head vs legs budget proportioning

approximately how much does your tripod's ball-head ( not counting the cost of QR assembly ) cost expressed as a percentage of the same tripods' legs ?

if i can almost guarantee that the only camera and lens used on the tripod in the foreseeable future will be Digital Rebel with stock lens then how many pounds rating do you think this warrants for the ballhead ?

I'd say 12 pounds or so would be good even if it sound as if that's going a little overboard.

Depending on the type of head you're getting, the head might cost less, the same, or more than the cost of the legs. I don't think you should determine your head and leg choices based on their price although, obviously, the final choice will depend on your budget. Instead, you should try to match the head to the legs so that they both have about the same max load capacities although, personally, I'd go for a little more load capacity on the legs.

For your camera setup, you migh want to check out the Manfrotto 3221 or 3021 tripod legs.

I have two tripod/head combos.

1. Bogen 3051 w/ Wimberly head. The legs cost approx. $270 at B&H. The head costs approx $650 with a QR plate.

2. Giottos MT-8170 Carbon Fiber tripod, approx. $280, and Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head, roughly $90. (I also have a 322RC2, but still haven't decided if I like it better than the 488RC2).

So, in one case, the head costs roughly 2 1/2 time what the legs did, and in the other, about one-third.

It doesn't always make sense, does it?

I have similar "unbalance" at one point I had the 3001 Pro and a head that cost exactly the same as the legs...

But now I have a $300.00 head on it.. (that I got used for $145.00 - Graf Studioball)

Also,. I have a set of monster Manfrotto legs I got at a yardsale for $15.00 with a $200.00 Gimble mount head on it...

i see, thanx a lot.