VANGUARD VEO 235AB £120/$130

The Vanguard VEO takes a different twist on folding tripod design, but it’s a pity there’s no horizontal boom function

small and lightweight but well-engineered, the Vanguard weighs in at 1.5kg and measures just 38cm long when folded. However, despite having five sections in each leg, rather than the usual four, it only reaches 147cm at full extension, taller only than the Manfrotto Befree. What really makes the Vanguard stand out is that it’s designed differently to all the other tripods in the group. Instead of the legs swinging upwards around the centre column when folded, the centre column pivots downwards through 180 degrees instead. It’s a shame that this rotating centre column does not include a horizontal boom mechanism.

You can only use the centre column in vertically upward or downward orientation, the latter for ultra-low level shooting. At least it saves the need to remove the centre column, invert it, and refit it. However, you need to retract the centre column upwards a little when inverted, so that it can be locked in place, which proved rather fiddly in our review sample. Plus points include retractable spikes within the rubber feet pads, a ball head with separate a panning lock and an Arca-swiss type quick-release plate, and a stylish padded soft case.

Performance

The legs have a modest 4kg maximum load rating and feel a bit wobbly at maximum extension, especially with the thinnest, bottom section of each leg only having a diameter of 11mm. With 12 clip-style clamps to operate in total, setting up the tripod and folding it down can be a bit of a chore (there is a new Veo 2 model with conventional twist locks). At least the pivoting centre column is quick to engage.