Da-lite projection screen

I like to project slides. My slide projectors (for 35mm and 6x7) are permanently built-up and ready to be used. Now I am looking for a new (bigger and better) projection screen. I am already pretty much convinced that the da-lite Picture King is the right product for me. I plan to buy the version with a square matte white screen of size 84" x 84" (213cm x 213cm).

This screen is available in a standard version and in a more rugged "carpeted" version. Has anyone here seen or even used the carpeted version? Is it worth the extra 100 bucks or so?

Where I live (Australia), I have no chance to compare these screens myself. Also local prices are 8x (!) as expensive as US prices. Thus, I will import from the US.

Could you explain what that "carpeted" version is about, as I could not find it the DA-lite site; which I find confusing by the way.

The B&H web site states "The Carpeted version of the Picture King features a soft wrapping on the case which prevents "dings" and helps protect the casing from external damage." But I am not sure if this is the only difference.

Joachim - please be appraised of the fact that the shipping costs can be prohibitive. I wanted to order a DaLite Picture King myself [70"X70"]. While the product cost was US$125 in B&H site, B&H quoted a shipping price of US$218 + there would be customs duty on the goods price + shipping amount .. This was more than a year back and I have never thought of that route again. Only if am going to NY myself, would I like to venture into getting one and carry myself. Btw, local prices in India also are almost 8X of that in the B&H site.

I think I've seen the carpeted ones before... they are literally just covered in carpet as opposed to only metal. If you're going to be traveling with it a lot, it'd be useful, but I don't think it will increase it's life or usability, just help to maintain it's cosmetics.. and at that point it's wrapped in carpet, so how's that for cosmetics.

Da-lite's are a delight... I stil have my dad's lenticular from the 70's and it's a solid sender. If you ever want to try 3D projection, you'll need a lenticular. Cheers

Thanks for the answers. I will go for the standard (non-carpeted) version. I know that the shipping costs are high. But as I said earlier, the prices in Australia are insane. Even with 300 Dollar shipping costs, the screen still will be 50% cheaper when imported from the US.

Joachim_I said:

I like to project slides. My slide projectors (for 35mm and 6x7) are permanently built-up and ready to be used. Now I am looking for a new (bigger and better) projection screen. I am already pretty much convinced that the da-lite Picture King is the right product for me. I plan to buy the version with a square matte white screen of size 84" x 84" (213cm x 213cm).

This screen is available in a standard version and in a more rugged "carpeted" version. Has anyone here seen or even used the carpeted version? Is it worth the extra 100 bucks or so?

Where I live (Australia), I have no chance to compare these screens myself. Also local prices are 8x (!) as expensive as US prices. Thus, I will import from the US.

Click to expand...

Hi Joachim,

I am using the Da-Lite Picture King in the tripod version. It is extremely stable and solid. Excellent craftsmanship. I am totally satisfied. Da-Lite Picture King is by far the best screen I have ever had. Highly recommended.

I am using mine with the High-Power surface, which is outstanding. Extremely brillant, absolutely color neutral, washable, and the surface is so fine that I get the full resolution of my slides (there are lots of cheaper screens on the market which have a quite coarse grain surface which is decreasing picture resolution).

Got my Da-Lite screen today. Just in time for Christmas. The import from the U.S. was no problem at all since the screen falls below the 1000 Dollar limit, above which imports are taxed in Australia. Shipping took just 3 days, amazing. The first impression is very positive, the mechanics are very solid and the screen is 100% flat. Can't wait until it gets dark tonight. Thanks again for your comments.

So post a picture of your set up for us. I have been thinking of setting up a slide projector for a while now. I think some of the things we abandoned in the past ought to get resurrected, and this is one of them.

michaelbsc said:

So post a picture of your set up for us.

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Hi Michael,

There is not much to see. I have the two projectors (Goetschmann G67 with a Schneider-Kreuznach AV-Xenotar lens 2.8/150mm and Leica Pradovit IR with a Leica Super-Colorplan lens 2.5/90mm) permanently built-up on two projector stands behind a sofa in the living room. When I project slides, I place the projection screen in front of our TV. That's it. In this way, I will get a projected picture of about 2m width on the screen. I tilt the screen in such a way that the projected picture appears completely rectangular from the viewing position.

The Da-Lite screen is a huge improvement upon my old screen. In contrast to my old screen, the surface structure is completely invisible during projection (particularly important for slides which show a large area of sky).

For me, slide projection is the most rewarding way of viewing my pictures. Three important ingredients are a bright projector, a high quality projection lens, and a good projection screen. The rest depends on your photographic skills

Best, Joachim