In article <325C2C98.4477@umich.edu>, malicky@umich.edu says...

>I'm trying to obtain maximum macro in the shortest overall
>package. The camera is actaully 1/3" CCD video camera (3.6
>x 4.8mm "film" area). So far, the best I've been able to do
>is with a Nikkor 105/4 bellows lens (w/ about 140mm
>extension) and a reversed 28mm Nikkor on the end of it.
>With this setup, I can put a 1.2mm object across the 3.6mm
>CCD dimension (0.33 ratio). That macro ratio is good enough
>for me, but the total package is 16" long and I'm trying to
>find ways to reduce it. Other lenses I have available are
>55/2.8 and 200/4 micro-Nikkors, and some +1,+2,+4 closeup
>filters. (but experimenting with these has resulted in
>longer packages). Does anyone have any experience on how to
>get the same macro in shorter package? Would a 20 or 24mm
>(reversed) lens help and still have decent quality?

Try reversing the 28mm alone. While I have never been happy
with the overall image quality in a 35mm frame doing this, it
may be good enough over the areas you are dealing with to suffice.
I have had good luck with video using the long end of the zoom
that comes with the camcorder, and placing achromats over the
front to get me down to a few mm area. A reversed 35mm-format
lens on the front may work well, also.
(Gee, I will have to try it!).
Hope This Helps