Tripod advice

I also suspect, that it's not Slik Pro you are using.

just an old manfrotto 058/3D head and a small carbon manfrotto with cheap giottos ball head, had them for quite a while.

Gitzo, 20 + years, faultless.

Industry standard then. My boss had an old very heavy Manfrotto tripod we'd use. An awesome thing, but perhaps not for a trip to the local park.

But what sort of non light demands 1/30s wide open WITH flash?

Sunset, telephoto, far away subject?

If you haven't bought that other one Timmy2wheels, here's a classic Manfrotto for less than £100. Comes with a pan+tilt head.

http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?prod_code=PON10D000049&Cat_Code=21&Subcat_Code=139&prod_name=Manfrotto%20190XDB%20&%20391%20RC2%20Head

Well I did buy the Vanguard one with the bundled SBH-30 ballhead, but it came with a cracked bubble level on the legs, and the ball head itself is complete shite so it's going back.

Like the look of that Manfrotto, and it's really quite light. So it's down to a choice between that and the Red Snapper one which has lots of praise. Which to choose?!

Seriously, the Manfrotto 190 is THE standard.

A bit like a Golf for hatchbacks.

Also, a Manfrotto with a pan+tilt head, for less than £100, is a true bargain.

Grab it, or regret it.