---
product_id: 268532891
title: "Alta Pro 263Ab 100 Aluminum Tripod With Sbh-100 Ball Head For Sony, Nikon, Canon Dslr Cameras, Black"
brand: "vanguard"
price: "$435.21"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 5
category: "Vanguard"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/268532891-alta-pro-263ab-100-aluminum-tripod-with-sbh-100-ball
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# 26mm leg diameter for rock-solid stability 360° fluid SBH-100 ball head rotation Multi-angle central column (0-180°) for creative shots Alta Pro 263Ab 100 Aluminum Tripod With Sbh-100 Ball Head For Sony, Nikon, Canon Dslr Cameras, Black

**Brand:** vanguard
**Price:** $435.21
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📸 Elevate Every Angle — Capture the Unseen with Vanguard Alta Pro!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Alta Pro 263Ab 100 Aluminum Tripod With Sbh-100 Ball Head For Sony, Nikon, Canon Dslr Cameras, Black by vanguard
- **How much does it cost?** $435.21 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/268532891-alta-pro-263ab-100-aluminum-tripod-with-sbh-100-ball)

## Best For

- vanguard enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted vanguard brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Compact Yet Mighty:** Folded at just 28.2 inches and weighing 5.4 lbs, it’s the perfect travel companion for professionals on the move.
- • **Built to Last & Load:** Premium magnesium die-cast canopy and 15.4 lbs max load capacity mean your DSLR gear stays secure and steady in any shoot.
- • **360° Fluid Ball Head Control:** Smooth SBH-100 ball head with quick release plate and bubble levels ensures precision framing and effortless adjustments.
- • **Unmatched Stability & Flexibility:** Aluminum alloy legs with quick flip locks and retractable spikes adapt to any terrain or angle, empowering your creative vision.
- • **Revolutionary Multi-Angle Central Column:** Tilt your center column from 0 to 180 degrees with Instant Swivel Stop-n-Lock system for macro and wide-angle shots that stand out.

## Overview

The Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 is a professional-grade aluminum tripod featuring 26mm three-section legs with adjustable angles (25°, 50°, 80°), a smooth 360° SBH-100 ball head with quick release, and a unique multi-angle central column system allowing 0-180° tilt. Weighing 5.4 lbs and extending up to 68.2 inches, it supports up to 15.4 lbs of camera gear, combining portability, stability, and versatile shooting positions ideal for DSLR users seeking precision and creative freedom.

## Description

Alta Pro tripods have unmatched flexibility, stability and allow more angle options than ever before. Its innovative multi-angle MCC system allows users to move the center column from zero to 180 degree angles in variable vertical and horizontal positions, making macro photography and special wide angle shooting a breeze. The Instant Swivel Stop-n-Lock (ISSL) system securely repositions the center column in just a few seconds while maintaining the stability of the tripod. Additional tripod features include advanced camera vibration and shock control, aluminum alloy legs that adjust to 25, 50 and 80 degree angles, quick fold leg locks, patented premium magnesium die-cast canopy, hexagonal center column for added stability and non-slip, spiked rubber feet for changing terrain, and a removable hook for hanging camera accessories. Its liquid-like ball head SBH-100 rotates 360 degrees and features smooth locking knobs, excellent loading capacity and fine tuning functions.

Review: This tripod is fantastic. It's durable and fairly compact. When looking for a new tripod, I knew I wanted something with a ball joint head. I kind of had my mind set on a Manfroto, but I just couldn't justify the price. This Vanguard was cheaper than just the tripod portion of the Manfroto, and I would have had to buy the head separately. The ball head on this is stiff enough to stay in place, but easy enough to move around. The legs are sturdy. I have rarely had to set down more than one section of the legs. It will get quite tall if you put down both sets. The centre post also has a spot to attach a sandbag if you need to add stability. For the price, it has a lot of good features. Very happy with this purchase.
Review: Having only an old and kind of heavy tripod—but using lighter mirrorless cameras these days—I needed to find a lighter tripod. I checked out several brands. The Vanguard gets my vote. >> Legs Out of the box, they are neither too stiff nor too lose. They feel just right. In the event they need tightening, the company supplies a tool for that purpose. When the tripod is set up and everything is tightened down, it feels super solid. >> Ballhead This looks like a high-quality item to me, but it uses a proprietary attachment system—it isn't Arca-Swiss-compatible. Newer Vanguard tripod/ballhead kits all seem to have Arca-Swiss-compatible heads. I don't want to discard my camera's great hand grip with its Arca-Swiss base plate. Fortunately I have a good replacement ballhead that I can use instead. Too few manufacturers pay enough attention to the feel of their tightening knobs. The ones on the Vanguard ballhead are comfortable to hold and turn. >> Proprietary ballhead attachment system I might not be able to use it myself, but that aside it's clearly well made. The supplied camera plate has a sensible design for the attachment screw, so you aren't out of luck if you need to attach it but don't have a flat-head screwdriver or coin handy. The plate slides into place and locks there. Press a small button at the open end of the clamp to release it—the mounting plate slides right out. This seems like a very solid design, surely capable of holding a fairly heavy DSLR with the ballhead remaining locked down nice and tight. >> Center column The column is hexagonal, not round. It feels solid when it's tightened. It can't be turned within its housing, but when you have it upright, you can use the swivel adjustment elsewhere on the tripod. >> Release levers for changing leg angles I'm used to seeing levers that stick out at the tops of tripods' legs—you push them inward or pull them downward to change the legs' angles. Some have a pretty flimsy feel to them. The Vanguard tripod has wide push-levers instead, mounted flush to the sides of the legs rather than projecting out from them. This arrangement works very well, and there's no metal gizmo sticking out the sides of the tripod to snag on anything. Thumbs up for this feature. (If it matters: the legs move silently as you change angles—no loud CLICKs.) >> Tilting center column design Some reviews I've seen complain a bit about the steps needed to move the center column from vertical into tilt "mode". Judging by video reviews, Vanguard's later models seem easier to tilt. But it isn't _that_ much more work. Set the column at the desired angle, then lock it by tightening a lever. With the lever down, the column locks securely and without any "slop". To unlock it, slide a small plastic slider a short distance. This frees the tightening lever, which you then lift to change the angle. Moving the column from vertical to "tilt"—or removing it entirely when you want to reverse it—does not require removing the spring-mounted hook at the end of the column. Thanks for that, Vanguard. When the column is in tilt "mode," you can swing it around until it's parallel to the vertical axis of the tripod. Then, adjust the distance from head to ground via a single tightening knob. Thus for reversing the column you don't have to pull it all the way out of its housing and then re-insert it upside down. >> Flip-lock levers for extending the legs I have one tripod with inexpensive-looking and -feeling levers, and they worry me. But the Vanguard's levers seem very well made. The tool supplied with the tripod enables you to tighten them if need be. This model has only two flip-locks per leg to get to its rated maximum height. That's great. >> Monopod capability It's all the rage in recent tripod designs and it sure is handy. The Vanguard does not have such a feature. The legs can't be removed. But I knew that when I bought it. Nice to have, but not a deal-breaker. >> Carrying it around Vanguard doesn't make the tripod to be folded back onto itself after the fashion of Three Legged Thing tripods. But, you can shorten it a lot by moving the center column to tilt "mode", extending it all the way, turning it parallel to the legs, and locking the tilt angle. This shortens it quite a bit. (If you fold it up this way, you probably shouldn't pick it up by holding only the center column. Hold the legs instead.) >> Nice touch Good deal: All three legs have foam wraps. >> Carrying bag? Nope. Nice to have, but not a deal-breaker. >> Nit-pick: Documentation The documentation is almost entirely pictorial and the diagrams are not the easiest to read. You do, so to speak, get the picture after a while, but the documentation could stand improving. (And hello, Vanguard: The PDF version of the documentation needs to be output again at higher resolution!) >> Nit-pick: Set screws to hold the ballhead in place While this is a good idea to keep the ballhead from becoming unscrewed accidentally, it's a bit of a pain to loosen and tighten those set-screws within the mounting plate. But ok—it isn't as difficult as landing a rover on Mars. You won't have to do it often. The "multi-tool" supplied with the tripod comes with an Allen key of the necessary size. >> Overall impression << This reasonably priced tripod is well made and very solid. The tilting design is excellent. I expect that the product will last a long time.

## Features

- 26mm 3 section aluminum alloy legs adjust to 25, 50, and 80-degree angles to enable extreme low angle photography. Quick flip leg locks and rubber feet with retractable spikes
- Smooth fluid-like SBH-100 ball head rotates 360 degrees and includes quick release plate QS-39 and bubble levels
- The MACC (multi-angle central column) system allows you to move the central column from 0 to 180 degrees in various vertical and horizontal positions
- The Instant Swivel Stop-n-Lock (ISSL) system securely repositions the central column in one simple movement. Premium magnesium die-cast canopy, removable accessory hook, and anti-shock ring
- Specifications: Folded height: 28.2", Extended height: 68.2", Weight: 5.4 pounds. Max. load capacity: 15.4 pounds

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B003WKOENO |
| Audio Recording | No |
| Best Sellers Rank | #47,957 in Electronics ( See Top 100 in Electronics ) #282 in Complete Tripod Units |
| Brand | Vanguard |
| Built-In Media | Tripod, Tripod Bag |
| Color | black / black |
| Compatible Devices | Canon DSLR Camera, Nikon DSLR Camera, Sony DSLR Camera |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,074) |
| EU Spare Part Availability Duration | 10 Years |
| Exposure Control Type | Manual (M) |
| Features | Ball Head, Light |
| Folded Size | 28.2 inches |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00026196335986 |
| Head Type | Ball Heads |
| Item Dimensions D x W x H | 76.5D x 14.7W x 11.7H centimeters |
| Item Length | 68.2 Inches |
| Item Weight | 5.4 Pounds |
| Leg Diameter | 26.00 millimeters |
| Manufacturer | VANGUARD |
| Material Type | Aluminum |
| Maximum Height | 68.2 Inches |
| Media Type | ProductImage |
| Minimum Height | 28.2 Inches |
| Model Name | Alta Pro 263AB 100 |
| Model Number | ALTA PRO 263AB 100 |
| Number of leg sections | 3 |
| UPC | 026196335986 |
| Viewfinder Type | LCD screen |
| Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
| Weight Limit | 15.4 Pounds |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Vanguard
- **Colour:** black / black
- **Compatible devices:** Canon DSLR Camera, Nikon DSLR Camera, Sony DSLR Camera
- **Material:** Aluminum
- **Special features:** Ball Head, Light

## Images

![Alta Pro 263Ab 100 Aluminum Tripod With Sbh-100 Ball Head For Sony, Nikon, Canon Dslr Cameras, Black - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71npUMEjnpL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Style** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Its so confusing,whats the difference with the 263 tripod kits and tripod, does that mean for 169$ you only get the tripod head?**
A: The trick is to look at the last (second) letter in the model number. If it ends with "T" then it's just the tripod legs. "B" stands for ball head, so if the name ends in "B" you get the tripod legs and the a ball head. "P" stands for pistol-grip head. The first letter stands for the name of the material: "A" for aluminum, "C" for carbon fiber. So if the model number is 263AB, it means that it's the aluminum tripod legs plus a ball head.

**Q: Is there any difference between the 263AB and 264AB? I'm not really seeing any difference.**
A: Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB is both taller and larger than the 264AB. Both are virtually identical in weight, and have identical 7.0kg load capacities.I own both, the 263AB is a full-size (height-wise) tripod, while the 264AB is subtly more compact, which is noticeable when you set them up side-by-side. If you are of average height you may find you do not need to extend the center column with the 263AB very often, while you will probably need to extend the center column on the shorter 264AB most of the time. This technically affects stability, but the ~4" of extension is generally not significant for casual use. A big difference for me is that the 264AB will fit inside almost all airline carry-on bags I use (with the ball head removed), whereas the 264AB usually does not fit (at least in bags that are regulation size...).* 3-segment legs vs. 4-segment legs* 1730mm (68.125") extended height vs. 1625mm (64") extended height* 1425mm (56.125") minimum extended height vs. 1390mm (54.75") minimum extended height* 715mm (28.125") folded height vs. 625mm (24.625") folded heighthttp://www.vanguardworld.com/index.php/pv/products/detail-1-4-225-623.htmlhttp://www.vanguardworld.com/index.php/en/pv/products/detail-1-4-225-622.html

**Q: Can this tripod get really low to the ground/spread out on the ground without extending the arm out?**
A: The Legs DO fold out further, so that you can get lower to the ground. If you want to get lower, what you can do is slide up the middle piece all the way up, it comes out. Then you can flip it upside down so that the camera is now between the 3 legs. Sure your photo will be upside down, but that's what the rotate function is for in your photo editor.

**Q: How high does the tripod extend in its maximum setting?**
A: Max height is 70"

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by B***S on 13 February 2016*

This tripod is fantastic. It's durable and fairly compact. When looking for a new tripod, I knew I wanted something with a ball joint head. I kind of had my mind set on a Manfroto, but I just couldn't justify the price. This Vanguard was cheaper than just the tripod portion of the Manfroto, and I would have had to buy the head separately. The ball head on this is stiff enough to stay in place, but easy enough to move around. The legs are sturdy. I have rarely had to set down more than one section of the legs. It will get quite tall if you put down both sets. The centre post also has a spot to attach a sandbag if you need to add stability. For the price, it has a lot of good features. Very happy with this purchase.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by R***R on 3 March 2021*

Having only an old and kind of heavy tripod—but using lighter mirrorless cameras these days—I needed to find a lighter tripod. I checked out several brands. The Vanguard gets my vote. >> Legs Out of the box, they are neither too stiff nor too lose. They feel just right. In the event they need tightening, the company supplies a tool for that purpose. When the tripod is set up and everything is tightened down, it feels super solid. >> Ballhead This looks like a high-quality item to me, but it uses a proprietary attachment system—it isn't Arca-Swiss-compatible. Newer Vanguard tripod/ballhead kits all seem to have Arca-Swiss-compatible heads. I don't want to discard my camera's great hand grip with its Arca-Swiss base plate. Fortunately I have a good replacement ballhead that I can use instead. Too few manufacturers pay enough attention to the feel of their tightening knobs. The ones on the Vanguard ballhead are comfortable to hold and turn. >> Proprietary ballhead attachment system I might not be able to use it myself, but that aside it's clearly well made. The supplied camera plate has a sensible design for the attachment screw, so you aren't out of luck if you need to attach it but don't have a flat-head screwdriver or coin handy. The plate slides into place and locks there. Press a small button at the open end of the clamp to release it—the mounting plate slides right out. This seems like a very solid design, surely capable of holding a fairly heavy DSLR with the ballhead remaining locked down nice and tight. >> Center column The column is hexagonal, not round. It feels solid when it's tightened. It can't be turned within its housing, but when you have it upright, you can use the swivel adjustment elsewhere on the tripod. >> Release levers for changing leg angles I'm used to seeing levers that stick out at the tops of tripods' legs—you push them inward or pull them downward to change the legs' angles. Some have a pretty flimsy feel to them. The Vanguard tripod has wide push-levers instead, mounted flush to the sides of the legs rather than projecting out from them. This arrangement works very well, and there's no metal gizmo sticking out the sides of the tripod to snag on anything. Thumbs up for this feature. (If it matters: the legs move silently as you change angles—no loud CLICKs.) >> Tilting center column design Some reviews I've seen complain a bit about the steps needed to move the center column from vertical into tilt "mode". Judging by video reviews, Vanguard's later models seem easier to tilt. But it isn't _that_ much more work. Set the column at the desired angle, then lock it by tightening a lever. With the lever down, the column locks securely and without any "slop". To unlock it, slide a small plastic slider a short distance. This frees the tightening lever, which you then lift to change the angle. Moving the column from vertical to "tilt"—or removing it entirely when you want to reverse it—does not require removing the spring-mounted hook at the end of the column. Thanks for that, Vanguard. When the column is in tilt "mode," you can swing it around until it's parallel to the vertical axis of the tripod. Then, adjust the distance from head to ground via a single tightening knob. Thus for reversing the column you don't have to pull it all the way out of its housing and then re-insert it upside down. >> Flip-lock levers for extending the legs I have one tripod with inexpensive-looking and -feeling levers, and they worry me. But the Vanguard's levers seem very well made. The tool supplied with the tripod enables you to tighten them if need be. This model has only two flip-locks per leg to get to its rated maximum height. That's great. >> Monopod capability It's all the rage in recent tripod designs and it sure is handy. The Vanguard does not have such a feature. The legs can't be removed. But I knew that when I bought it. Nice to have, but not a deal-breaker. >> Carrying it around Vanguard doesn't make the tripod to be folded back onto itself after the fashion of Three Legged Thing tripods. But, you can shorten it a lot by moving the center column to tilt "mode", extending it all the way, turning it parallel to the legs, and locking the tilt angle. This shortens it quite a bit. (If you fold it up this way, you probably shouldn't pick it up by holding only the center column. Hold the legs instead.) >> Nice touch Good deal: All three legs have foam wraps. >> Carrying bag? Nope. Nice to have, but not a deal-breaker. >> Nit-pick: Documentation The documentation is almost entirely pictorial and the diagrams are not the easiest to read. You do, so to speak, get the picture after a while, but the documentation could stand improving. (And hello, Vanguard: The PDF version of the documentation needs to be output again at higher resolution!) >> Nit-pick: Set screws to hold the ballhead in place While this is a good idea to keep the ballhead from becoming unscrewed accidentally, it's a bit of a pain to loosen and tighten those set-screws within the mounting plate. But ok—it isn't as difficult as landing a rover on Mars. You won't have to do it often. The "multi-tool" supplied with the tripod comes with an Allen key of the necessary size. >> Overall impression << This reasonably priced tripod is well made and very solid. The tilting design is excellent. I expect that the product will last a long time.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by D***D on 13 June 2022*

I think this is a great tripod,not the lightest but very strong and steady.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 Aluminum Tripod with SBH-100 Ball Head for Sony, Nikon, Canon DSLR Cameras, Black
- Vanguard QS-39 Quick Release Plate for Specific Vanguard Tripods and Heads
- SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Memory Card - C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, SD Card - SDSDXXD-128G-GN4IN

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-05-16*