Extension Tubes

After reading the section on The Close-up World and talking with Dave I have come to the conclusion that extension tubes are the way to go.
It is much more practical if you are one who likes to shoot a wide range of shots to have extension tubes and telephoto converters for your longer lenses as opposed to carrying an entire lens. Not to mention cheaper. The extension tubes and telephoto converter are a fraction of a price that you would pay to buy the whole macro lens. This leaves your assets open to purchase either a more versatile lens or to up grade the camera body. The telephoto converters and extension tubes also allow you to be further away from your subject (if you use them with your 500) which is an added advantage especially if your subject is slightly skiddish.
Having a macro lens is not a bad thing but when you are placed in circumstances where weight or space matters then it is more fitting to take the small and compact converters with your big lens so you are able to shoot a wider range of shots as opposed to confining yourself to strictly shooting macro or strictly shooting telephoto.