Hello,
Just wanted to post this information in case anyone else has the same issue with the Sort images by: feature for "edit album" in admin.
I like the images in my albums to be sorted by date descending so I set that on the options "image" tab. In the "edit album" I also set Sort images by: date descending or manual and the thumbnail as "random".
At times I needed to manually change the image order and my changes were applied on the back-end, but when I viewed the album none of the changes were reflected.
This was frustrating to me, so I tested many scenarios. All albums and images are published. No difference if unpublished.
I cleared the image cache and browser cache. Tried "Replicate IPTC metadata" enabled and disabled. Refreshed metadata and the database. No difference.
So I tested each choice of Sort images by: with all the choices of the thumbnail (except the individual image).
And finally I found a combination that allowed the Sort images by: to work!
It seems that Sort images by: manual or date descending only works when the thumbnail is set to "most recent" which appears to be the default setting. (as I said I didn't test with the individual image).
I am currently using Zenphoto version 1.4.2.3 [9980] (Official Build) and Zenphoto version 1.4.2.3 [9995] (Official Build) with gallery theme: zpFocus_ v1.4.2.2.
I also created a test with Zenphoto 1.4.3 Release Beta (2012-05-15-trunk) all had the same behavior.
I hope this information is useful. Thank-you for your time!
Renee

[i]It seems that Sort images by: manual or date descending only works when the thumbnail is set to "most recent" which appears to be the default setting.[/i]
If this is really the case (I have no time to test) this would probably be a bug.

Please create a ticket for this. Off hand I do not see how the thumbnail could be related to the sorting. But who knows.

I created the ticket. Also wanted to add: I did test with included themes.

Thanks. I think this is now fixed. Try tonight's nightly build.