MWAC wrote:
First you want to make sure whatever triop you purchase has a weight rating to hold your heavest camera/lens combo plus a hook to hang a counter weight would be a wise move (I hang my camera bag with extra lens from the hook).
I use a Manfrotto 055XB Tripod with a ball head, supports about 15lbs of equipment. My lens/camera combo is no where near this weight, but I firmly believe in investing for the future and buying the best I can afford at the moment.
I completely agree with this. I have the Manfrotto model below this one and wish I had this one now. I've got to be careful not to overload my tripod or the same thing that happened the OP might happen to me.