ACCESSORIES
A quick-release head system makes this an excellent option for photos and videos. Richard Sibley tests it out
ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE STREET PRICES
● £499.99 ● vanguardworld.co.uk
Vanguard’s latest Alta Pro 3VRL range of tripods aims to bridge the gap between photo and video. The series employs a removable levelling base, named the Alta Pro 3VRL LVL, onto which the head is mounted. It mounts in a bowl on the top of the tripod, with a handle underneath to reposition it and set everything level. This approach is typical of a traditional video tripod. The kit has a VEO PV-18 pan-and-tilt fluid head included, so you have all you need to start shooting video.
When you want to change cameras and shoot photos, you can swap out the base and replace it with the included 3VRL Platform 30. This is a simple flat base onto which you can put a more suitable photo head. Vanguard describes it as a ‘quick release system for tripod heads.’
You could always just use a quick-release plate system to swap cameras. But sometimes, you want to use a specific tripod head for a particular task, such as a ball head, a set of macro rails, or a nodal point panning head. With the Platform 30, you can switch heads in a few seconds. There is also a weight saving, with the 3VRL Platform 30 weighing 80g versus 420g for the Alta Pro 3VRL LVL.
However, any levelling then needs to be done either with a ball head, or by awkwardly adjusting the legs if shooting video.
Speaking of the legs, the Alta Pro 3VRL 303CV 18 is an extremely tall carbon fibre tripod. Fully extended, the legs are 180cm, and when the legs are spread and the 3VRL LVL and VEO PV-18 head both fitted, the height is again about 180cm. So even extremely tall photographers can shoot using a viewfinder. Although the height makes up for the lack of a centre column, having one can still be more comfortable if you make minor height adjustments. With this design, you need to adjust each leg instead, if you want to change the height. I found the twist-lock legs solid, with the large rubber ball feet stable on hard surfaces. On softer ground, the feet can be twisted to reveal spikes.
Verdict
The Vanguard Alta Pro 3VRL 3
