I don’t know about you, but I’m the type of photographer that is willing to shell out money for a new camera or lens, but less so when it comes to a tripod—despite it being ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to my work as a landscape photographer, it somehow always ends up last on my list of gear to buy.
To make matters worse, saying that I am rough on my tripods is a giant understatement… I am downright brutal to them. Whatever it takes to get the shot. Case in point: I’ve had only ever had 3 tripods, my first one was run over by a tractor, my second one took a direct hit from an axe, and my current tripod—the subject of this article—is cowering in the corner wondering what I have in store for it.
Obviously, these accidents were totally unintentional, but they stress the fact that when I do buy a tripod, ruggedness and durability are musts for me. Fun fact, the tripod that was hit with an axe was a Vanguard ALTA PRO 263AT, and I continued to use it for another 7 years after the accident!
So, when Vanguard sent me their VEO 3T+ 264CB and VEO 2 BH-160S ball head kit, I was really excited to try it out.
Billed as a traveler-style tripod with full-size capabilities, the VEO 3T+ 264CB really is a hybrid between the two types. Weighing in at 2.27kg (5.01lbs), I personally find it a bit on the heavy side to be a true traveler tripod, but it’s stability, manoeuverability, ease-of-use, and smaller size more than make up for its weight.
If you’ve been following my work, you know that I photograph a lot of woodland scenes using mainly a Mamiya RB67 or an Intrepid 4×5, so I need a tripod that is both rugged and sturdy. With a load capacity of 7kg (15.4lbs) my old Alta Pro could easily carry both cameras, but the VEO 3T+ more than doubles that at 15kg (33lbs), meaning I won’t need to worry about camera shake. And if it is a little breezy outside, I can attach my bag to the hook on the bottom of the centre column for extra stability if needed.
Speaking of the centre column, this is hands-down my favourite feature! Both Vanguard tripods I’ve used have a Multi-Angle Central Column (MACC) that can be set up at virtually any angle and swivel 360° in any direction, allowing me to get my camera as low as about 6” off the ground, which is something that not many tripods can do. I love being able to shoot low, to capture small woodland details like mushrooms and tiny flowers, so this type of centre column is a necessity for me. And Vanguard really made this feature much easier to use on the VEO 3T+ as compared to my old Alta Pro; everything from the ergonomic shape and intuitive positioning of the knobs to the smoother movement of the column is a major improvement and lets me quickly switch from vertical to any position and back again, never getting in the way between me and my shots.
The VEO 3T+ lineup is available in carbon fibre or aluminum alloy. Although the weight difference of the carbon version is only roughly 0.22kg (0.5lb) less than the aluminum, I opted for carbon fibre because it doesn’t get as cold, making it much easier to handle in our Canadian winters. And let’s face it, weighing in at about 6lbs the RB67 is hardly a small camera, so I’ll take every bit of weight savings that I can!
Another feature that’s a huge win for me, and something I’ve been dreaming of for years, are the reversible legs, making its folded height pretty small at 48cm (18.9”). When I compare it to my old Alta Pro, the difference is significant enough at 63cm (24.8”), and since the legs aren’t reversible, the ball head sticks out on top when fixed to the side of my bag. It may not sound like a monumental feature to some, but trust me, some of the woods I venture through are pretty dense, and I am constantly getting the ball head snagged on branches. It’s a good thing I’m not a wildlife photographer because with the noise I’d make cussing at my Alta Pro’s tangled ball head, I’d scare away every single animal in the vicinity. The VEO 3T+ just feels more contained and balanced on my bag, I hardly notice it’s there.
As well as being reversible, like most travel style tripods the legs on the VEO 3T+ are 4-section. While some might feel like 3-section legs are more stable (found on full-size models), as a short person, I really appreciate the versatility that 4 sections give me. I rarely open up the last section, which helps maintain stability, and I find it so much easier to quickly set the exact height I want with 4 sections, another reason that I wanted to upgrade from my old tripod.
I absolutely love that the VEO 3T+ has twist locks, a feature I’ve wanted to try for a while. Everyone has their preference over twist vs. flip locks, but personally I find that over time flip locks become stiff and hard to use. I’m willing to take the blame here, I don’t do regular maintenance on my tripods, which would help keep them going longer, but for me, the twist locks are already much easier and more comfortable to use.
Overall, I have to say that I am really enjoying using the VEO 3T+ 264CB! I shoot a lot of different film formats, from 35mm SLRs all the way to large format, and while it can be hard to find a one-size-fits-all tripod, I honestly think that this one comes the closest so far. For me, it ticks all the boxes as far as size, stability, ease-of-use, and manoeuvrability go, so if these things are important to you when shopping for a new tripod, I highly recommend checking this one out.
This is one tripod that I will do my best to keep away from farm equipment!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR – JESS HOBBS
Hi! My name is Jess Hobbs, and I am a film photographer living in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. These days I mainly shoot woodland scenes and farmscapes, but I am no stranger to the streets and festivals of Montreal! I also enjoy creating videos for my YouTube channel @jesshobbsphoto about my photographic adventures, and was most recently featured in Ilford’s #MyFilmStory series, which you can watch here! I’m really excited to be joining the PHOTONEWS team, and look forward to giving you a window into my photographic process and journey, wherever it may take me!
Currently based out of the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Jess shoots predominantly with film and focuses on creating images that are both technically sharp and emotionally stirring by exploring subject matter and concepts with deep personal meaning. Presenting the world she sees and lives, her hope is to encourage and motivate others to become more in tune with their own surroundings in a world that is saturated with constant distractions and disposable dreams. It is through her images that Jess copes with change on social, environmental, and personal levels while attempting to preserve pieces of the past.
You can also find her on Instagram and YouTube @jesshobbsphoto.
