Originally posted by yeatzee First I must say that you have indeed been posting some very impressive macros. But I understand you perfectly when you try to say that you look for higher standards even though you are not there yourself and might not ever get there. I'm like that myself. Backside is that you never are really happy with your own achievements, even when they are pretty good.
I'm currently using two combos that gives me > 1:1 in combination with good working distance.
SMC Pentax DFA 100mm macro with a 1.7x soligor converter. Gives me up to 1.7:1 with good working distance. That's an AF converter so autofocus still work, and contrary to what is often said about macro, I do find AF usefull now and when with moving subjects.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/101219-macro-spider-cow-lip.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/100790-macro-not-jumping-spider.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/72147-bug-hemiptera.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/73315-butterfly-dfa100-m...converter.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/72369-howerfli...10-photos.html
Same lens but with an extension tube made from a Kenko 2x AF converter where I have removed the glass. From measuring it appears to give me up to 2:1, though I'm not sure how to calculate it:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/60715-dfa-100m...airy-legs.html
Also this combo gives me working autofocus. This home made converter even give me AF on SDM lenses.
Dissclaimer: I don't mean any of these shots are near the standards you aim at, but it is at least >1:1 with good working distance.
Besides these I've been experimenting with combos of reversed lenses (up to 20mm lens reversed on a 200mm giving macro 10:1), bellows etc, but nothing I'm prepared to post yet. And they don't give me much working distance.