Andy Collins

"Display Name" is the only thing that I cannot change in Settings. Andy

I want to know the same thing! This update replaced my actual name, Andy Collins, to this very impersonal username. I've sent two emails to ask for help in changing it, but I've not received any response at all. Andy

My big question is how does one change their username? Some of you know me as Andy Collins, but now I'm User_1182693, not a very personable name. How can I change this back to my name?

Very nice work, Ralf! Thanks for such a detailed post. I look forward to seeing some pics from it and some of the others you've restored.

Hey, Ralf! I was just thinking about you the other day, wondering what you've been up to. You're absolutely right about little room in life to spend with our beloved oldies, but I'm getting back to it. Very nice to see you!

Very cool shots!

Nice outfit, Rick. This was my very first SLR, and it holds a very special place in my heart. I absolutely love this camera! It's quiet, and the compact size makes it a joy to carry with you. I also like that it goes up to 1/2000s, which many cameras did not do. One of my favorites! I can't wait to see what you do with it!

Jochen, don't be embarrassed! The first camera I actually bought with my own money was also a Kodak Disc camera. It was a fun gadget to play with, but the pictures were truly awful! The first camera I actually had was a Kodak X-15 Instamatic that my mom got me for my 13th birthday way before the disc camera. I took that one on many family vacations. Many years later, my now-brother-in-law gave me his Pentax ME Super to use (and never wanted it back!), which was my first real foray into 35mm SLR photography. The next camera that I bought with my own money was an Olympus InfinityZoom 90, which went everywhere with me and allowed me to take some great pictures. I still have all of the aforementioned cameras except for the disc camera. I found one at a consignment shop though for $1.00 which I bought to remind me that when I get frustrated with my gear, it could certainly be worse!

SP!!! Glad to see you posting again! I've missed your posts! Praying for good health for you!

The first camera that I owned was my trusty Kodak X-15 Instamatic camera, from which I still have some wonderful prints. The camera that I started to get really 'serious' with was an Olympus InfinityZoom 230 that I took everywhere. The first SLR that I had was a Pentax ME Super, but the camera that got me completely hooked into photography was the Canon EOS A2, a really incredible camera at the time.

The worst camera I ever had was a Kodak Disc camera. It seemed like a cool gadget when I bought it and initially it was fun to mess around with, but it was noisy and the pictures were horrible.

I really like the camera app in the phone, but I'm also a Snapseed fan.In addition to those I have Slow Shutter, Lightroom CC, and ProCam (it lets you shoot RAW). To be honest though, since getting the XS I've mainly been using the camera app and have been experimenting with the camera itself, without any other apps. Once I learn its strengths and limitations, I'll go back to using the other apps.

I happen to love the Canon GIII QL17, and have had outstanding results with it. If I were to pick just one RF, it would be my first choice, based on my previous experience with the ones I've owned in the past. The Olympus 35RD is a beautiful camera but it's not uncommon to find that oil has leaked onto the blades over time. Unfortunately that can be costly to repair unless you know how to yourself. The Oly 35DC is basically an auto-version of the RD with the same wonderful lens. You mentioned the Vivitar 35ES; it's a camera that is basically the same camera as the Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII and the German brand Revue 400SE. Cosina had a major part in the construction of all 3. If you can find one in working order, they're pretty cool cameras. Being in Germany, you may be able to find the Revue 400SE fairly easily. Mike G's suggestion of the Konica Auto S2 is an excellent one. If you can allow yourself to go a little bigger in size, this camera is really impressive and has an amazingly sharp lens. I'm always amazed that it doesn't sell for much more than it does compared to some cameras that are a lot more expensive but don't perform any better or as well. The Olympus XA was also mentioned earlier, and it is a superb choice as well. Its lens is very sharp and has very nice color rendition but aside from that, it's just impressively engineered. Lots for you to think about!

Let's just be honest, Rick...any lens is a "lovely lens" in your hands. Beautiful pictures, as always!

I love the F3 but I still think that the advance on the XE is smoother. My XE has recently been CLA'd so maybe that's also making it feel especially nice.

This post makes me sad since Tony, the OP, is no longer with us...what a wealth of knowledge and talent! But to answer his question (again, since I responded back then) from several years ago, I'd have to say that the Minolta XE-bodies have the smoothest film advance ever. It's ironic that you don't like the R4's film advance since it's based on the Minolta XD11, and I think that it has a pretty smooth film advance as well.

I'm glad you got it working. I can't wait to hear what you think of it after you've used it for a bit. Like Bradley said, they're great cameras!

The ME Super will shoot at 1/125s with no batteries or on bulb, but no other speeds will work. Your electronics sound as though they're dead, especially if nothing is lighting up in the viewfinder. The good thing is that ME Supers are not very expensive on ebay so it would be easy to replace the one you have.It's one of my favorite cameras, the first 35mm SLR I ever used! A lot of people like the MX better because it's mechanical and only relies on the batteries to run the meter, but I like that the ME Super has a top shutter speed of 1/2000 vs 1/1000 on the MX. It's a nice, smooth camera to use and the size, along with the MX, is so nice and compact. I hope you'll get another one because I think you'll really enjoy using it. DISCUSS POST QUESTIONS & GET ANSWERS FROM 40+ PHOTOGRAPHY FORUMS

Mike, the XE/XE-1/XE-7 is one of the nicest cameras ever! The smoothness of the film advance and the shutter button is magnificent! For me, a similarly nice camera is the XD11 (which I'll be shooting this weekend, along with my Vivitar XC-3), with a wonderfully smooth film advance and shutter button. Minolta created masterpieces with these two cameras.

The artwork that you create with ordinary things never ceases to amaze me, Rick. If I shot these scenes, they'd be the most boring and banal shots ever! Very nice as always!

I never tire of that view!