>>4341474Macro photography is a bitch innately since you're fighting all parts of a camera's technology.
You need a high f/ stop (at least double digits) to get any sort of Depth of Field, you need a high shutter speed to minimise the shake of your hands, you need a high ISO to fight against the otherwise low exposure you'll have thanks to the previous two settings.
Macro lights, both the expensive kind, or just some sort of fill light you can get past the front of your lens work wonders. So does a standard flash so long as, as I said, it makes it past the top of your lens as it can block the path of light. A tripod also works well, just a small one to steady the camera, or even a monopod to have a bit more stability so you're not fighting the camera like you've got parkinsons.
Speaking of terrible DoF, look into focus stacking. You can do this manually by adjusting focus and taking a stack of photos then blending them later, or if your camera is nice, it can do it itself. This relies on the subject being stationary though so not great for anything moving.
If you really want to chase this dragon, macro lenses are pricey but you said you have a macro kit from a decade ago which is likely just perfect anyway.
Macro is probably the biggest fight for acceptable light save for those hardcore wildlife photographers, but damn is it good it get it right.
