Leitz Pradovitz RT-300 is worth getting?

[Chan Tran]

I still use slide projectors and I prefer Kodak. I have 2 Ektagraphic's and 1 carousel projector. Locally there is a Leitz Pradovitz RT-300 at estate sales (I don't know the price yet) but is it any better than the Kodak? What kind of price would be a good price?

 

[randyB]

Back in the late 60's I visited a local photographer showing his slides from a trip to Europe. He had a Leica projector and the images on the screen were AMAZING, bright, clear, full of color, much better than the Kodak of the time. Of course, the difference was the projector lens. The Leitz lens was way better than the Kodak. As for price of a used Leica projector? it depends on if it is actually working. Leica projectors are very complex, way over engineered and almost impossible to get fixed. Decades later (the 90's) I found a broken Pradovit in a pawn shop for $5 in their junk bin. See if you can set up and compare the Leica to your Kodak.

 

[Don_ih]

I have a Leitz projector but haven't really compared it to the Kodak projector I have. I don't really have a lot of slides to project and I doubt any of them are of high enough quality to mark any difference between projectors.

Anyway, at this point in time, I wouldn't pay very much for any slide projector. That may be different if it was guaranteed in some way - which is not going to happen at an estate sale.

 

[Chan Tran]

Thanks. However the asking price was $225 I think it's too high for me.

 

[jeffreyg]

I also have a Leitz projector. One thing you might consider is that it doesn’t take the same slide trays as your Kodak projectors. They may be harder to find. There may be a stack loader for it. Mine is 40+ years old and still works like new.

 

[Don_ih]

Thanks. However the asking price was $225 I think it's too high for me.

I'd consider that at least $175 too high.

 

[perkeleellinen]

RT-300 takes Kodak style carousels. Looking at pictures, the projector doesn't look that interesting. The lenses may be amazing but they're 42.5mm barrel and won't fit a Kodak projector. I wonder if an adaptor exists?