This is a top-quality tri-pod. Straight out of the box I was able to attach my camera and extend it to full height. You will need a remote shutter release if you plan to use the tri-pod fully extended as it will be too tall to reach the shutter button on the camera itself.The camera feels very secure when attached to the tri-pod plate (it comes with a spare in case you are in the habit of using two cameras). The ball and socket style connection means that you can lock the camera into almost any angle and there is a separate control to enable you to twist the camera, in your chosen angled position, round 360 degrees. There are also markings every 5 degrees in case you need them.You will find the tri-pod really useful if you need to do lots of static shooting, but I found it too large and heavy to take on a casual day out with my camera. I also found that I spent much longer setting up a single shot than just using the camera alone and relying on the balance indicators on screen. If you need to take fairly repetitive shots, this will be perfect because you can ensure consistency.If you need a good quality tri-pod, I would happily recommend this one.