Vanguard VS55 Mini Table Tripod with 5 Section Legs

I actually used it for a short stop motion school project. It worked really well considering how small it is. I didn't have high expectations, I just needed something to keep the camera from moving. The only reason I took off was because if you push too hard the legs start to fold back into themselves, but I wrapped them in duct tape for the project length and it worked wonderfully. Good buy for a temporary thing or a hobby, but professinals will definitely want something a little more stable.

Extremely small, Barbie-sized tripod. Anything attached to it weighing over a few ounces will tip over. Watch out for breezes and uneven ground. I sent mine back.

The good:

Small
Made of metal
Gold paint
Ball mount has a good tightening screw
Legs are stable when fully retracted

The bad:

Not ideal for heavy cameras since the legs will retract under the camera's weight when extended
Tripod smells like grease

I will not be using this tripod, and it's not worth the postage to return it. Why will I not be using it? There are no mini-pins or "stops" in the legs to keep each segment locked, so instability is very high.

There are 3 point-n-shoot/compact digital cameras in my family (an older Nikon 995, a Canon A720IS, and a Panasonic Lumix TZ4), and there's only one I'd even remotely consider using this with -- the Lumix, which weighs in the lightest. There is not much leg slippage with it atop the head, but if I put any down-pressure at all, the legs start folding in upon themselves. The legs on this are so small, of course, that any uneven slippage will result in a terrible tumble for your camera.

Also, only two of the legs pivot, with one fixed, which is just plain awkward.

While slightly bigger, I HIGHLY recommend the Sunpak - 1001D Digital Tripod. It's only about five dollars more, and it's sturdier to at least a power of 10. Not quite as portable, no, but I won't risk any of these fine digital cameras with such cheap gear.

One other reviewer noted using his with an H4 (or H2?) Handy Recorder. I might consider using this tripod for that same use -- I have a Zoom H2 -- for that recorder is as light as a feather. But since I've got the SunPak, I am not sure this Vanguard will ever see light outside of my closet.

Standing just a few inches high, this tripod is ideal for on-the-go use. I was surprised by the weight - fairly hefty - and was initially put off. I've come to appreciate that this tripod has some heft to it because it keeps whatever I have mounted to it nice and secure.

I bought this tripod mainly for use on my Zoom H4 audio recorder. The removal of handling noise is essential with small audio recorders!

I will likely use this in the future for my small digital camera and *maybe* my dSLR but I doubt that it would have the ability to hold up such a device.

The swivel head is easy to use but I would prefer if it were just a bit stiffer. Once locked down though, the camera plate doesn't shift.

Great product.