Slide projector help

[photogdave]

I recently acquired a Kodak Ektagraphic III slide projector with 102-152mm f3.5 lens. I'm having a focusing problem where if I focus for the centre of the image, the bottom 1/3 of the image goes WAY soft. If I focus for the bottom portion, the rest of the image goes out of focus.
I don't have much experience with slide projectors. Could I have it set up wrong? It's definitely not my images.
I would appreciate any suggestions!

 

[dmr]

We (still) have an Ektagraphic projector in our large conference room. I'm probably the only one who uses it, but it still works. There are two quirks with focusing it. First, on some slides that are bowed in the mount, you have to compromise and focus on about 1/3 of the way out from the center. On these you can focus on the center where you can see the grain, or on the edges, but not both.

Second, if you project upward at an angle from the front of the table, you do get what you describe. The top will be in focus, or the bottom, but not both. The thing you have to do is move back, aim as straight as you can toward the screen, not at an angle, and use the zoom to fill the screen as best you can.

Hope this helps.

 

[photogdave]

Thanks DMR, this is a big help!
You hit the nail on the head with your second comment. I'm a little constricted for space. Do you think a wider lens would be helpful?
Thanks!

 

[dmr]

I'm a little constricted for space. Do you think a wider lens would be helpful?

My guess is probably not. Slide projectors do need to face the screen head on.

Now I know there are some tricks they use with the big theatrical movie projectors to get them to stay in focus while aiming downward at a screen (I assume similar to the movement of a view camera) but I doubt that any slide projectors have that ability.

 

[photogdave]

I guess I'll just get a bigger apartment! 😉
Thanks for your help.