Clarification on all these tripod threads and Amvona

I recently posted a thread asking for tripod recommendations between $100-150. I took the advice of some of the respondents and I got a cf tripod and ball head from Amvona for $120 (through eBay). I also won another auction for one of their Nomad tripods for $60. I'm now waiting for a good price on a pan head for that tripod. I'm very happy with the quality and construction, although it smells a little of fuel.

In any case, amongst the people who recommended Amvona as a budget alternative to costlier options... are there people who have used the higher priced, well known brand name counterparts and are able to offer a fair comparison of the tripods, ball heads, and/or pan heads?

Much appreciated. Thanks.

I noticed the smell too when I first purchased mine. I couldn't stand the smell! But, now it''s gone lol...

no responses on point? so are all these amvona recommendations unfounded?

People who have the money to buy the higher priced stuff generally won't have bothered with Amvona's budget alternatives. That doesn't translate into the recommendations from people who do buy, use, & like the Amvona products being unfounded.

It's like asking if there are any L fetishists who have used Sigma and can compare, even though they wouldn't touch Sigma with a 10 foot pole due to their prejudices. That doesn't make deluded those who do use Sigma and like Sigma and therefore recommend Sigma.

I have an amvona tripod and its been around for a couple of years now. It has one of their heads on it as well. I have been happy with it although it is a little heavy and that negates me from taking it many places but that is also a plus as I feel comfortable that it is going to hold my lens and camera. I also have a bogen monopod and ball head that I would say, without taking either apart, the build quality is somewhat on even keel with the two.