I think I have that exact Bogen Manfrotto combo. I've been very happy with it..

'I reject your reality and substitute my own' -Adam Savage..

I have a previous version of the DynaTran 828 and love it!gro..

Heather,.

I have the 3001BPRO and 322RC2 head and have been very pleased. It certainly isn't carbon fiber but it is definitely "packable". I, too, am 5'8" and it has worked very well for me in that respect..

Kat.

'Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO, what a ride!'.

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference...

By the 055XPROB, although there is still plenty of 3021 stock. With the 055 version, you lose the center column hook (although there is an integrated plastic one near the center column) but gain much more finger-friendly flip-lock levers..

Bogen's site has a "spotlight" on the new 3021 update - http://www.bogenimaging.us/Jahia/site/bius/lang/en_US/pid/15183.

I've just recently purchased the 055XPROB and it's sturdy, stable and really tall. I only have to open the lower legs about half way to accommodate my 5'4" height. It should be more than enough to support your gear and height. This is not a light tripod, but you can't have cheap, light and sturdy in one package..

Can't comment on your chosen grip head as I chose the 488RC2 ballhead...

I use a Slik Pro-700DX and it is very good, for me it is a little heavy but the perfect comprimise between portability and being up to the job...

... and highly personal..

It's semi-easy to go to a big store, and pick up some tripods, extend them, heft them, turn the knobs and swing the levers, and get a really good idea if the tripod is, first of all, well built, and second of all, feels good to you..

Bring your camera and your lens... that makes a big difference is choosing..

Try a ball head and a three-way head and a pistol grip head. Which feels best?.

Do the levers and knobs feel right? Is there a bubble level, and if so, or if not, do you care?.

Cross braces? Valuable is steadyiness really, really mattrs, but often, pretty good is good enough..

Can the center column run horizontally? Do you care?.

And so on. Go make up your own mind..

BAK..

Thanks for the advice but unfortunately the only camera store "near" me is over 30 miles away and I was just there a few weeks ago and they don't carry any IN the store... You can order some but then you have bought it already... The only other stores I have around are places like Walmart (still 20 miles from me). I don't even know if Walmart sells a tripod but I suspect they wont have anything worth the gas to even bother and look at nevermind buy...Heather..

While there are a few satisfied users, reviews and reports uncoverable with a Google search make them seem rather risky at best..

The Bogen 190xprob is similar to the 3021 and maybe even more to it's apparent replacement(?). It's got a lower weight rating (I believe 11 lbs as opposed to 13 for the 3021) and is somewhat shorter. You may be able to save some weight and size and it may not be much of a performance penalty..

I'd avoid the two grip heads, the 322 and 3265 as an only head. The 322 does away with most of the problems with the 3265 from it's length but grip strength can be an issue for some people and the offsets seems a bit odd to me. I really like my 3265 for some uses but for others, like needing to go to a portrait orientation or too much tilt off vertical in any direction, it's got balance problems. They can be very fast in use though. Neither are as well suited to panorams or similar uses as some of the other heads, especially ballheads with separately controlled panning bases or bpan/tilt heads. I think the 488rc2 is a better general purpose choice and that a pan/tilt might be a better choice for some folks for their uses/interests.

The 3030 it replaces would have little trouble with the kit you have, I'm a little concerned on the weight rating for the new one but haven't used it, just the 3030. They are generally less compact and are somewhat slower, less convenient to use compared to ballheads.)).

The Slik 700dx is definitely a bang for the buck winner for steadiness and capacity for it's price, but it's perhaps bigger and heavier than you'd prefer..

While some of the Bogens offering higher capacity than the 3021 include leg braces, on most less expensive tripods they usually interfere with independent leg positioning and ad/box hype aside, aren't usually a "professional" feature...

I must compliment you on you "don't argue with an idiot" line..

This is good advise for some of the posts I sometimes see..

That of it self made the post worth while..

Peter.

Persuasive Marketing Systems -inc Copywriting, Design & Photography..

Thanks Peter ... those are words I actually try to live by ... although sometimes it is really hard to do!!!!.

Have a great day!.

Kat.

'Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO, what a ride!'.

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference...

I took BAK's advice and found a shop that carried several tripods. I settled on a Vanguard Tracker 2 and a Vanguard Ball Head 200.

It fits everything that I want plus I have a pan head too and I love that I don't have to extend the center column at all so it's super sturdy!.

Thanks for the advice everyone!Heather.

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window..

Also consider Benro (B&H sells them)..

They are carbon fiber knock off's of Gitzo at halg the price and very good build quality. I have the C-26n6. It weighs 6 lbs without the head and is about $300.00.

You should consider a better ball head than the Bogen. I have one of those but upgraded to a RRS-BH55 (out of your stated price range), but with a long lense you need something that won't flop around like the bogen which has no drag control..

Roberthttp://www.streamlinestudio.com..