Took fourteen rounds of photos of four objects using some of the different combinations of macro lenses and zoom settings on my camera. I've just included the extremes here.
The first round shown here is about the best my camera can do with macro photos by itself. Photos are simply resized to show how much of the frame they fill. The zoom is about "50mm" (equivalent).
The next four are the far extreme - the macro lens, the 4+, the 2+ and the 1+, and zoomed to about 100mm equivalent. The depth of field here is about as shallow as you can get, and the camera had to be within a certain distance range or it just wouldn't focus at all. Again, just resized for comparison.
And here's a cropped version of a couple of them, actual pixel size...
Because of the distortion with all the additional lenses attached, I think I'd just use the "macro" and "4+" ones in combination if I was going to do general macro photography. You don't get a whole lot extra by adding the other two, and it does weigh the camera down somewhat.
Fun fun :)
Missy
I like macros. Looks like you had fun experimenting with the lenses. My current camera doesn't have any attachment lenses...one of the disadvantages of small point-and-shoot cameras.
Kazza the Blank One
My camera is essentially a point-and-shoot .. it's not a real SLR, but it does conveniently have a screw-thread at the end for attaching things.. so I did.. :)
Missy
I think you told me once, but I've forgotten what camera you have. I have a Canon SD500 (US name), but would love to get one with more zoom, a bigger display and stabilization is a must! ;-)
Kazza the Blank One
It's a Sony DSC-F828 - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscf828/
I got this camera because I wanted a better zoom that the usual 3x. Plus it got pretty good reviews. One of the best things about the camera is the ability to twist the body up and down. Makes photographing stars easy - I can stand at a normal angle, rather than crouching way down low to see up through the viewfinder :)
But it's aging now - it's over five years old! Sometimes I have dreams of a different/better/newer camera - image stabilisation is one of the higher priorities .. but I'm still in love with this one ;)
Missy
For a little camera, mine has been real nice, but like you said of yours, mine has aged and is missing many features. I would like to get a bigger one, similar to what you have.
Kazza the Blank One
The scary thing is, the resale value on my camera is amazing! You can't get one on ebay in Australia for much less than $350 (except rarely).. which is unheard of for a five year old camera, I would have thought!
I think my mum had a camera like yours .. it died in the middle of their recent holiday so she had to get another one - oops!