I'm not well up on tripods, and needed one quickly a little while back when I was as near to skint as you can get - ended up getting an own-brand one from a photography chain of shops over here called Jessops - it cost 15 ($11/$12?), and while it's the smaller version (goes up to 1.3m just) I've found it to be brilliant! Quick release, full tilting head etc, the snap-catches on the legs are sturdy as hell and worked even when clogged with sand and it weighs next to nothing! I'm gonna buy it's big brother next.... IMO if you can afford the Bogen (I've never heard of them, but that's amateur me!), go for it, but don't discount the cheaper ones just coz they haven't got a 'label'. Unless you're a fashion snob of course.....LOL