Meet the manufacturer - Vanguard

You've more than likely seen Vanguard's bags, tripods and cases before, but we thought we'd shove them into the spotlight and take a closer look at this woman-owned, independent yet global company as it celebrates its 30th birthday.

Founded in 1986 by Anne Lee - who still heads up the company today - Vanguard takes a thoughtful approach to product design. The company's own engineers draw up the initial concepts for each new creation and all products are manufactured in Vanguard's own factories so quality can be guaranteed throughout the production process. The company prides itself on listening to customer feedback and tweaking each new generation to help people better enjoy their interests.

The new VEO collection was launched at The Photography Show in 2015, and has won accolades and awards from many of the UK's photographic magazines and tech reviewers. Here's our thoughts on just some of the range we have in stock...

VEO 37 shoulder bag

The VEO 37 looks like a perfectly ordinary and functional camera bag, but it has a secret: it's actually three different bags for the price of one. You can use it as it comes with your camera safely stored in the padded insert bag and strap your tripod on the bottom - you can take the padded insert bag out and use it as an everyday shoulder bag while keeping your camera safe at home - or you can take the insert bag out, turn the solid base over and use that base as a pocket for your tripod to fit into. This also gives you plenty of space to store your keys, phone, biscuits: all the essentials. And it looks the part as well. Magic!

VEO AM-264TR monopod

Is it a monopod or a walking stick? Well - both, actually. This super-compact all-aluminium monopod can be used as a walking support as well as for both video or photographic work. The tri-stand feature is really easy to unfold, and helps stabilise your shot when you're in need of stillness, but don't have space for a tripod. To make the AM-264TR into a compact monopod, you simply fold up the tri-feet and set the legs to a comfortable height and you're ready to go in seconds.

VEO 235AB travel tripod

This tripod's got four legs! Not so: the compact VEO 235AB has a “rapid rotation system” that keeps the head locked tidily away when being transported, and also effortlessly flips out and round when you want to use it. When it's folded up, it measures just 38cm by 12cm - and at full extension, it can reach a height of 145cm. Despite being incredibly portable this tripod can hold an astounding 6kg load

The supplied head has a spirit level for straight horizons, and comes with a separate pan lock that keeps your panning on an even keel. Vanguard also throws in a free low-angle adaptor that makes it even easier to get your camera closer to the ground for macro photography.

The tripod's legs also contain secrets: their feet can be changed from rubber to spikes for extra stability; the new VEO leg lock design enables you to adjust and fine-tune tightness, and all the legs can be adjusted between three angles with the push of a button. It's light, it's easy to transport, and it's definitely worth a look if you're keen on a new tripod.

If you're interested in a pan-head model then check out the VEO 235AP, or for a carbon fibre version that can hold 8kg then have a look at the VEO 265CB

The Supreme Cases

In addition to the VEO travel collection, Vanguard's Supreme cases are also worth a mention. These hard cases from Vanguard are seriously tough. In fact, they're virtually indestructible: while they're only supposed to be able to withstand 120kg, they've been seen being run over by a car without damage. They're O-ring sealed which means they're airtight and even waterproof to a depth of 5m. An automatic pressure equalization valve means your kit will travel safely when checked in the aircraft's hold.

Each case comes with a soft divider bag which helps keep your kit organised and can also be removed as a separate carrier for your camera gear. And, let's be honest, they also seriously look the part.

We're proudly selling a range of the Supreme Cases: the 27D, 37D, 40D, 46D and 53D. They all have the same core functionality and the main difference is size, but the 53D is a serious bit of kit, with wheels and a pull-out handle that's perfect if you're regularly transporting a serious amount of kit around.

In Summary

Over the years Vanguard have gained a well-earned reputation for high quality and feature packed products. We're pleased to have them in the range and we're sure you'll appreciate the benefits they can add to our comprehensive range. Look for Vanguard online or in selected stores.