Looking to buy a slide projector, advice?

[EASmithV]

Well, the time has come to buy a slide projector. My family has one, but it takes unusual bulbs and I'm not sure if you can still get the slide tray wheel thing for it (I'm getting tired of having to empty it and refill all the time).

What I'm looking for is something inexpensive, yet still bright and able to give sharp projected images. I would also like it to be able to take the standard iodine bulbs that are commonly used in overhead projectors.

Any suggestions? I know about the Ektagraphic series of projectors, but there are so many of them I'm not sure which one is best.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Just for clarity 35mm? MF?

I am guessing 35mm.

Steve

 

[EASmithV]

Sorry, yes, 35mm. I don't shoot any 6x6.

 

[Paul Goutiere]

These are projectors I'm most familiar with: Elmo Omnigraphic 300AF, Kodak Ektagraphic AF2 (or AF1), Kodak Ektagraphic III and the Kodak SAV 2000. All take the Kodak rotary slide trays.
-The SAV 2000 may be hard to find and the most expensive but in my experience has the best lamp system.
-I think the best deal would have to be the Elmo Omnigraphic 300AF and I see one on the auction site for $35.00. Very reliable.
-The Ektagraphics will be easily the most plentiful and least expensive. Some parts are obtainable from Micro Tools. For some reason I prefer the AF2 or AF1.

 

[Sirius Glass]

When you purchase a slide projector, be sure to purchase a good supply of bulbs. Special bulbs will become an endangered species as energy saving bulbs take over the market. Some places the sale of incandescent bulbs will be outlawed.

Steve

 

[Mike Kennedy]

What Steve said!!
You might pick up a projector for $25.00 and find out the bulb is unavailable of too expensive.

 

[Paul Goutiere]

The Elmo, and Ektagraphic AF2 & AF1 take ELH lamps. These are readily available on the 'Bay. I see an auction for 10 of them for about $40.00. Made in China I expect. Buy a few because they will not last that long.

Paul

 

[Ektagraphic]

Any of the newer Kodak Ektagraphic p) projectors are great. The bulbs are not extremely expensive either.

 

[Mike Wilde]

Put out out a wanted call on your local craigslist or freecyle. You will be surprised what turns up. Don't curse unloading carousels, just buy up more at the fire sale prices that they can be found at used these days. I store my less frequently used ones behind the speakers in the wall unit on either side of the TV. In my case it is otherwise dead space.

 

[John Koehrer]

In the US Kodak is the way to go. From the availability of trays and accessories it's simply the best.
Stick with the newer units, the "H" models or ektagraphics. The ektagraphics are the heavy duty machines.

One of the neatest accessories was the stack loader that allowed the use of loose slides, just pop about forty slides in the loader and it feeds them front to back as you go along. an addition to tha was the slide clip set that allowed storage in small clips that held the forty slides & you keep the clips in a box of 16(?).

The trays were 80, 140 and the universal that would take 80 glass mounts that were somewhat thicker than the cardboard.