FWIW, I've got the Vanguard 283CT, same price as the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, pretty much same specs (weight, height, capacity), except the centre column tilts at any angle. I remember seeing specs, but i've got a paper catalogue, carries 8kg, maybe 6 when tilting IIRC (catalogue is at my old place).

So far i've used it for normal tripod photos, hanging low for macro (a bug in a web about 10cm off the ground), reproduction work (some place wouldn't accept photos, on fax and scan, so I took a photo of the page under glass and printed it to pdf. If the Australian Defence Force can't figure out the difference, then either noone can, or i'm scared for the security of our country (they already emailed me a password in plain text, so I think the latter)).
Anyway, I've set it up but haven't taken any shots, of the column tilting into the back corner of a room to get really (really) wide-angle interiors, and have also tried tabletop macro too.
All in all a great tripod. Came with a free bag and stone-sack thing to tie around the legs and fill with weight for more stability. Can't see using it, but maybe i'll try it out one day...