IMO, Manfrotto offers about the best compromise between quality and price. They aren't Gitzo, but they are stable, well made, and robust. As long as you're not planning on supporting a supertelephoto lens, something like the 190CXPRO3 (or -4, which I have), combined with a 498RC2 (I have the equivalent but older 488RC2) will work fine. I use it with a gripped 7D and 100-400mm or 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II as my longest/heaviest lenses. It's light and easy to carry strapped onto the outside of my Lowepro Flipside 400AW.