My First Tripod. Recommendations please.

[neuroanatomist]

I've had a better think about this, and played with them in shops, and I think I prefer the weight of the 190XPROB to the 055. If I was to go for the lighter legs, should I be going for a smaller/lighter ballhead in the 496RC2?

The 496 would hold your current gear as well as the 498. The 498 allows for some future growth, should you decide to get a telephoto lens down the line, you'd likely need a new head as well, if you get the 496 now.

I don't know how much use I'd get out of the panning function on the 498.

Hmmm... In your opening post of the thread, you stated:

I might have a pretty unique opportunity in the coming months to go onto the roof of pretty tall building in London.

...and that would be definitely​ be a time I'd want a panning feature on my tripod!