Slide projector recommendations ?

[Alain]

Can anyone recommend a good slide projector for long term use considering
parts availability, or the availability of parts machines???

I've been looking at Ektapro 7020/9020, Ektagraphics, Leica P150s, etc. there's a dizzying number of options and I could really use some assistance.

Also, looking for assistance on projector lenses: Buhl, Kodak, Schneider, Leica, ISCO, etc. What do folks have good experience with (comparatively speaking) and recommend using???


Thanks in advance,
Alain

 

[David Murphy]

Can anyone recommend a good slide projector for long term use considering
parts availability, or the availability of parts machines???

I've been looking at Ektapro 7020/9020, Ektagraphics, Leica P150s, etc. there's a dizzying number of options and I could really use some assistance.

Also, looking for assistance on projector lenses: Buhl, Kodak, Schneider, Leica, ISCO, etc. What do folks have good experience with (comparatively speaking) and recommend using???


Thanks in advance,
Alain

The Ekta's are Kodaks better quality line. The Carousel was a lower end hobby projector. The Ektas are quieter, cooler, sweeter in general. The Carousels can be OK for the money though.

I personally like the Rollei projectors and its European tray -- I think Leica, Braun, Voigtlander, etc. use the same tray and have similar or better quality. These trays are easy to deal with and convenient to store and access. The Kodak projectors are good no doubt, but the trays are kind of a hassle IMO.

I like the the Sawyer type tray too (used on the Vivitar 3000AF, 5000AF and many others). Easy to deal with.

Auto focus is a total gimmick on 35mm slide projectors -- try to avoid a projector with this. They always malfunction and get confused. When they malfunction they whine and grind incessantly trying to get into focus. On some projectors you can thankfully disable it.

You can get outstanding projectors on eBay now for less than $100, some even new-old-stock.

 

[Alain]

Leica Prodavit

Leica Prodavit

I've been looking at the Leica Prodavit, but there are a number of models to choose from. Can you recommend one, or suggest a website that list the various models of Leica projectors?


Alain

 

[phototone]

The big question for future-proofing a potential slide projector purchase would be twofold. 1. Which style is going to have continued availability of new slide trays (or carousels)? 2. Which brand is going to use a projector bulb that will be available in several years time?

My vote would be for any of the latest model Kodak "Carousel" style projectors, whether they are the consumer models or the pro models.

 

[netzspannung]

Alain, glad you asked

Slide projectors are my favorite tools. Having graduated in art history not so long ago, I used to use these during all my long university years, I was the operator and repairman of the phreaking things... some real monsters passed thru my hands, also some nice ones

I don't know carousels, cause we don't have round trays here. My preference for european standard trays is as follows:

Leica Pradovit - Wetzlar models. These are the best and most solid projectors ever... all metal construction, top quality stuff - pity I only used these for a short time. You can feed solid glass plates into these beast, or old warped cardboard mounts - eats anything basically

Leica 300-600 model - current- nice, but a lot of plastic parts, modern, nice to have IR though. Not nearly as reliable and not made by leica, AFAIK. Dust is a problem with the 300 - you have to clean it every 6 months or so, or the "shutter" thingy will stick

Leica 150 is really cheap crap.. IR model is awful, it has lag - basically, you press the button, then wait 10 secs - annoying in a presentation.. Jams a lot. Made by the german manufacturer Zett

Kindermann - awful quality, cheap plastic trash.. had all kinds of problems with these, finally the clamp broke, and i was happy to switch to something else.. Not recommemded

Braun - the best buy for the money, in my opinion. Even the basic model proved to be very reliable and I had zero problems with it, a little noisy maybe
The top models with lcd screens must be great, much more functions than a leica 300-600 series

My dream machine would be the two-eyed rollei - now that is some serious equipment with very elegant construction

I can talk about this a long time, so If you are interested, just ask 😉

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Buy a Kodak and be happy...

Buy a Kodak and be happy...

I have owned two Kodak Carousels, models 750H and 760H.
They are both entry-level units with halogen bulb, the latter adds AF.
Both have given me flawless service, with not a single breakdown.

Some slides fool the AF, but with most it works fine all of the time.
For those situations the remote has manual override.

The Ektagraphics were designed for commercial use.
Illumination is slightly more even, but they have louder fans.

Granted Carousel trays are not a very efficient way to store slides,
but they work well and are very convenient. Cheap now, too.
In addition, I recommend the Kodak Carousel Stack Loader.

All modern Kodak projectors are solidly built, and work smoothly
and quietly. Unlike most other brands, they are easily repaired.
You can pick one up for next to nothing on the big auction site...

"Excelsior, you fathead!"
-Chris-

 

[John Robertson]

We use Leitz Pradovits at our camera club, they get abused horribly but always come up smiling!!! I use CS mounts and trays, they are the most spill proof, nothing worse than trying to pick up dropped slides off a mucky hall floor, in semi-darkness!!! The hinged design of the Cs mount makes it easy to use. My own projector is a 20yr old Agfa/Reflecta CS model, which has been faultless. I hate watching the digital projectors, for some reason I always get a blinding headache after about 30mins!!!

 

[Alain]

Yes phototone, future-proof (as you say) is a concern of mine, that's why I'm considering models where parts and bulbs should be easy to come by.

In the States that appears to be Ektagraphic machines as they are plentiful. I've been looking at the III AMT. The Ektapro 7010/7020/9010/9020 also looks good, but not as plentiful as the Ekatagraphics and for my purposes I'm not convinced this is a huge step up from the Ektagraphics?

BTW, thanks to the fellow who recommended the Kodak Carousel Stack Loader. It looks liks a good alternative to the round trays.

Leica and Braun are definitely of interest to me as well. Tray design and loading looks good. But a quick search on eBay shows me there's many different models and none to be seen in duplicates (aside from the aforementioned "crappy" Leica P150). So unless these things are built like tanks I worry about parts. I did notice a two nice Leicas - CA2500 and 153IR sold by someone right here in Portland...but rather spendy!

Any other suggestions or comments? I'm all ears (or should I say eyes)!


Alain

 

[Alain]

Oh, I forgot to ask...

One confusing thing about the various models of Leicas is it looks like many of them only take 60mm and up (100mm, 200mm, 300mm). Do any models take a 35mm? I'd like to be able to get a model that takes wide lenses for tight and close projection situations.

Alain

 

[Alain]

One more...

Will the Leicas take Navitar, Buhl, Schneider, and ISCO like the Kodak projectors, or is one limited to Leica glass (which is not as plentiful at particular lengths)???


Alain

 

[David Murphy]

Alain, glad you asked

Slide projectors are my favorite tools. Having graduated in art history not so long ago, I used to use these during all my long university years, I was the operator and repairman of the phreaking things... some real monsters passed thru my hands, also some nice ones

I don't know carousels, cause we don't have round trays here. My preference for european standard trays is as follows:

Leica Pradovit - Wetzlar models. These are the best and most solid projectors ever... all metal construction, top quality stuff - pity I only used these for a short time. You can feed solid glass plates into these beast, or old warped cardboard mounts - eats anything basically

Leica 300-600 model - current- nice, but a lot of plastic parts, modern, nice to have IR though. Not nearly as reliable and not made by leica, AFAIK. Dust is a problem with the 300 - you have to clean it every 6 months or so, or the "shutter" thingy will stick

Leica 150 is really cheap crap.. IR model is awful, it has lag - basically, you press the button, then wait 10 secs - annoying in a presentation.. Jams a lot. Made by the german manufacturer Zett

Kindermann - awful quality, cheap plastic trash.. had all kinds of problems with these, finally the clamp broke, and i was happy to switch to something else.. Not recommemded

Braun - the best buy for the money, in my opinion. Even the basic model proved to be very reliable and I had zero problems with it, a little noisy maybe
The top models with lcd screens must be great, much more functions than a leica 300-600 series

My dream machine would be the two-eyed rollei - now that is some serious equipment with very elegant construction

I can talk about this a long time, so If you are interested, just ask 😉

I was trending towards European projectors lately already with my Rollei. Your description of the Leica Pradovit has convinced me. I need one !

 

[fitzihardwurshd]

Can anyone recommend a good slide projector for long term use considering parts availability, or the availability of parts machines???
Thanks in advance,
Alain

If you don't need all this chichi-tinnef-quatsch some of these projectors have just buy a Pradovit 150 and invest the rest in a top Leitz or Schneider lens.
Regards,
Fitzi

 

[netzspannung]

Some more

Alain, grab that CA2500 - the best and fastest slide-changing system it has 😉 And AF. This is one of the old Pradovits, the better ones... the new ones have a different mount, but the lenses are same

There are wide angles up to 50mm in the old mount, AFAIK.. The standard lens today seems to be Colorplan 90mm, very good.. Super-colorplan is better, but not by much..

There are also CF - Curved field lenses, that compensate for the slide's thermal warping.. Not made today, not sure if you need them

 

[John Robertson]

I have to say the only projectors, and I have used many many types over 30+ years, which have crunched up slides, were Carousel types. They were particularly unkind to card mounted slides.

 

[netzspannung]

Folks, read this!

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/proj.htm




Edit: Really, positively, read this - a great piece of info concerning slide projectors

 

[jaapv]

Some more

Alain, grab that CA2500 - the best and fastest slide-changing system it has 😉 And AF. This is one of the old Pradovits, the better ones... the new ones have a different mount, but the lenses are same

There are wide angles up to 50mm in the old mount, AFAIK.. The standard lens today seems to be Colorplan 90mm, very good.. Super-colorplan is better, but not by much..

There are also CF - Curved field lenses, that compensate for the slide's thermal warping.. Not made today, not sure if you need them

Don't fall into the "the lenses are the same" trap. Different models have different mounts with Leica; if you are unlucky your lens will not focus or even mount. It happened to me.You need a lens from the series dedicated to your particular model. Optically they are the same. If you project glassless slides go for the CF lenses In my experience they make a real difference to the edges of your slide. They compensate for the bulging of the slide film.

 

[bsdunek]

IMHO here in the US, you will be able to get parts and trays for the Carousel projectors longer and more easily than any other. I think the Leitz is probably one of the best made, but will be increasingly harder to find parts and trays for.

If you don't have to have an automatic projector, look at a Golde. They made home and commercial projectors that you just hand place your slides in a track and push them in. The next slide pushes them out the other side. They also take Airquipt loaders. I have a Golde auditorium model that my Dad bought back in 1950. It is all cast metal with a brown textured coating. The lens is great. The only things to go bad are the bulb (takes a CLS) and the fan motor, both of which can be easily fixed. The CLS bulb is 300 watt which is more than adequate for in home use. I forget what the 500 watt bulb is it takes, but that works fine in a large setting like a church or school. The lens is fast which helps.

I also have an Airquipt which I love, but they've been out of business for years. All I've ever done is replace bulbs and o-ring belts. Airquipt trays are fairly available, but I don't see this system as lasting a long time, as repair parts aren't generally available. 😎