OK, so the one I was issued with was not too flash. Damn genetics.

I have just hit the 'Buy Now" button on a Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 tripod.

It is about 1/3 the weight of my current rock-solid tripod.

To keep the ball (?) rolling in the right direction I'm looking for a lightweight ballhead.

Unless I come into unforeseen riches, my maximum load will be about 2.5 Kgs.

I've looked at Arca Swiss, Acratech, Kirk, RRS, PhotoClam, Manfrotto & Markins.

I have Manfrotto gear, so the plates are a plus. I just don't like them. They don't inspire me to hang a couple of thousand bucks worth of gear off them.
I'm leaning towards those manufacturers who do a dedicated camera and lens plate. Some of the aforementioned mgfrs don't seem to have a 'mid-range' set-up, which is where I seem to sit.

I guess I'm seriously looking at the Markins Q10, seems to meet all my requirements. I emailed them re the Q3 Emille, but the feedback was that it would do the job with my 300f4, if using the collar mount, but the Q10 would do it better.

Does anyone have the Markins Q10, and would like to comment on it?

Cheers

Kevin