Hi Mike, I use a Bogen 3021S, the shorter version, and removed the second section of the center column. When the legs are spread, and not extended to full length, I have a very sturdy tripod leaving the ballhead about six inches off the ground. I would also recommend a macro slider. It is tedious to readjust all the hardware to get your composure perfect, and a Velbon slider costs about $85 and worth every penny. I also keeps the miniature Bogen 3008 with mini-ballhead. It is very useful setup that sometimes is all I need, and also doubles as a flash mount for backlighting. To keep this Nikon specific, I use an N70 with a 105 mm f2.8 Micro, which I absolutely love. Good shooting, John ;~)
