?better 35 mm projector

Normo · May 28, 2013

I have an older but good kodak 35 mm projector. In the medium format world I gather from my reading that lenses matter. Are there any 35 mm projectors that are felt to be better than the kodak. Would a rollei 350 do a better job projecting the image because its glass is better? Thanks for any experience. Norm

AgX · May 28, 2013

I assume the way the transparency is mounted is of importance too:

-) flat between glass planes

-) open but with special optics that have a spherical plane of focus

-) open but mounted under tension in special mounts to keep the film flat

BMbikerider · May 28, 2013

The Rollie 35mm projectors seem to have quite cheap lenses. I know of two types here in UK and none are really what you would call top class. My Rollie burnt out a few years back and I changed it and bought a Leitz projector. The difference is to be honest ASTOUNDING! <My good transparencies I always put between glass and the difference in quality really shows.

cliveh · May 28, 2013

A Leitz projector is probably the best you could get.

Normo · May 28, 2013

Any problems with a Leitz CA2500, assuming it all works, is that a fine machine? Are any of the brauns worth looking at, since they may be newer. I am leaning towards the leitz but since all my slides are cardboard and plastic mounts I am not sure which lens would work best. Some of the older threads suggested that non glass mounted sides could pose a focus problems for the flat lens. Is the colorplan 1:2.5/90mm a good lens? Any recommendations THanks Norm

Sirius Glass · May 28, 2013

I learned from selling photographic equipment:

Kodak projectors are not returned back broken.
Kodak projectors do not jamb.
Gravity is dependable.

munz6869 · May 28, 2013

At my work there are 100's of Kodak projectors floating about. In one of our venues, we still have a few clients using slides, and currently I'm relying on an Elmo carousel projector (with a Kodak lens) - it's been in constant service for 20 years and hasn't failed. The Kodaks have not been as awesome as I would like - although the old solid metal ones (SAV2000, etc) are great (but don't have an automatic shutter/dowser like modern ones do, and are thus annoying in a venue context).

Marc!

MattKing · May 29, 2013

You can spend extra money for upgraded lenses for the Kodak machines, although if you are using slide mounts without glass, the Kodak curved field lenses are very good.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · May 29, 2013

I saw a Hasselblad Projector in hasselblad catalog may be 20 years or more.

AgX · May 29, 2013

We are talking about 35mm slides, not medium format. Hasselblad though took over that carousel-system for their MF projectors. That may be confusing at first sight.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · May 29, 2013

Aha! Buy a Leica projector than.

Chan Tran · May 29, 2013

I have a Rollei and think it's not as good as the Kodak Ektagraphic.

Normo · May 29, 2013

I looked up the ektagraphic models, there sure are a lot of different models, and they sound like they are good. And then there is the ektapro models. Forgetting the bells and whistles are there differences in projection quality or build quality that would recommend one over the other. Thank s Norm

Chan Tran · May 30, 2013

Normo said:
I looked up the ektagraphic models, there sure are a lot of different models, and they sound like they are good. And then there is the ektapro models. Forgetting the bells and whistles are there differences in projection quality or build quality that would recommend one over the other. Thank s Norm

The Ektapro is the newest line of projectors from Kodak. I believed they made them in Germany. They use the same lens and tray although their tray has cover you can use the same tray as the Carousel and Ektagraphic. They have brighter lamp. Built indisolve control as well as RS-232 interface for computer controlled slide show. They tend to have very high price even used. The Ektagraphic are a bit better than the Carousel series and can be had for very low price used.

MattKing · May 30, 2013

The Ektagraphics were designed to be very robust, and to ensure sufficient image brightness in large rooms.

Think commercial sales presentations, vs. in home amateur use.

chip j · May 31, 2013

I've used cardboard mounts in my Leitz Pradovit RC w/good results. They would pop, but a touch of the remote would clear that up. By the way, where does one get anti-newton glass slide mounts these days?

AgX · May 31, 2013

-) transparency mounts with AN-glass:

GEPE
http://www.gepe.com/website/index.asp?pageID=234

Reflecta
https://reflecta.de/de/products/detail/~id.68/reflecta-GL-AN-Diarahmen-100-Stueck.html

-) you may also try tension fixing mounts:

Diaspeed

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

hidesert · May 31, 2013

I had a Rollei P35 for many years with the standard isco lens. Then I upgraded the lens to the S-Projar. That made a huge difference. The highlights in your slides just sparkle and add a three dimensional effect. I now have the Rollei P350 AF which is 10 or 15 years newer. I'm very happy with it.

John Koehrer · May 31, 2013

The carousels were the consumer models with higher models having more features.
Concurrently the Ektagraphics were the Pro models. They used the same optical systems.
I'm not familiar with the new Ektapro models. I guess because I haven't come near to wearing out the one I've got.

For image quality I don't think the Leica machines can be beat.I haven't been involved in the trade for a long time but
believe the Rollei and Braun machines came from Asia not Germany. Keep in mind, my memory is pretty much shot.

chip j · May 31, 2013

Thanks AgX.

AgX · Jun 1, 2013

John Koehrer said:
I haven't been involved in the trade for a long time but
believe the Rollei and Braun machines came from Asia not Germany. Keep in mind, my memory is pretty much shot.

At least the Rollei company did not resort to re-branding. But they had built an own plant in Singapore to profit from lower wages.

pgomena · Jun 1, 2013

I've seen Schneider projection lenses for Kodak projectors. These days they go for peanuts if you can find them sitting around unused. They show up on occasion at camera stores. Yes, I know, camera stores are harder and harder to find.

Francis in VT · Jun 1, 2013

Better 35 mm projector

No.1 Cardboard or plastic mount no glass is better with a curved field lens.
No.2 Slides in glass calls for a flat field lens.

The major difference of a Leitz projector over a Kodak or other branded projector is the lighting system.
EK and the others use a heat absorbing glass, to protect the slide. Leitz does not use a heat absorbing glass
but a Dichroix [SP] reflector to absorb the heat this results in a Whiter light on the screen.
This can be shown this way. Set up two projectors a Leitz and a Kodak side by side to project on a large White screen.
Use slide frames to open the mechanism and adjust the projectors to get the identical size os on the screen.
The Leitz will be a pure White while the EK will have a Greenish tinge.
I'm sure this will have some effect on a slide projection quality.

Normo · Jun 1, 2013

I am the original poster. I am more confused than I was. I guess if money didn't matter, would people recommend a specific model 35mm projector/ If reliability mattered, would it be another, and if sheer availability of parts mattered would people recommend another. I have gone on line and looked at ebay prices. For ektagraphic projectors ( there are tons of models) prices range from ridiculously low to 100-200$. For leitz or hasselblad we're talking a different price level completely. Judged only on the merits of the projected image, which one is "best", again, the price is not the issue. Thanks BTW I used to have a kodak carousel and stack loader and "GAVE IT AWAY!" a couple of years ago. It was OK, but I have 15K slides and want a high quality projector. Thanks Norm

chip j · Jun 1, 2013

BTW, who services Leitz projecters today?

?better 35 mm projector

Normo

AgX

BMbikerider

cliveh

Normo

Sirius Glass

munz6869

MattKing

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Mustafa Umut Sarac

AgX

Mustafa Umut Sarac

Chan Tran

Normo

Chan Tran

MattKing

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chip j

AgX

hidesert

John Koehrer

chip j

AgX

pgomena

Francis in VT

Normo

chip j

?better 35 mm projector

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