I have tried MANY combinations of lenses, tubes, converters, and
close-up lenses, and one of the 2 best ways I have found to get
magnifications higher than 1:1 is to use the old Vivitar Series I
90mm F2.5 with its dedicated glass 1:1 adapter as the basis for a
higher than 1:1 magnification outfit. Adding the following items
work well at lens marked F11-F16 (effective aperture is quite
different):
Nikkor TC14a or TC200 with, or w/o short tube and WOWO Nikkor 6T
Nikkor TC14, 14B, 14C, TC300 with long tubes and WOWO 6T
The other combinations that produces VERY fine images at greater
than 1:1 are based on the Nikkor NON-macro regular 200mm F4
compact version tele. used at F11-F16 with a Sigma "1:1 acromat"
from their 90mm macro lens (about $30 from Sigma). To this can be
added the items listed above (except 6T) for even greater
magnification (great performance from about 2X to about 4X).
I have not been happy with the quality (or convenience) of reversed
wide-angles, nor have I been happy with the Nikkor macros at much
greater than 1:1. Also, I have not been happy with the performance
of normal lenses mounted on teles (they should work very well, but
the acromats [Sigma and 6T] seem to work better).
I used the above combinations for extensive photography of insects
"on the run". With a TTL flash placed at the end of the lens, it is
surprisingly easy to get sharp, natural, softly-lit, high-magnification
photos of found (not placed) insects (though must admit that things
get tougher above 2X!) - even, occasionally, in flight!
Hope this helps.