Vanguard Alta+ 203AP

I was researching long and hard to buy a suitable tripod for my Canon EOS 550D ( 18-55 + 50mm prime + 55-250). Needed one which gave me flexibilty to shoot both pictures and movies , shoot really low angle and not cost a bomb. The Vanguard Alta+ 203AP seemed to fit the bill perfectly. It is a beautifully designed tripod. The feel and finish is amazing. Some of the safety features really bring a smile to your face.It can go as low as 5 degrees from the ground. The weight hook reverses to form the camera mont. Stability is also good. I haven't yet used it extensively but it looks solidly made. Legs do not flex much if you keep within the weight limits.
Only shortcoming seems the weight limit at 2kgs. 3kgs would have been wonderful but then you need to buy a higher model. All in all great for a beginners kit with cropped bodies and consumer lens.

Good delivery from flipkart they took a week. Got it on the mentioned date.

I was looking for a sturdy tripod for my canon 1100 d which could enable me to shoot very low for landscapes and macro and alta + series tripods are just made for that. the center shaft can be removed and there is a smaller shaft for mounting the tripod head when u unscrew the metal hook which means u can shoot as low as 5degrees from ground. check the alta + series video on youtube by vanguard. Comes with ph-12 panhead(its an interchangable head tripod). Panning is smooth, I had an initial glitch where the 360 degrees rotation of the panhead was stuck!! (dont know the reason why but after some force it was alright).

Overall the tripod feels quite sturdy and wonderfully designed by vanguard. Just go for it. I give 4 stars because of the initial glitch I had.

It is a good tripod. I am using Canon 500D with a Canon 18-200 mm lens and it is quite stable. The feel of the tripod inspires confidence. The bag given with it is beautifully crafted and made of durable material ready for heavy use. Although it is stable yet it is not heavy and the head is very smooth while panning. In short the tripod is worth the investment and offers good value for money. The spiked rubber feet gives it extra stability in treacherous terrain. The dual lock safety mechanism holds the quick release plate in a firm grip and thus secures the camera safely to the tripod. Height is good for everyday and landscape photography. It also allows macro photography and the tripod accessory hook is made of metal and not plastic. It would have been just perfect if the price was a bit less.

This is a great tripod for a beginner. The features are great, it can be as tall as 1450 mm and as low as a few inches above the surface. I was really impressed with the built quality of this tripod, it's great. However, for the price, it cannot take more than 2 Kg. So its great for point and shoot and small DSLR photographers, but add your telephoto and speedlite and this thing will fall. Other than that, its a great tripod. I loved it.