is probably the most stable, solid tripod I've ever used. It handles everything I've thrown at it including a super-telephoto (Z9 w/ 800mm PF). For the big stuff, I did make one change by replacing the 3-way head with a headless center tube and a gimbal head. I still use the 3-way for lighter loads. It was worth it to me to have the solid, stable base this tripod provides and the flexibility of the alternative center tube. The retractable spikes in the feet are a great bonus and greatly enhance the stability in certain circumstance.


RECOMMENDED.

[4] I have worked with this Tiltall Tripod for over 30 years.
I just bought the same model brand new - it is top shelf.
This is a great sturdy and easy to work with tripod.

[Twist Lock] I've used my Tiltall tripod for many years and it has never failed to work well. It's still in great shape with only one small ding. It has great nostalgia value as I used this tripod for my master's thesis in photography all those years ago. Highly recommended!

[Twist Lock] I own three of these. I bought two, one silver, one gold. My introduction to this tripod was as a college, photo student back in the late 60's. I loved them. Read the other comments for itemized details and performance. I purchased two about eight years ago. I was amazed that the company still existed! The third tripod was given to me when an uncle, a professional photographer back in the 50's, passed away about 15 years ago. It was worn and showed some heavy usage but was totally functional. I replaced the rubber pad on the top where you mount your camera, but that was it. This model, regardless of color finish, will not let you down.

[3 Positions] I love the classic design of this very sturdy tripod. The functionality is perfect. Very good materials and workmanship. The product picture is outdated. The actual product has redesigned simpler knobs and the leg that transforms into monopod has a black grip. Special care should be put in the gold finish since it can get easily scratched. I believe is a great option for a tripod that will last many years.

[Yes, Round] This is the best tripod I've owned - very solid and handles a big camera with a big lens with ease. No, it's not light and I wouldn't make this my first choice for backpacking; but, if you want a very firm base to shoot from, this is a great choice. I like this tripod so much that I bought one as a gift for my daughter (only give things of a high enough quality that you'd like to receive them).