Vanguard VEO 2S CM-264TR Carbon Fiber Monopod review: one leg, three feet and a smartphone holder

I’ve owned a Vanguard carbon fiber tripod in the past, as well as reviewing many of its tripods and other supports, bags, and backpacks over the years. I’ve always been impressed with the quality, performance, and competitive prices of Vanguard kit, and there’s a big catalog to choose from, the company making a diverse and constantly growing range of photographic and other accessories for nearly 40 years.

Suffice it to say that Vanguard makes some of the best tripods for photographers, best carbon fiber tripods, best travel tripods, and best ball heads, as well as some of the best monopods, including the VEO 2S CM-264TR that I’m reviewing here. Let’s take a closer look.

Vanguard VEO 2S CM-264TR monopod: Specifications

Vanguard VEO 2S CM-264TR monopod: Price

In various world regions, this monopod is available in a couple of different options. First up is the version that comes with a smartphone connector kit and costs $104 / £130 / AU$240. That’s certainly not cheap for a monopod but is nevertheless a very reasonable price considering the build quality and the additions of ‘tri-feet’ and a smartphone clamp and Bluetooth remote.

The pricier version is still very reasonably priced at $170 / £170 and includes all of the above, plus a Vanguard VEO BP-120T ball/pan head. I’d say the latter is a much better option, although at the time of writing this review, I couldn’t find availability in Australia (you can still buy the parts separately). If you want to save a few bucks, the monopod is also available in aluminum instead of carbon fiber.

Vanguard VEO 2S CM-264TR monopod: Design & Handling

I’m generally accustomed to monopods resembling a stick that’s made out of metal or carbon fiber. Not surprising, really, as they simply have a top plate at one end, a foot at the other, along with an extending tubular section in between. This Vanguard looks more like some kind of medieval mace. Sure, the main section is akin to that of a conventional monopod, made from four sections of luscious-looking carbon fiber, but there’s a 3-pronged protuberance at the base.

Let’s start at the bottom with those tri-feet and work our way up. The feet are permanently attached to the monopod, rather than popping on when you feel the need for them. You therefore need to factor in their size and weight for carrying the monopod around and packing it away. For operational use, each foot hinges down individually and clips into place. As with the proverbial milking stool, the three points of contact with the ground give a firm footing for the monopod even on very uneven terrain, although you could argue that the single point of contact for regular monopods would suffice for that equally well.

An advantage of the tri-feet is that the monopod can stand up all on its own, rather than needing to be held upright. However, Vanguard recommends that you don’t try this with a camera or other equipment mounted on it, saying you should hold onto the monopod at all times. Nobody wants an expensive accident. Even so, the feet do add an extra layer of support and security.

One concern I had was that I wouldn’t be able to tilt the monopod to my desired angle from the vertical when using it, or pan at will. I needn’t have worried on one front, as the feet are attached via a ball joint, which enables a generous range of tilt. Panning proved problematic, as I’ll come to in ‘performance’.

Moving on up, there are four sections of carbon fiber tubing that make up the main part of the monopod. The outer section has a pretty chunky diameter of 26mm, or about an inch. An upside of this is that even the thinnest of the four telescoping sections has a reasonable girth and isn’t flimsy. That’s reflected by the beefy 15kg / 33lb payload rating of the monopod.

To extend or contract the sections, the monopod relies on twist-action clamps. Compared with flip locks, these can make monopods more slimline, without stick-out bits, but that’s rather redundant considering the fold-up feet. Even so, many photographers prefer twist clamps to flip locks and these ones work with smooth simplicity, requiring about half a turn to release them or lock them up again.

Up towards the top, there’s a comfort pad, which helps you keep a firm grip on the monopod in all weathers and temperatures. It’s even nicely styled and has the maker’s name stamped in it. Things get quite interesting just under the camera platform. There’s a wrist strap for added safety and security, or for strapping the monopod to something else, as well as a carabiner for alternative attachment. There’s also a flip-over rubber pad that slips over the camera mounting screw and top plate. I found this added some genuine comfort if I wanted to use the monopod as a makeshift trekking pole on tricky terrain.

Remove the top plate cover and you’ll see that it has a circular platform and 1/4in connection screw. This is fine for use with the smartphone clamp and Bluetooth remote controller supplied in the kit, less ideal, to my mind, if you’re using a camera.

Naturally, you can attach a camera directly to the 1/4in screw on the top plate, and many photographers swear by this. I prefer the added convenience of a pan/tilt head when using a monopod and, as I’ve mentioned, Vanguard also offers a pricier kit that includes the VEO BP-120T ball/pan head. It’s a smart addition and helps with the overall performance.

Vanguard VEO 2S CM-264TR monopod: Performance

This Vanguard monopod fulfills the brief, as far as I’m concerned, at least most of it. With the addition of its tri-feet, it certainly gives a good, solid platform for shooting. It’s resistant to unwanted flexing or vibration, even at its generous maximum operating height of 163cm / 64.2in (without a head fitted). It also shrinks to a minimum height of 55cm / 21.7in for low-level shooting, while height adjustments are quick and easy, thanks to the effective twist-action clamps.

My only real problem is with those tri-feet. I found them highly effective for static shooting, and they do add stability while also enabling a generous amount of tilt. However, they’re also advertised as enabling panning, via the ball joint which connects the feet to the tripod. With my review sample, I found that panning was actually very stiff, and the feet tended to move around on the ground when attempting to pan the camera.

All the more reason to get the kit that comes complete with the pan/tilt head. The head works really well and makes panning a cinch, especially with the panning handle attached. With the addition of the head, performance is transformed and is extremely good.

Vanguard VEO 2S CM-264TR monopod: Verdict

The only hard part is whether to choose the basic version of the Vanguard VEO 2S CM-264TR Carbon Fiber Monopod with a smartphone kit, or the pricier edition that also includes a pan/tilt head. Actually, it’s not hard at all, as far as I’m concerned. If you need to pan and tilt your camera to track moving subjects, the pricier kit is a no-brainer, and it’s still excellent value for money at the price.

Alternatives

The Benro SupaDupa Pro MSDPL46C is a more innovative carbon fiber monopod that includes a leveling head with a pan-only release, a free-spinning foot if you’d rather pan that way instead, and a mix of flip locks and twist locks.

The 3 Legged Thing Trent 2.0 is a comparatively ‘affordable’ monopod with a high-quality build, albeit based on magnesium alloy rather than carbon fiber. Optional extras include Docz2 feet (three of them) and an add-on head.