I have been experimenting with Macro for a couple of years now and I almost tried it all. Including, trying out a Mailing Tube with a reversed lens on it a fellow PlanetNikon.com member posted an example of.
If you want to drop your jaw at what a simple mailing tube can do, click on this link, you will not be disappointed, the chap who did this is brilliant:
Royal Mail Macro Kit - PlanetNikon Forum
In regards to my own attempts, I have tried:
Filters
Extension Tubes
Reverse Lens
Macro lens
Best purchase, hands down, never look back: Nikon 105mm 2.8 VR
• can't sing the praises of this lens enough
It is not just a macro, it is a phenomenal lens in every way.You can go here to this forum:
Going Wild with MACRO! - PlanetNikon Forum - Page 3.6666666666667
I started as a novice there and there are several hundred posts and many images, many bad, of my early macro attempts and occasionally, I post new images.
It might be worth a read. I have images from filters, tubes and the lens posted there. Below are some sample images taken with the Nikon macro. Be patient and save your money, it is well worth the purchase. Try a used one on Craig's List!
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This is a REVERSE LENS mounted on my Nikon with a special adapter. The lens I used was a Pentax 24mm Wide angle lens.
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NOTE: Just realized that you cannot view images on PlanetNikon.com unless you are a member. It is free, worth the sign up. Like here, there are some amazing images and information there as well. Can't belong to enough forums!