[Mateo]

Hi Miro



Excellent questions. I think everyone should use your post as a checklist prior to purchase.



Oddly enough I'm an urban shooter and rarely get out of the city. That's one reason the twist/flip locks "controversy" is almost irrelevant to me.



I currently shoot with a Pentax k100d super and my longest lens is a Vivitar Series 1 70-200.



I think the RRS bh-30 ballhead would be fine As I don't anticipate going longer than 300mm.



I'm an amateur.



I can appreciate the design and construction of a Gitzo but there really isn't any way to justify or even afford such an expense.



I also own a Bogen 3021 which is certainly stable but the weight and size are ungainly for urban trekking.



With the advent of Swiveling LCD's I think I can get by with a shorter maximum height of a tripod. I don't run across drastically uneven topography in the urban environment so longer legs aren't a requirement.



The Cullmann caught my eye because of...

1. Flip locks

2. 3 section

3. German made

4. Short center column

5. Hook on center column included.

6. Price



Manfrotto 190 is the easy choice but Cullmann looks interesting