well, call me a cat amongst pigeons (or any thing else you want) but you guys need to get new monitors.

Yes but the fact that the last two look noisy on my LCD monitor (very sharp), but the first one looks fine, suggests I can tell the difference
For instance, the the dark black gradients on this page don't look noisy. There's some horizontal banding on the large ones where the graphic has been stretched that's all.

The last two are definitely noisy. I think my monitor is particularly unforgiving.
I love 'grain' on film but the horrible smudgy noise that digital makes really doesn't light my candle.
Kiwao, try moving your exposures to the right on the histogram (towards over exposed). under exposed areas are where the noise will lurk.

I don't think it is the end of the world to not be able to edit posts as the whole point of a thread is people can see what is being talked about.

maybe an hour to notice typos or cool off and delete some swear words is enough

that's a very cute picture Clarky, they are such little characters they lend themselves to a little narrative - great capture, well seen.
And how much do I want that lens!
How close did you have to get?

Nice fly too BTW

28 is the way to go, I haven't found any need to reverse mine onto another lens yet. Extension tubes are enough if you don't mind getting close.

I did try reversing onto a 210 but although I got about 24x macro (good for a money spider's kneecap) it was really soft. (and as you say, front lens open, body lens to control the aperture - learnt that here )

call me a grumpy sod , but I have no desire to wade thu hundreds of mediochre snaps in the gallery, I think one a day is ample.

Happy to help in Plymouth.
And happy to go out taking photos ( any excuse )

Thanks for changing the images Guys - much better.

I have looked at the code for this site and the images are NOT being resized by the forum (by the server), they are being resized by your browser!
This is number one mistake that novice 'web designers' make.
Your computer is using all its bandwidth downloading all your 800 pixel images and then your browser is resizing them to 550, this creates jagged edges on high-contrast images and serves no purpose except to make room for those revolting adds which now take up a third of your forum.

This also reveals the patronising repy I received about the logo compression to be at best 'spin' and at worse a downright lie.

Just to put this into context I have no problem with change and I could live with this new forum but the intrusive ads stink, the complete indifference regarding the quality of our images, our viewing pleasure and the patronising replies, make me hate everything that this change represents at the moment.