2 and 3 are fantastic, although I'd like 2 to be straightened up.

I have found photobucket to be easier than pbase.

Well done Gwyn, you know what to do next!

And well done also to dirk1000, many thanks for such a thoughtful and detailed appraisal.

It's difficult to choose just one image, but I like my "creative" images such as this one, "Sign of the Zodiac". It's part of a series with dissolution as the theme, the fading away and disintigration of our technology.

eBay? You might find there's a Yashica collector out there somewhere...

I'm sure of it.

The MZ5 is a modern electronic camera with many more features than the MX. Because it has a conventional shutter speed dial though it can, if you wish, be used in exactly the same way as the MX.

The MX is a very fine traditional styled manual SLR.

If you can find a superb MX fair enough, but they are getting older now and the seals and shutter may well need attention.

If you can answer whether you want traditional metal-feel ehgineering (MX) or modern plastics and electronics (MZ5) then you may have your answer.

Or have both!

I tried to speak French in Switzerland, but unfortunately it was the German quarter of Bienne (Biel).

Less than zero efficiency (worse than useless) at any language other than English.

C'est la vie.

That's very intriguing. Perhaps they realise that the British are utterly hopeless at speaking anything aprt from English.

All the Germans I have ever met speak fluent English, so communication should not be difficult!