Our daughter loves photography — she has an array of cameras, from film to DSLRs. But she has never had her own full size tripod. When the opportunity arose for us to receive the Vanguard AV tripod, we were very excited.
The tripod arrived folded down in a cardboard box. We were unaware of the full height of it, until we actually opened it up and extended its legs. As someone who has only dealt with small table top tripods, I consider myself a newbie to my daughter’s experience, so my opinions will mainly be from that viewpoint.
This tripod weighs 5.42lbs, and is very solid. The tripod varies in height from a folded 28 3/8″ to a tall 66 3/8″, and the legs individually adjust to three angles: 25° 50° and 80°. The legs also spread out for low-angle photography, with a maximum of 8 1/8″ from the ground. Even as a tripod newbie, I felt like I could handle it. It was easy to fold and carry. When I first removed the plastic, I was able to quickly set up the tripod into the lowest position without any difficulty. I then raised each leg one at a time, and found it very easy to attain the height I desired. Quick-flip leg locks made it very easy to keep the legs at the height I set. The center column also rises, for additional height.
When it came time to attach the DSLR camera to the tripod, I noticed that the “Quick Shoe,” as they call the part that attaches the camera to the tripod, did not have a locking lever underneath it so you could turn and lock it. This tripod requires a coin or something narrow to help turn the lock. Even as a newbie, this part was really the only thing I felt that would have made this tripod perfect. My table top tripod has this lever, which makes it easier to quickly attach and detach the camera from the tripod. The “Quick Shoe” also detaches from the tripod, to make it easier to attach your camera. We don’t always detach the “Quick Shoe” — sometimes we leave it on and rotate the camera until it’s secure. Nonetheless, we are still really happy with it.
The tripod definitely is a stable one. We took many shots from the highest leg setting, and even angled the camera downward, and it never toppled. Every section that moved, locked securely in place, so there was no worry that the camera would fall off, or that the tripod would fall over. There is also a level so you can be sure the tripod’s legs are balanced evenly.
MyParenTime.com highly recommends this tripod. It’s not only for professionals — it makes newbies like me, look and feel just like a pro. 
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