ABEO-Pro-283CGH-1 image You won’t receive an argument from many photographers that a tripod is near or at the top of the list of absolutely necessary accessories. It’s probably also safe to say that the better the tripod, the more versatile your photography can be. That’s why Vanguard has been honored with its fifth consecutive Red Dot international design award…and this time for the company’s new Vanguard ABEO Pro 283CGH tripod.

Want to see reviews from other photographers? Read them HERE on Amazon OR you can read reviews HERE on Adorama.

Vanguard definitely designed this tripod for professional uses, but serious amateurs will also discover it’s the tripod they’ve always hoped someone would build. It’s not surprising it was Vanguard.



What should attract any photographer to the ABEO Pro 283CGH is the GH-300T grip head that includes a built-in remote control shutter release. Just to be clear, the grip head allows you to trigger your camera’s shutter while your hand remains wrapped around the grip. The benefit is that you can pan your camera with a smooth, easy motion and react quickly to the fast action of any subject you are tracking. In addition, once you’ve selected a panoramic vision to capture, you can move from image to image with a steady and accurate motion, and record them faster before the light or scene changes. This Vanguard tripod and its grip head are also just the setup to shoot pro-quality video.

Better yet, the GH-300T grip head covers 360 degrees, so you are less likely to miss a great action shot simply because your subject has moved beyond the frame…and the limitation of most other tripods. Essential to the incredibly smooth panning of the grip head is the dual-panning axes that support it and the 72-click-points positioning.

While the GH-300T grip head is great for panoramic and action photography, the Multi-Angle Central Column system is every macro photographer’s dream. Choose virtually any vertical or horizontal angle from 0 to 180 degrees and the column acts like a boom arm. The tough, high quality construction keeps the ABEO Pro 283CGH firmly anchored, as your camera is extended to a macro subject on the end of the column, but steady and solid…and you release the shutter from the grip, eliminating almost any possibility of camera shake. The solid feel of the central column occurs because of the Instant Swivel Stop-n-Lock (iSSL) System. Not only does it lock the column firmly in place, but also you can make rapid changes of angles with the quick adjustment lever, or locking/unlocking mechanism.

The “tripod” part of what makes the Vanguard ABEO Pro 283CGH a tripod is three carbon-fiber legs in three easy-to-adjust sections. Plus, each leg can be angled at 25, 50 and 80 degrees. This Vanguard tripod proves to be even more versatile when you spread the legs flat to the ground. Now, you have that low angle that enhances so many types of photography, including landscapes and architecture. The people at Vanguard have cleverly added ergonomic release buttons on the legs, so you can adjust the lengths fast and precisely even where the terrain is neither flat nor inviting. Finally, the ABEO Pro 283CGH tripod wouldn’t be complete without above-average feet. Vanguard calls them “3-in-1 All-Terrain” because they come with angled, rubber spikes as well as a set of snow and sand shoes.

The Vanguard ABEO Pro 283CGH tripod with the GH-300T grip head is a true all-pro system, but amateurs will find it be one of their wisest investments in photo accessories, as they will probably never have to buy another tripod.

The Vanguard ABEO Pro 283CGH tripod is available from Amazon for $549.99.

Photo Copyright © 2012, Vanguard Inc

People who read this PhotographyTalk.com article also liked:

 

Your feedback is important to thousands of PhotographyTalk.com fans and us. If this article is helpful, then please click the Like and Re-Tweet buttons at the top left of this article.