How to do slides?

[1kgcoffee]

I'm very interested in getting a projector and viewing slides on it (6x6). Looking into getting a pradovit projector, but I can't seem to find any information on how to press my own slides. Where do you get frames for it now that they are no longer done by a photolab? This is supposed to be the ideal way to view slide film if I am not mistaken

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Here's a possible source of 6x6 slide mounts (but they are not cheap)

www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=20571&gclid=CNqmwI213NICFdiPswod5wsJ8Q&is=REG&ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876%2C92051677562%2C&Q=&A=details

 

[AgX]

Looking into getting a pradovit projector, but I can't seem to find any information on how to press my own slides.

No Pradovit projector accepts 6x6 slides.

You likely referred to the Prado range of projectors. There are exchangable sliders/lens-tubes to turn some models into 6x6 projectors.
But you also would need the respective lens, condensor and heat absorbing filter too. Or a complete unit...

 

[1kgcoffee]

No Pradovit projector accepts 6x6 slides.

You likely referred to the Prado range of projectors. There are exchangable sliders/lens-tubes to turn some models into 6x6 projectors.
But you also would need the respective lens, condensor and heat absorbing filter too. Or a complete unit...

Darn...I heard pradovit was the best in terms of preservation of the slides (low heat) and lenses but that sounds like more effort than its worth. What projector do you recommend?

 

[AgX]

The Pradovit range goes over decennia and contains quite different models.
The Prado range includes models with cooling of the slide itself too.

The offer for used 6x6 projectors is much, much less than for 35mm (at least over here).

 

[Hatchetman]

6x6 slides are simple to mount yourself. Any 6x6 projector will be fine. I have an old Land (aka Polaroid) I bought for $40.

 

[AgX]

Yes, a slide-mount press is/was only needed for certain mounts.

 

[MattKing]

GEPE still have a website: https://www.gepe.com/website/index.asp?pageID=168

 

[NJH]

I have started recently with the Gepe AN glass slide mounts and a Rollei P66 projector bought of the bay. I think you really do need glass mounts for this size, I think I can recommend the Rollei 66 projectors its a nice unit and the last version of it seems to be still in production (almost). The Gepe glass mounts are easy to press and pull apart by hand but be warned this is delicate laborious work. I am also finding it hard to get rid of the little bits of dust and fibres, you struggle to see them until the thing is mounted and in the projector. I don't seem to have anything like as much problems when enlarging negatives.

One last point. You will be both amazed and disappointed at the same time though as say 5ft by 5ft projection is incredibly punishing on your photographic skill, developing quality and cleanliness etc. A lab which I felt produced clean film I am finding has given me lots with things or dirt stuck on them and all of this stuff gets amplified with projection. I have slides for example that were scanned on Noritsu lab machines at say 10 Mp or 20Mp but look out of focus or just lacking on the screen. I have other slides that look ridiculous like you could walk into the picture or reach out and grab the things in the photograph. Its mind bending stuff when you get it right but of course now I want to get it like that all the time as this is seriously addictive.

 

[darkroommike]

6x6 was usually a mount your own proposition. Glass or glassless. One piece mounts or two piece mounts. All good. If you find a good, cheap 6x6 projector look into lamps with longer life the long life option lamps usually have a lower light output and make sure your projector had a disc or square of slightly green heat adsorbing glass. You might also look into a diode so that you are only using half the AC sine wave, the lamp will have a redder color but the bulb should last almost forever (as will your transparency). You then should be good to go.

 

[Henning Serger]

Hello,

I'm very interested in getting a projector and viewing slides on it (6x6). Looking into getting a pradovit projector, but I can't seem to find any information on how to press my own slides. Where do you get frames for it now that they are no longer done by a photolab? This is supposed to be the ideal way to view slide film if I am not mistaken

yes, you are right. Projection is the perfect way to enjoy slides. Together with using an excellent slide loupe and a light-box.
In detail:

1. You can get excellent light-boxes e.g. from Kaiser-Fototechnik (they just introduced these new LED slimlite plano boxes last Photokina; I have both the small and the big one, and I am very satiesfied):
http://kaiser-fototechnik.de/en/produkte/2_1_sortiment.asp?w=5

As an excellent medium format slide loupe I am using for years the Schneider-Kreuznach 3x medium format loupe: Excellent sharpness and brillance, , no CAs, no distortion, dioptre adjustment, changeable foot for both slides and prints, viewing field of 8x8cm. Outstanding stuff!

2. Slide projection: Delivers by far the best quality with (very) big enlargements: Unsurpassed resolution, unsurpassed brillance, unsurpassed colour rendition, unsurpassed contrast range, kind of "3D" look.
I've tested several silde projection lenses in my optical test lab with an object contrast of 1:4 (two stops):
The best 35mm projection lenses (Leica Super-Colorplan P2, Zeiss P-Sonnar, Kindermann/Docter-Optics MC-B) are able to transfer
- 120 lp/mm onto the screen with Provia 100F (you would need about 50 MP in digital to get the same resolution)
- 230 lp/mm with reversal processd Adox CMS 20 II (you would need about 187 MP in digital to get the same resolution.
The values for the best medium format projection lenses (Schneider AV-Xenotar 2,8/150, Rollei AV-Apogon 2,8/120) are in the 115 lp/mm to 190 lp/mm range (Provia / CMS 20 II; to get that in digital projection you would need 6x6 sensors with 165 to 453 MP).
But digital projection cannot compete at all with slide projection: Even the most expensive digital 4k projectors have only about 8 MP in horizontal direction, and even about 40% less resolution in vertical direction. Extremely low resolution at extremely high prices.

3. Projectors: Rolleivision 66 and 66 AV projectors with the Scheider AV-Xenotar deliver excellent results and are currently very cheap on the used market. I can highly recommend them from my own experience.
The Kindermann Diafocus 66 T highlight is also very good, as well as the Hasselblad PCP 80.
If you want the best on the market, either go for the Rollei 66 dual P multi format projector:
http://www.dhw-fototechnik.de/de/rolleivision-projektoren/rolleivision-66-dual-p.html
Or go for the Götschman models:
http://gecko-cam.com/brands/gecko-cam/goetschmann/
Or go for the Jensen:
http://jensen-diaprojektoren.de/index.php/de/

4. Medium format slide mounts are available from
- Gepe https://www.gepe.com/website/index.asp
- Kunze Archivtechnik http://www.dia-archive.de/Pages/Produkte/index.html
- Jensen (link see above)

I wish you a lot of fun with your slide projection!
Projection is a league of its own, enjoy it.

Best regards,
Henning