OUR VERDICT
Are you looking for a tripod to meet the demands of today’s image professionals? You’ll be hard-pressed to find a tripod that fits so seamlessly into your workflow like the Vanguard ALTA Pro 3VRL 303CT. Its absence of the centre column is striking, as it is similar to a video tripod. This is complimented by its simplicity, full height and levelling bowl.
This tripod’s CNC machining, carbon leg, twist locks and refined finish gives it a solid feeling in use. It was tested in both the studio and on the field and this smoothness in use was evident. The tripod provided the flexibility and support required for stills as well as video work.
It would be nice to have some length markings for the legs, and perhaps some other bag hook designs. But I really need to find something wrong.
What is the Vanguard ALTA PRO 303CT?
Vanguard continues its push for tripod design, with innovations that appear simple but have a big impact on users. In the past decade, the way we shoot and use our cameras has changed dramatically. Yet, the design of tripods has remained largely unchanged. The Vanguard ALTA PRO 3VRL 303CT consists of a set legs that are designed to meet the needs of today’s photographers, who shoot both stills as well as video.
The era of travel tripods seems to be over, and now we can use solid, full-height supports. The ALTA PRO 303CT is a powerful 1.8m tripod with a 3/8-inch standard thread.
This tripod is unique in that it comes without a column central, but you can add one if needed. The tripod comes with a levelling base of 75mm that is released by twisting the handles underneath. It is the same as most video tripods. This allows for quick leveling and makes it perfect for landscape and video. This is one of the main reasons why Gitzo Systematic Tripods have become so popular. This tripod is half the cost.