On Tue, 2 Jun 1998 17:57:05 -0700, BILWIL@webtv.net (BILWIL) wrote:

>Re: my original question on true micro
>lenses. I think I probably should have
>said that I want to photograph 2-1,
>or at most 3-1. I think 10-1 is probably
>excessive. Got a lot of wonderful
>responses on the subject so far, but
>all mentioned attachments, and
>reversing lenses etc. I should have been
>more clear as to what I was asking about.
>i.e: A single lens that mounts directly on
>a Nikon body. No tubes, no rails, (Well
>maybe) no reversing rings, etc.
>
> Hope to shoot really small insects and such. since I work outside in
>the early
>morning when subjects are relatively
>in-active, I need to move about quickly
>before "critters" warm up and scoot away!
>
> Still don't think what I'm after exsists, but
>it's fun trying to fin out! Thanks again to
>all who reply.

I just posted a more detailed answer to what I
thought was a more general question, but since you
specify Nikon and 2-3X, there is a solution:
a 105mm Micro-Nikkor (an AF, alas [I hate the plastic,
and the difficulties near infinity...], so it goes
to 1:1, with a TC200/1 2X converter (or Vivitar 2X
Macro-Converter), and a Sigma achromat (the one that
comes with their 90mm, about $30 from Sigma) or
Nikkor achromat. If you leave this rig together
(rather than assembling it in the field), it
is not awkward, and is reasonably compact. Smallish
stops (f11-16) are needed for good sharpness. I like
to use a TTL flash mounted at the lens front - the
light is soft, since the the light source size is
very large relative to the distance from the
subject, and sharp images are relatively easy to
get, even of moving subjects (see "Bugs", on my
web page, under "Phun Fotoz" - some are over 3X,
"hand-held").