Vanguard Vesta 203AP tripod review: a remarkably inexpensive tripod kit, complete with 3-way pan head

Vanguard has made a name for itself as a high-ranking manufacturer of tripods, monopods bags, cases and other photographic accessories, as well as binoculars and spotting scopes, with an illustrious history that stretches back to 1986. Although the company’s current product range is very diverse, ‘tripods’ are always the first thing that springs to my mind when the name crops up. Indeed, Vanguard makes some of the best tripods for photographers, best tripods for videographers and best travel tripods.

The tripod that I’m reviewing here doesn’t fit into any of those categories, although it’s sufficiently lightweight to classify as a travel tripod. Instead, the Vesta 203AP aims to be one of the most inexpensive complete tripod kits on the market, and is definitely a contender as one of the best budget tripods, if you’re after a set of sticks for minimum outlay.

Vanguard Vesta 203AP: Specifications

Vanguard Vesta 203AP: Price

Vanguard makes a huge range of tripods to suit every need and budget. But when it comes to ‘budget’, you’d struggle to find a complete tripod kit from a reputable manufacturer that costs less than the $70 / £50 / AU$100. That’s the selling price of the Vanguard Vesta 203AP. Ultimately, it’s a fraction of the price of many a set of legs or a head, sold individually rather than as a complete kit, potentially making it a bargain buy.

Vanguard Vesta 203AP: Design & Handling

The Vanguard Vesta 203AP looks and feels pretty small and lightweight, but it’s not advertised as a ‘travel tripod’. That’s a fair point, as the vast majority of travel tripods these days have swing-up legs, so the feet encircle the extended center column when folded down, to reduce the stowage size. But you pay a price for those space-saving designs, in that it takes longer to set up your tripod and pack it away again. Instead, the 203AP has regular legs that simply hinge out through a small arc. Even so, the tripod folds down to just 57cm / 22.25", complete with head, so it can still fit into small spaces for stowage.

As I’d fully expect at this price point, the leg sections and center column are made from aluminum rather than carbon fiber. A downside is that they feel cold to the touch in chilly weather and, in keeping with the minimalist design and pricing, there’s no comfort padding on any of the legs. There are also only three sections per leg, rather than the four or five often featured in travel tripods.

That compromises the maximum operating height as well as smallness when folded, but, again, there’s an upside in that with only two clamps per leg, rather than three or four, it’s relatively quick and easy to set up the tripod and fold it down again. The sections are released and clamped with flip-lock levers. Twist-locks are often preferred as they don’t tend to stick out as much, but the levers in this tripod are very slimline.

Another advantage of the tripod only featuring three sections per leg rather than four or five is that it avoids the bottom leg sections being too thin and spindly. As such, the diameter of the top section is 20mm and the inner ones measure 17mm and 14mm, so even the bottom one isn’t super-skinny.

One thing I really do miss in this tripod is that it only has one locking angle for the legs. I’m more used to three angles, so I can splay the legs further apart. It can be very useful for shooting on uneven terrain and for working around obstacles. It’s also great for enabling really low-level shooting, while also adding stability at short operating heights, making the tripod less prone to toppling over. With just one angle on offer, the minimum height is relatively tall at 53.5cm / 21.1".

On the plus side, the textured rubber feet enable a slip-resistant footing on rough and smooth surfaces. At full stretch with the leg sections and center column fully extended, the maximum operating height is a little disappointing at 155cm / 61", or just an inch over 5 feet. The center column has a locking screw that, again, is quick and easy to use. However, you can’t remove and reverse the center column, which would have enabled ultra-low-level shooting, albeit with the camera inverted.

I’m pleased that despite the bare-bones nature of the tripod, Vanguard has included two bubble levels, one on the platform at the top of the legs and one on the head. These are handy for leveling the camera. Leveling can be an important factor given that the tripod features a panning head. Correct leveling ensures that the camera stays on the level when panning, even through a whole 360 degrees, which is ideal for shooting video as well as taking a sequence of stills to stitch into a panorama.

Although it looks and feels like a 2-way pan head, with an operating handle and independent panning lock, there’s a neat trick to add versatility. An additional panning lock on the other side of the main one enables you rotate the upper platform on which the camera sits, in relation to the rest of the head. Rotate it through 90 degrees and you can use the tilt mechanism to swivel the camera into portrait orientation instead of the regular landscape orientation.

Another little luxury that you might not expect in a bargain-basement tripod is that this one features a quick-release plate. It features a D-ring and slot for securing it to your camera with a finger and thumb of coin, and a sprung pin that can help to avoid the camera unwantedly twisting or working loose on the plate.

Vanguard Vesta 203AP: Performance

Performance is pretty impressive in terms of the speed with which you can set up the tripod and start shooting. It’s certainly quicker to put up than typical travel tripods, thanks to its relatively simple design. However, what you gain in speed, you lose in compactness for stowage. With only three leg sections and no multi-angle leg facility, nor the ability to reverse the center column, the range of operating heights is comparatively limited. It ranges from a minimum of 53.5cm / 21.1" to a maximum of 155cm / 61". Ultimately, the tripod is too tall for ultra-low-level shooting and you might feel it’s too short for comfortable shooting at its maximum height.

The lack of wider leg angles also makes the tripod feel a little prone to toppling over at its minimum operating height. Up towards the maximum height with all of the leg sections and center column extended, the tripod is quite prone to vibrations and feels a little lacking in rigidity. Sure, it only has a fairly modest maximum load rating of 3.5kg / 7.78lb but simply feels a bit wobbly. The highlight of performance is that panning and tilting work smoothly, courtesy of the panning handle, which makes the tripod good for tracking action with a camera or birdwatching with a spotting scope.

Vanguard Vesta 203AP: Verdict

High-quality tripods often cost a small fortune, so it would be unfair to expect too much from a complete kit that’s priced at just $70 / £50 / AU$100. Sure enough, the Vanguard Vesta 203AP is relatively simple in its design and basic in its feature set. Rigidity isn’t altogether convincing either, but, for the money, it works pretty well. It’s sufficiently compact and lightweight to take along for the ride, quick to set up, and easy to use. The 2-way motion of the pan/tilt head enables smooth and wide-ranging movement, and the additional upper panning mechanism gives the option of switching to portrait orientation shooting. As a basic tripod, it’s really pretty good, and they don’t come any more affordable than this.

Alternatives

The 3 Legged Thing Punks Patti 2.0 Tripod and Airhed Mini Ballhead is one of the less expensive options in the highly impressive Punks 2.0 range. It’s immaculately crafted from magnesium alloy and offers excellent versatility as a tripod, while also easily converting into a monopod.

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced AS really aims to please. It’s available with either flip locks or twist locks for its leg sections, made from either aluminum or carbon fiber, comes complete with a clever head and folds down really small for easy stowage.