I'm trying to understand dslr macro lenses.
Some background and information leading to my question: Many years into the AARP group, I started shooting about 4 years ago, and in digital. Have been using P&S zoom cameras (Panasonic FZ series) but have gotten very interested also in macro photography and use add-on third-party lenses such as Olympus MCON-35; Nikon T-6; Nikon T-5; Raynox CM-2000 Macro Explorer 2.5x (8 Diop) & 1.5x (4.8 Diop). I do not hesitate to stack the macro lenses for real small subjects at what I like to call "micro". Here are a few examples. Some are right from camera and some sharpened with Picasa (extent of my editing skills at the moment).
http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz/image/44815740
http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz/image/44815741
This one taken with T-6 and T-5 stacked - http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz/image/44815742
All the following were shot with three stacked macros; the Nikon T-6 + T-5 + Raynox 2.5x for about +12 diop. total on tripod. I don't know what this diop equates to in magnification? Anyone?
http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz/image/67601836
http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz/image/67601823
Smaller still; hand held, heavily cropped and many many dozens of shots to get two good ones. http://www.pbase.com/10kzoomfz/image/67601834
Considering getting my first dslr; My Question. ---
In the dslr lens world, what lens or combination would provide this type of magnification??
Also, am I correct (or not) in thinking that a 100mm macro lens allows the photo to be taken at a greater distance than a 50mm macro lens but not any greater magnification??