forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

Laughing, but it's serious.

My main tripods are Bogen and Manfrotto. That's not good enough. Think about it:

1. I'm installing 32 square feet of interlocking padded flooring squares today in my studio. A 32 sq. ft. area covers where things in use or staged -- not stored -- could fall to the floor.
Cost? $10.

2. Already have loose safety straps installed for my lights. One accident already avoided. "Straps" are binder's twine tied with slip-adjustable clove-hitch knots.
Cost? $0

3. Due to possible quakes here, there are issues for stored lenses. My numerous lenses were stored at chest level on a shelf, for ready access. Handy but not good. Although the lenses-in-waiting are in lidded, stiff plastic tubs with cushioning, quake etiquette says they belong on the floor under a strong table.
Cost? $0

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Your Bogen is a work horse. It will easily support a 25lb payload.
'You can't go wrong, if you go strong'

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

If you happen to go to "PropertyRoom.com" There is a Manfrotto 3460 with a 503 head with a bid of $46 with two days to go. I researched this particular model but was not impressed at all. Sometimes there are reasonable cameras, etc. up for bid but be careful -- I usually go to Amazon.com to research and read about cameras and equipment. I don't jump on the first thing I see that looks like a good deal I just keep on hunting, sometimes for days.