35mm Slide Projector

[thuggins]

I normally view 35mm slides directly with an old Pana-Vue Bi-lens and consider this the best way to see slides. But it doesn't work for a group. I have an old Leitz projector where the carrier holds two slides, that alternately (and literally) slide into the light path. This is cumbersome for anything more than a few slides.

I'm looking for something fairly small (not much bigger than the Leitz) but that can hold a stack of slides (at least 38 to get a full roll). My brother has an Kodak Carousel that I have avoided asking him for because it is simply huge. What options would folks recommend?

 

[Paul Howell]

I have 2 projectors, a single one slide at time, from the 50s, pretty good lens, for just few slides it is ok. I also have an Argus that takes a s right tray, a smaller footprint than Kodak, but not much and I dont think it is as sharp as a Kodak, but gets me by, and I more trays than I need. I think you will find 2 issues with brands others than Kodak, trays and bulbs.

 

[darinwc]

kodak also made a small version of the carousel, and it has a stack loader available for it.

there is also a bell and howell slide cube, which uses 'cubes' filled with a stack of slides, but the projector itself is not very small.

 

[wiltw]

Go visit the thrift stores! My wife and I like to go thru thrift stores close to friend's vacation home when we stay there for a weekend...have seen MANY slide projectors in the stores. Both Kodak carousel type and the B&H slide cube type, 9" x9" x 8" in size (which is what I have had for over 20 years).

 

[Bill Burk]

kodak also made a small version of the carousel, and it has a stack loader available for it.

there is also a bell and howell slide cube, which uses 'cubes' filled with a stack of slides, but the projector itself is not very small.

Steer clear of the slide cube. There's a critical design flaw: It was engineered for square-cornered paper slides that were common at the time. Rounded corner slides jam. After that, they run hot which will melt your slides if you decide to give a favorite slide an extended view. Sorry not one to speak badly of anything or anyone, but these little cuties are not road worthy.

 

[snapguy]

hard

In this day and age I think the Kodak Carousel is hard to beat. I have one and it is still working fine.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Why not buy another Leica projector? Something like a Pradovit P150?

 

[Too old to care]

My Kodak is 30 years old, also still going strong. May be large though.

 

[Chan Tran]

The Leica Pradovit is good and expensive but I don't think it's smaller than the Kodak caroussel which works fine and cheap. What makes a good projector? The Kodak transport is quite reliable, the light is bright and quite even. The lens??? You can buy a lot of different lenses for the Kodak. I have lenses from 50mm to 300mm

 

[Tom Taylor]

Rollei 35, among others, would seem to satisfy your requirements of being small but able to hold a roll. I have a Kodak Ektagraphic AMT which I am very satisfied with, a Rollei 66 for 6x45 format, and a Cabin for 6x7. All are great projectors.

Thomas

 

[AgX]

What makes a good projector?

-) the lens

-) the lighting system

-) slide cooling

-) focusing

-) the way the span between two slide projections is bridged

-) variability for different tray systems

-) fan noise

-) mechanics noise

-) exchangability of bulb

-) exchangability of lenses

-) exchangability of condensers

-) steering

-) interconnectivity

-) reliability

 

[Jim Jones]

I'd go with a Kodak Carousel. They are plentiful, often cheap, and have many accessories like lenses of several focal lengths and even zooms, stack loaders, and a variety of trays and remotes. There are many models from very basic to fairly sophisticated. A little homework before shopping may be wise. Yes, they are fairly large, and not as light as some others. Unless you have to travel light with one, performance may be more valuable than size and weight.

 

[AgX]

Corousel projectors are less common here. And we got a variety of tray types.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[railwayman3]

I have a Leitz Pradovit Color which belonged to my late Father, the serial number indicates made around 1967. Still works perfectly (never needed repair or service), rather heavy ( metal castings last better than plastic!), uses 36 or 50 exposure straight magazines and handles any kind of slide mount including cardboard Kodachromes. It only takes a few moments to fill or empty a magazine with slides.

 

[resummerfield]

I'd go with a Kodak Carousel. They are plentiful, often cheap, and have many accessories like lenses of several focal lengths and even zooms, stack loaders, and a variety of trays and remotes. There are many models from very basic to fairly sophisticated. A little homework before shopping may be wise. Yes, they are fairly large, and not as light as some others. Unless you have to travel light with one, performance may be more valuable than size and weight.

I agree! You can find the best Kodaks, and some very nice aftermarket lenses and accessories, all for next to nothing.

 

[AgX]

What makes a good projector?

-) the lens

-) the lighting system

-) slide cooling

-) focusing

-) the way the span between two slide projections is bridged

-) variability for different tray systems

-) fan noise

-) mechanics noise

-) exchangability of bulb

-) exchangability of lenses

-) exchangability of condensers

-) steering

-) interconnectivity

-) reliability

-) ability to cope with different frame thicknesses

 

[thuggins]

Thanks for the replies! I've been looking at the Leitz Pradovits and really like the compactness of the linear trays. Maybe one will show up on the evil auction site.

 

[John Koehrer]

Leitz also made one using Kodak trays. I don't know if the changer is similar or not.

 

[dynachrome]

Not too many years ago I needed a slide projector and got a Kodak Ektagraphic. These are more sturdy than the regular carousel models. If you are looking to avoid jamming problems then use the 80 slide trays rather than the 140 ones. An original carrying case which holds the projector with the lens, a tray and maybe a spare bulb makes it easy to carry or store things. There are many different lenses which will fit the Ektagraphic projector. These include the Ektanar C lenses which work well with slides which are not in glass mounts.

 

[Marvin]

I think the Kodak Carousel is the most versatile and readily available. I have two with a stack loader and round trays. I also have an old GAF projector that takes round trays that sit vertical, and a stack loader for it. If you have a show that you want to set up the carousels are better but it is nice to have the stack loader when you just have a small stack to go through. I found a working Kodak Carousel at a church yard sale for $1.
Marvin

 

[fstop]

Scan them and dl into your computer and display on your monitor. This will prevent damaging the slide from hot bulbs and fading the image, plus you can show them to a group on your 72" plasma screen or spam everyone's email.

 

[ME Super]

...with a lower resolution and narrower color gamut, too. Just sayin'. Scanning does have its uses, but I love the look of a projected slide.

 

[Alan Klein]

I scan my slides and add narrative and music and menus and even credits to create a HDTV show. Easy to turn on while your guests are relaxing. With projectors, they run for the hills as soon as you pull the projector out. Here are two I put on YouTube. The Coney Island one was captured digitally, the Scuba one was shot on Ektachrome slides and scanned.
https://www.youtube.com/user/AlanClips/videos

 

[AgX]

I think the Kodak Carousel is the most versatile and readily available.

As said, I rarely see a Kodak Corousel projetor. Here they typically were used in a commercial surrounding.

 

[wiltw]

...with a lower resolution and narrower color gamut, too. Just sayin'. Scanning does have its uses, but I love the look of a projected slide.

Photography's dirty little secret...

• It used to be common for photographers to gather and projected images to one another, showing slides with superb resolution and color rendition.
• Today, photographers have 36MPixel cameras that they view on 2Mpixel monitors and project at the same resolution (1920x1040), so one cannot visually distinguish a 4Mpixel camera from a 40Mpixel camera.

No wonder everyone is satisfied with their smartphone photos, and camera sales are falling!