My macro lens is probably one of the best purchases I've ever made. I don't regret one minute having spent money on a decent one. After owning it for 6 months I'm finally mastering the beast; on orchids, insects, and other things. I mostly do insects because of my work. All are shot handheld, no flash. This Christmas I think I'll offer myself a tripod (and some ND grad filters for a different lens, for landscape photos!), and after that I'll decide what I want in terms of flash. What an expensive hobby!
Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook have see all of these before...
My masdie Selphi Orion
Some insects, and a spider!
5th instar Pieris brassicae (a species I work with)
Same caterpillars, as freshly hatched first instars in our lab colony. To give you an idea, the eggs are about 2mm tall.
Coccinella septempunctata larva, feeding on Brevicoryne brassicae aphids (another insect I work with)
Coccinella septempunctata
Some little tiny mushrooms (the dead pine needle in front of one gives an idea of the size of them)
Some more small mushrooms:
camille1585 
Some macro shots
Threaded Mode
