A simple camera with a flash allows you to take close up, handheld pictures, while on hikes and walks around our wonderful countryside.
This was admittedly a slightly more advanced system, as I was trying a new way to diffuse my flash, to avoid the blown highlights and reflections from the insects.
I have found that when doing handheld macro (which means around 1:1 magnification) i need to have a shutter speed of c.1/160s, and a depth of field of no less than 2-3mm, which means shutting the aperture to f16 at least. So, that means - unless you are in direct sunlight - a monstrous ISO, or the use of flash. In the two images below the creatures were about 1/2 cm long. Those are moss and grass blades.
A pale butterfly is always a pleasure to see quietly feeding.
