For close-up photography, some equipments are needed
A. Macro (Nikon calls Micro) lenses:
1. Canon MP-E 65 mm f/2.8, 1-5x
2. Canon 60 mm f/2.8 1x, internal focus
3. Tamron 90 mm f/2.8 for Nikon, 1x
4. Quantaray 60 mm f/2.8 for Nikon, 1x
5. Tamron 60 mm f/2.0 for Nikon 1x internal focus
A macro lens is a special lens, you could take a regular picture as well as a close-up picture with it. Life sized object's image can be taken into your picture. Most macro lens can get 1x size of your object. Some special macro lens can take a picture of 5x (number 1 in the picture above). It is said all macro lenses are excellent.
Old model of macro lens, when focusing, the lens barrel will extrude outwards. This model is called external focus model, such as number 1, 3 and 4 in the picture above.
Newer model of macro lens, when focusing, the lens barrel will not extrude outwards. So it is called internal focus model, such as number 2 and 5 in the picture above.
B. Ring flash:
Number 6 In the picture above, Nikon SB-21, which can be used in any DSLR camera. You have to set your aperture and exposure speed manually. There is a chart on SB-21, you set ISO, lens mm, magnification, the chart will give you an aperture (I assume the speed is a fixed speed (1/250 s, though I did not read the manual, but I think this speed is a standard). You could turn off left side or right side of the flash. There is also a diffusion cover on the flash, so you won't get your flash too harsh. There is also a small pilot light to assist on your focus. You could probally get it from ebay for around $60.
Number 7 in the picture above, Nikon R1-C1. You don't need to set your aperture and speed yourself for the flash.
C. Alternatively if you don't have a macro lens, you could use a regular lens, with a bellow to take a close-up picture (very similar to macro lens' extrusion of lens barrel) instead:
Number 8 on the picture above, for Nikon. Just mount the bellow in between your lens and your camera body.
D. Extension tube：
You could also use an extension tube and a regular lens to take a close-up picture. The externsion tube does the same thing as a bellow, so just mount the tube in between your lens and your camera body. There are different sizes by its length, you could use one, two or three of them together.
D. You could also use a macro conversion lens to take a close-up picture with your normal lens:
You need to mount the conversion lens in front of your lens with the exact thread of your lens filter diameter, 52 mm for example. This is the worst method to do close-up, since the macro conversion lens is usually cheap and in poor quality.
E. Reverse mount adapter ring:
You need to moun this ring first on your camera, then mount your lens front on this adapter ring.
If you don't have this adapter ring, you could tape your lens front to your camera body. 位酷哥 has a nice picture of an ant with the tape mount.
F. Sometimes you might need a focus rail, when you use your tripod:
I have one, but I could locate it since I have never used it even once.
G. Tripod or monopod, if long exposure is needed. If you use a tripod, a horizontal bar might be useful.
Some close-up pictures
A bee (chopped)：
A green lacewing:
Poppy before flowering(?):
Cactus flower:
Butterfly wing:
Our rabbit, Carly, escaped later unfortunately:
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