Ok so as part of my "what to spend cash whilst the 150mm OS isn't being released" debate its time to look at considering upgrading the tripod.
Currently I have a Manfrotto 055XPROB and I don't use it that often and there are 2 reasons primarily for this (ok there are 3 but the 3rd isn't the tripods fault 
).
1) Low angle work - the horizontal setting the middle section goes to when at low angles is a pain to me. I know some have worked around this by putting the thing in upside down into the slot and going low that way, but overall I just find that for going low in general with the tripod it does not work. First off I end up with a massive length of arm sticking out to one side that just gets in the way and caught up with things - secondly I end up with my tripod head at an odd angle which limits its functionality.
2) Weight - its not ultra light and once paired with a solid tripod head (eg manfrotto junior geared head) the weight really adds up.
Requirements:
Something ideally lighter than the 055XPROB
Low angle work not via the whole horizontal middle section affair (ie a removeable middle section with the tripod head bolting to the legs themselves or to a low height adaptor.
Able to take up to a 300mm f2.8 IS L +2*TC with a 7D and be stable (yes I've not got the lens yet, but no point getting legs that can't work with what I aim to use).
Something Gitzo (ok maybe not a requirement but from what I can tell from the market its going to probably be Gitzo ).
Budget:
under £400 (though I'll happily listen to recommendations that meet the requirements that are over the price point - I like to know where abouts in a market I am rather than just always going with what fits the cash to hand) .
