Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 Aluminium 3-section Tripod with MACC and Ball Head

I sought out this tripod to complement a much heavier studio tripod that has always proved too bulky for carting around outside (although I fitted it with a strap). I was pleased to find that the Alta Pro, though lighter, still provided a very stable platform when used outdoors with a timed remote control exposure. The axial adjustments of the ball head platform are positive and secure. I particularly liked the incorporated horizontal and vertical spirit level bubbles that enabled basic setup to be squared off. A removable platform with a standard screw thread for attaching the camera is a very useful timesaver, since it very quickly can be slid into place into a rail on the ball head and securely locked with no sign of free play. A key part of the decision to purchase this model is the ability to release the central column to hinge through 90 degrees to enable downward shots 'legs-free' of the tripod itself, as well as a variety of other configurations, where overhangs or low shots are a requirement. The quality and detail of the engineering is impressive for the price, and certainly a vast improvement on what was available when I was a post-graduate student.

Buying a new tripod can be a bit of a hit or miss exercise. Getting a tripod that is sturdy enough to deal with a heavy DSLR camera but still be light enough to carry around has to be a compromise. I read numerous reviews before finally settling on the Vanguard Alta Pro 2 + - and I seem to have made an excellent choice. It certainly is sturdy - whether it proves light enough to carry around remains to be seen. It is very easy to set up and it’s features will certainly get well used. What I particularly liked is the ability to set the tripod so that the camera is just a few inches from the ground. A tripod will be used over a number of years - it won’t actually wear out - so get a good one. I am impressed with the Vanguard.

A good, well built tripod and for the money it is excellent - it is much more sturdy that my original tripod. The ball head is a similar, robust, standard and the two parts working together means that you can get your camera mounted in just about any position that you want it to be, The leg locks are easy to operate and do their job well and the ability to open up the leg angle means that you can get a wide spread to get low or ensure stability in windy conditions.The only downsides (and hence 4 stars) are the weight and size that it packs down to. With the weight, I don't think you can get the build quality without it being much lighter unless you go for carbon fibre and the associated increase in cost. The size is a minor issue for me, though if you are looking fir a small and light travel tripod it might be worth looking at something else in the range.

Reason for purchase and experienceWanted a tripod that had the most features. The tripod is very high quality and sturdy. I'm not sure how it fits in value-wise compared to other tripods but honestly, I do not regret this purchase at all.Pros1) High quality2) Sturdy3) A lot of featuresCons1) Not worth it if you just need a standard Tripod

That’s ana amazing product. Easy to use, sturdy, with the centre column expanding and giving lots of options to experiment with. Downside is that if you do not get the carbon fibre model, it is quite heavy!

I have other tripods and another old one from Vanguard.This one was a pleasant surprise as it is much better than the old one.Great quality, stable, flexible uses, great head... it has it all, for photography and even very acceptable for video.Very good value for money when compared to some other brands.Highly recommend it!

This is the third Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 Aluminium 3-section tripod i have bought in three years and every time one of the leg joints have broken, had only bought this latest one and had it two weeks and YES one of the legs joints broke so returned it for a full refund to Amazon who were great and issued a full refund within a week, when these tripods work they are excellent but not worth the hassle and these tripods are not cheap, i am using a old tripod at the minute which i have had for years until i decide what will be my next tripod but i tell you it won't be another Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB 100 Aluminium 3-section in fact it won't be another Vanguard.

I've had this tripod for short of 2 years now. I've travelled throughout Europe, and as a travel tripod, it's a no no. Bulky, heavy, and too long, but, manageable. My main issue with this tripod is stability and it has cost me endless negative shoots. No matter how hard you try to tighten the various awkward nuts, you cannot stabilise it, there's always moving parts. Since day one, the centre column on mine has never being stable. When locked hard and fully, there's still an unacceptable amount of movement. I even brought a vice grips on a shoot to tighten it and it made no difference. When shooting long exposures, it's a huge issue, because you don't know until you start post processing that the wind has had an impact on the centre column. The design is brilliant, but the functionality of the tripod is sadly wrong. I came back from a shoot today totally frustrated because none of the lock nuts would stabilise the tripod enough to take images, and then one of the leg nuts locked, and not matter what, I couldn't move it until I got home and open a tool box.

This tripod is very sturdy, super adjustable, and operates smoothly enough. It seems like a good quality to pair with a $1000 camera and lens setup. It's not as stable as it could possibly be, but I can get some pretty nice shots of the moon and distant skyscrapers at 300 mm with it, so it's certainly pretty good. Overall, it's a pretty great value.

Excelente material, buen producto y muy resistente

Très bon trépied (a voir dans le temps).

Buscaba un tripode robusto para esos días que no te importa el.peao y si la estabilidad, pues aconsejo su compra si este es tu caso. Además es muy versátil y la rótula de boka es de mucha calidad, si bien yo he comprado una de 3 vias y la he sustituido para "ajustar" aún con más precisión cuando te hace falta. La funda es amplia y de buena caludad tambien. Muy contento con la compra, pues tenia otros de aluminio y tambien de carbono que no dan la estabilidad ni transmiten la sensacion dw robustwz y calidad de sste Vanguard.

Trappiede non tra i più leggeri 2,6kg, non compatto ma bellissimo, stabile robusto e esageratamente regolabile. Qualità da top di gamma senza fronzoli. Prodotto concreto con le ottime 2 maniglie che ti aiutano a far ruotare nei vari assi senza nessun intoppo. Vanguard top dei top! Sacca invlusa nel pacchetto