The new FAJ of objectives and the missing compatibility show new a thinking direction of Pentax.
1. So far the design objective was to reach as much compatibility as technically possible But now is the goal: as few compatibility as still straight necessarily. 2. Change in the camera operation, so far operation by the aperture ring (MZ-5n, Mz-s), or by aperture ring and thumb wheel (Z-1p), now only by the thumb wheel, since then no aperture ring lenses is anymore necessary. To 1: >From *ist and *istD we see, that we have in the future no more compatibility to older lenses, even if this is technically feasible, since it is not not wished from Pentax. Only he current reduced compatibility to K and M objectives is, in order to use also the F/FA soft lenses. The aperture simulator is not a matter of price, a Mz-6 for 300 euro has it in. Even an exposure measurement with work stop down aperture with * ist would be technically without additional expenditure possible, is however missing. Further example: With * ist/*istD power zoom shot is not any longer supported, I cannot use my FA* 2.8/80-200 on *istD in a way I'm used to. By the missing power zoom contacts it will not give USM or IS, because in the patents these power zoom contacts are always needed. To 2. Since the operation was changed over, *ist and *istD by thumb wheel to be only adjusted. The aperture can not be adjusted by the aperture ring. During a parallel operation of my MZ-S and *istD I have always to change the way of operation reorientation. Originally I did want to buy a *ist as a back-up for the MZ-S, but now not anymore. Also all *ists (* istM for 600 euro, * istS for 900 euro) future cameras will only have the thumb wheel operation, as a *istD for 1600 Euro also only have the thumb wheel. Therefore also all new lenses will be only FAJ lenses (see already 18-35), because an aperture ring disturbs only the *ist cameras operation. It is intended, that these lenses should no longer work to the MX, LX or Mz-s (see 1), because it is supposed that new cameras should to be bought. Pentax loses thereby the only selling arguement in relation to the competition, the k-mount compatibility. Why should I buy a *istD with the pertinent lenses, if I can not use these lenses with my LX and MZ-S? If I transfer to a digital camera, I can equaly buy a 10D and the suitable lenses equal, since lens compatibility is not any more with Pentax design objectives and I cannot trust Pentax when I investment in it. I have now 20 F/FA (4 FA*, 2 Limited) lenses and only one A* and one K lens, as well as a LX, a Z-1p and a Mz-s. I will not buy anymore lenses, I will start to sell a part of my equipment to have the money for buying a 10D and with 3 lenses. Now, I can understand Boz (K-Mount page) very well, who changed to Canon.
