[daft_biker]

Originally Posted by irispatch

Tubes plus a dedicated macro lens is an excellent Macro set up. I use them with my 100mm 2.8 for some very nice close-ups.
Macro requires good lighting and especailly when using tubes, the onboard flash just isn't enough. either the Canon twin light or an external flash, either will also need difusers to soften the light and to direct the light.

I still use my tubes with macro lenses too and find they are a great way of getting even closer. On short lenses(<100mm) I think they are far preferable to teleconvertors and far, far preferable to close-up "filters". On longer lenses teleconvertors are usually more effective at increasing magnification. Close up filters are more of a quick and dirty solution.....those that like them might describe them as quick and easy though

I originally got tubes for use on a 50mm but used to use them on my 100mm macro and I still use them on my MP-E 65mm - 68mm of Kenko tubes on the MP-E at 5x gives about 6.3x but when some of your subjects are less than half a milimetre long every little helps

I'd suggest a 100mm(ish) macro is a good place to start when chosing a macro.

PS I prefer the MR-14ex to the MT-24ex on the 100mm as it has a built in diffuser but the twin light really comes into it's own for higher magnification stuff on the MP-E.