Review on Optimized for SEO: Vanguard Alta Pro 2 264AO Aluminum Tripod with Alta PH-31 Pan Head by Arturo Reyes

As I am not a professional photographer, I have never felt the need to buy a camera tripod that is cheaper than in a department store. Having recently spent almost two thousand euros on a new camera that is a bit heavier than my old one, I decided to upgrade my tripod. I decided to order this camera from Revain after searching at my local Best Buy and several photo stores. The cheapest option that looked solid enough for my camera was $199, so I went in search of Revain and took a chance that this Alta Pro 263At would be as reliable as they claimed. It arrived today and right when I opened it. I could tell it was well built. It was everything that was advertised and while I have not yet used it outside of my living room it seems to be what I was looking for and expecting. The legs open well, lengthening by twisting to loosen and tighten again. I like the little levels that allow me to see if my level is set, although there are enough adjustments in the 3-way head to make any minor adjustments I might need. I like the head, it seems to work smoothly, at least enough for photography. I have two complaints that prevented me from giving this 5 stars. First off, the grip that releases the quick release shoe attached to your camera is a bit short and thick, making it difficult to release to detach the camera from the tripod. There just isn't enough room to get a good grip on the handle and I have small fingers. Because of this, when I'm shooting wildlife and suddenly need to pick up the camera, it's difficult to quickly remove the camera from the tripod. The second problem is that the fastest shoe has two pieces of rubber to cushion it when it's attached to the camera, and after playing with it a few times, one of the pieces of rubber has already fallen off. Looks like they just put a few drops of glue on it. I glued it back in place with gorilla glue and will see if it holds tomorrow. I find it frustrating having to repair an item that you have just received as new. Overall I am very happy with the quality and performance of this tripod. I will be testing it over the coming months and the real test of the gear is its durability, which can only be tested over time.