Help with Tripod (again)

A month ago I asked you guys about some help with picking out a tripod and I got a lot of help (thanks!). One of the tripods that was suggested several times was the Bogen 190XDB legs, but with some extra Christmas money I was thinking about the Bogen 190XB legs. There is only about a $30 difference in the price, but I was wondering what you all thought? They both have the same max hight. Some of the features that the 190XB has over the 190XDB is the built in low angle adapter to 3.1"(which I think is very useful compared to 13.8" of the 190XDB), and flip lever leg locks compared to wing nuts (is flip levers better than wing nuts? ), it also has leg warmers on 2 of the legs. The only con that I see is the fact that it weighs .5 lbs more. If it was up to one of you guys, what would you do in my shoes?

Thanks for any help!

Lower capabilities can be really useful. As for wingnuts vs levers, I find the levers easier to use with cold hands. Both tend to break off with rough use, so I'd go ahead and order one or two extras. They're not much money and they're easy to change out. I go so far as keeping a couple of extras taped to the inside of an upper leg of each of our Bogens. And yeah, we're that rough on gear.

For $30, I'd go with the XB. As Hank mentioned, the lever locks are easier, and a little less prone to breakage IMO. In our earlier recommendations, I think everyone was trying to come up with the least expensive options per your request. The hand warmers will come in handy as well!

I have a Bogen with the leg padding and flip levers, and I'd think that they are definitely worth the $30 if you have it. If you frequently wear gloves to shoot in the cold, the leg warmers may not matter much, but the flip levers are probably easier with gloves. I try not to wear gloves, so the leg warmers are great, and the flip levers are quicker I would think, in the cold.

Leg padding is good, whether you buy it or make your own. Bogens come with a little wrench for adjusting leg locks as they wear. It works fine, but it's really easy to lose. I forgot to mention that along with the spare lock levers, I always tape the wrench to the top inside of one of the legs, too.

Thanks for all the replies! However I forgot to ask one other question. To get the view finder the correct height for my eyes, without having to bend over, I will have to use the center column (about 6in extended). I have heard that this will cause more camera shake... Is this true, and if so is it going to be something that I will have problems with? Thanks again!

Last question first - Yes, raising the center column decreases the stability. Try not to use it if you can help it. Now to the earlier question- go with flip levers and low level capability. You will use the low level perspective more than you think. $30 over the useful life of the instrument is a small price to pay for this versatility.

Extending the center can indeed affect stabillty, but not always. Extending it 6" may be negligible if the wind is not blowing, etc. Just use your common sense. It would also depend on the what lens you're using. With a 12-24 you would probably not notice any difference; with a 600 or another long lens any shake is magnified greatly.

Most of the issues of raising the center column can be moderated by hanging a weight from the bottom of it, ala the hook provided on some Gitzo models. That's what I do with our 1227 and 1228 Gitzo, which I find too short, and it's a big help. I haven't searched to see if similar hooks are available for Bogens, but you could rig something if not.

If the Bogen center column is the same as it used to be, it's much too long anyway. It used to be a 2 section column. Take one section apart and store it in the closet, The remaining section will have 2 holes in it at the bottom. You can get a large D Ring at the hdwe store, spread it and squeeze back together in the holes, or just put a decent, grade 8 bolt through the holes and hang a weight on it, or just hang a weight through one of the holes itself.

My Bogen center column has a ring on it already for attaching a shoulder strap (I'm not sure if other models have this). I occasionally just clip a shoulder strap around my backpack and hang it off this ring if I think I need to.

Thanks for all the input. My dad surprised me and told me that he would help me buy it for a late Christmas gift. So with that in mind I am going to go with the 190XPROB. This tripod is a little taller (2 in) and I think that I could manage without raising the center column.

Does anyone object, or does this look like a good starter tripod?

Thanks again!