Originally posted by rparmar FA Limiteds are old glass. I need say no more.
FA ltd were released around 2000. Not that old, even less old than 50/1.4. Other brand have as well older made for film lenses, as long as they are working well on digital, why changing.
Now regarding the older lenses compatibility, there is a whole trend in photography using old dogs, the most famous mount is M42, but not limited to it. This movement is interested not in pure "scientific" qualities of lenses, but more in their artistic properties, a bit like the Lomo movement or the cross processing techniques. Not every camera is easily used with such lenses:
- Canon FF you have to make sure that your lens is not recessing too much in the camera (otherwise the miror will bump into it),
- Nikon is not popular apparently because adapters don't allow focus to infiinity (on M42)
- Micro 4/3 is very popular as it allows to mount about everything but you have to deal with a crop factor of 2 (so no wide angle)
All in all, Pentax is a no brainer for an old lense lover, compatibility and ease of use is as good as it get. The only downside is the lack of FF.
So are some people entering Pentax system because of compatibility with old lenses : certainly yes.
My 2 cents,
Guillaume