@Av8tor1, I really must speak to you sometime about camera lenses, having just purchased a Nikon D3100 and trying to make sense of what I need for macro without paying a fortune.
Carl, how much do you have in your budget?
I dont know much about specific modern nikons.... but entry level would be to simply get some
extension tubes and a good 50mm prime lens or use them with the kit lens. You will be surprised at what flexibility this provides
That can be as cheap as under 20 bucks if you dont mind manual control.... chinese made tubes are uber cheap on ebay.
A step up from that might be something vintage, now we are talking somewhere around a hundred probably... a wonderful example here is the
1st generation, Series 1 Vivitar 70-210mm, it is a macro and a zoom, very sweet and very flexible for hmmmm 50-75usd.
(need to know serial number prefix before you buy, many variants. Only one variant shifts the lenses for macro use)
Warren would be a better person to ask about vintage macros, I know he has experience in that area.
Up from that would be a current Nikon offerings, now you would have full auto exposure, etc
Looks like peat and devon are pointing ya in a good direction on those.
The helios 44 is not a macro lens.... its a wonderful lens, but its not a macro.... its a 58mm prime
(but now some have used it with an extension tube and gotten some amazing macros with bokeh)
When dealing with vintage lenses, you have to know exactly what to look for.... some have as many as 20 or more variants. One maybe a great lens while another, one serial number different might be crap.
Warren, please chime in on vintage macro options
what is your budget goal?
lets start there
butch