After much testing I have found the Raynox 250 is a very reasonable approach to macro photography and can compete with most other macro techniques. Like any photo technique it does have limitations. Depth of field is shallow and tricky to handle. Probably its most attractive feature is that it is cheap way to get in close, $43. The most advantageous feature of the Raynox 250 is that it gives you a good 6-7 inches of focus room between your lens and the subject. This is extremely important for lighting issues and being able to get your subject lit properly.The Raynox 250 is 49 mm filter used for video cameras mostly and has an adaptor to fit it up to a 62mm lens. My main lens is 77mm so it became a problem to affix this filter to my 70-200mm. I purchased an additional step down filter ring from Adorama for $2. and this solved the problem.
The bottom image above is shot with this combo while the top image has a 2x converter added. The images did get some vignetting around the edges and are cropped for composition. The cricket used in this demonstration is approximately 13 milometers in length. Click image to enlarge.
This will give you the ability to go back and readjust your image later if needed. Now click on Image>Adjustments> Shadow/Highlights.
Move the shadows slider to the right to about 75-80. Then move the Highlights slider to the right to about 25 and click ok. 
In the layers palette click create a new layers adjustment and then click Black and White.
The general default black and white grayscale will be fine here, click ok. Now make this an overlay instead of normal layer. 
The image now changes back to color. Now create another adjustment layer and do the Black and White again. This time you need to select your preference from the drop down menu. Try all the settings and see what you like best. In this case I chose the green filter and clicked ok. 
Use your paint bucket tool and cover the entire image with a nice neutral gray like the gray in the desk top background.
Go to filters and Add Noise. 
Set the slider to about 25-35. Select Gaussian and Monochromatic and click ok. 
Now reduce to opacity of this layer down to about 29% and change it to overlay.
For one last final touch go to Filters>Distort>Lens Correction.
Slide the vignette slider all the way to the left to darken and click ok. 
Your finished image should look like this. 
If it doesn’t you can go back and readjust any layer until you get the desired effect. Experiment with this technique and develop your own style. Landscapes may need less or more depending on your exposures and tastes.
