I got it because I wanted something sturdy both inside and outside the studio. It is heavy and you need an assistant to work with it outside. Even transporting it is a matter of weight and size. So for outdoor shoots, besides an assistant, you also need a car with space in the back. If you are looking for something flexible to set up your 200 or speedflash, get a simple lightstand and an 80 octabox (or the classic square one that comes in 40-60-80) that folds so you can have it with you everywhere.

In terms of construction quality, it's fine. It can withstand rough handling, but from the first time I adjusted the height on the tripod, it started losing paint, resulting in gray marks without even using it professionally.

In conclusion, I consider this tripod to be great for a small studio where you don't have the luxury of having many things, or to go to a client and set it up for beautiful shots in their space, where it's a bit overkill. It is NOT suitable for outdoor use if you are alone. The retractability is its main selling point and it does it well, but obviously it needs a counterweight and an assistant.