I'm using a Benro Adventure 2 carbon fiber with the flip locks instead of twist lock legs, and a Manfrotto XPro ball head on it. Freaking love the combo, and when I have the $ it's cheap to convert the top of the Manfrotto to a RRS plate.
If you're doing more video, a fluid head will work great. That said the Manfrotto 502 is one of the best inexpensive professional grade fluid heads out there. That said, unless you have a tripod that is set up with a bowl leveller out of the box, you'll need to spend a few bucks on one too. The XPro fluid head is pretty solid, but you get a lot more adjustment and reliability with the $30 more 502 head.
If it were up to me, I'd buy the tripod legs you want, a good fluid head, and leveling base. Neewer makes a solid one, despite being inexpensive and Chinese. It's a copy of a more expensive fluid base, but I don't know which. The only reason I sent mine back is fluid heads/levels don't work well past 20f or so.
- Pan fluid drag system. Base Diameter: 75 mm, Working Height: 13 cm. Weight capacity is 15.4 lbs. and counterbalance supports 8.8 lbs. Accessory Compatibility: 502HLV, 509HLV, 520BALL, 520BALLSH
- Easy Link connectors for easy attachment of accessories. Top Attachment: 1/4 inch screw, 3/8 inch screw
- Wider and longer top plate for extra stability
- The XPRO fluid head is the only lightweight video head with fluidity selector: this makes it possible to switch between hard and soft fluidity according to the preferred speed of tilt movement and to the kind of gear used.
- Its fluid cartridge settings ensure stable videos can be made with any photo lens.
- Its AdaptoTechnopolymer and Aluminum body make the XPRO fluid head extremely easy to carry: weighing a mere 0.7 kg.
- Pro Version of Neewer? Product
- Adjustment range from: -10 ¡ã- +10¡ã
- Tripod Mount Thread Size: 3/8" female thread (bottom), 1/4" thread (attachment)
- Allows the user to implement compact and lightweight camera support. Weighing just 4 lbs. and able to hold up to 26.5 lbs., the TAD28A can extend from a minimum height of 20.7" up to 61.4".
- The 4-section legs are held in place by flip locks and can be adjusted independently.
- A 3/8"-16 thread on top of the tripod allows you to attach any compatible tripod head of your choice.
Although this is what I use. I did snag the tripod on ebay for way under retail cost because of a water damaged box. Everything was 100% though.
- Triple Locking System - 3 wedges enclose the sphere to guarantee camera position & stability
- 2 Leveling Bubbles - for fine adjustments with the locking knobs open
- Polymer Rings - no more messy grease while maintaining smooth and accurate movement
- Allows the user to implement compact and lightweight camera support. Weighing just 3 lbs. and able to hold up to 26.5 lbs., the TAD27C can extend from a minimum height of 24.2" up to 63.8".
- The 3-section legs are held in place by flip locks and can be adjusted independently.
- A 3/8"-16 thread on top of the tripod allows you to attach any compatible tripod head of your choice.