Rollei 66 projector suggestions?

tomfrh

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Hello,

I'm about to buy a 6x4.5 camera to shoot some MF slides and I'll need a projector to go with it. I plan to get a rollei 66, however there seem to be a large number of variants with "66" in the model number.

Can someone cut through the confusion for me and recommend a particular model and lens combo?

I have a 35mm projector so I only need the 66 for 6x4.5 and 6x6 (eventually!).

I'd like to buy used, under $500 if possible.

Tom
 

AgX

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There are 4 models of them. The higher in alfabet/the longer the name, the more modern it is and more gadgets it got.

As I never came across any of them I'd just take the first to come. If the price seemed right to me.
 

iulian

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The older P11 is really cheap on the used market.
I have one and I also found a spare bulb for it (no longer in production but they do come up from time to time; also there's a conversion kit available for newer models).
It works for both 135 and 6x6 slides with auto advance and a quirky wire remote that I never bothered to use.
Hope it helps. I paid under 100 EUR for mine and it was in good condition.
 

MattKing

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I have two medium format projectors, so perhaps we should talk .

You should consider putting your location in your APUG profile, because that could be quite relevant to any answer you receive. Both of my projectors (a Rollei and a Kindermann) are fairly large and very heavy.

I'm going to follow this thread with interest, because I'd like to learn more about the lens choices.
 
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tomfrh

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Someone mentioend the P11 in another thread. How does it compare to the P66 in terms of image quality and brightness?
 
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tomfrh

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I'm in Sydney, but it's a small world these days!
 

macfred

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I have a Leitz Prado 66 (with Elmaron 150mm) my father gave to me.
I don't shoot many slides, so I am quite satisfied with the slightly spartan features of the Prado.
If I have to make a decision between P11 and P66 … :confused: I think I would go for the P11 - I heard about lots of problems with the AF on the P66.
There are different bulbs available for the P11 :
- 300 Watt 220V G17Q
- 500 Watt 220V G17Q
The 500 Watt bulb may be used only with an additional heat filter ( search for Heat filter 610 570 for Rollei P11).
These bulbs are very pricey and sometimes hard to find - maybe here :http://www.hcinema.de/lampen/index-en.php?lan=en&suche=&hersteller=LEITZ/LEICA&id=so2707&status=

For the price of one bulb for the P11 you will get 5 (or maybe more) for the P66 (RSE53 24V 150Watt).
This could be important for your decision.
 
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tomfrh

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A 500 Watt bulb! Wow! I think I'll need to invest in a fire extinguisher too!

How do the lenses/image quality compare between the P11 and 66?
 

guangong

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Auto vs manual

The problem，as I see it， is that when an automatic projector goes...it is gone. I have a Leitz
Prodovit 250 （well 2 actually， one no longer works）for35mm but a manual Prado as backup. Can a Rollei 66 projector still be serviced？A Hassy projector is much too costly！ Better a leitz Prado 500 for 66. This machine will never wear out.
 

AgX

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Service should be possible at DHW (the respective Rollei successor) or at some repair workshops.
 

macfred

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guangong said:
Better a leitz Prado 500 for 66. This machine will never wear out.
Click to expand...

+1 !


tomfrh said:
How do the lenses/image quality compare between the P11 and 66?
Click to expand...


I guess there will be no big difference between P11 and P66 when using a similar lens ...


Most of the P11 are equipped with a 150 mm lens (2.8 and 3.5 versions of the 150mm Heidosmat). The 2.8 version is better regarded.
Highly recommended : AV XENOTAR 150/2.8 Schneider Kreuznach
There are also a Heidosmat 110mm 2.8 and a zoom lens (Heidosmat-Vario 110-160mm 3.5) - don't know about the quality.
 

outwest

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All 3 of my P11s and my P66 had the Heidosmat-Vario 110-160mm 3.5 and I saw no problem with them and the only difference between the P11 image and the P66 was the very, very slight color difference between the P11's big bulb and the P66's halogen lamp. I originally was using two P11s for MF stereo projection and then one P11 and the P66 so it wasn't even noticeable there. Would the AV Xenotar be better? Yes, no doubt brighter and sharper, but you are stuck with one focal length. All this is, of course, assuming you are using glass mounts. With glassless the curvature and popping would not be conducive to quality projecting. Look at the chart I posted in the OP's original thread to see if the screen distance and size restraints would fit in the space in which you are primarily going to be projecting. The MF image deserves a large projected size which may not be feasible with a 150mm lens in an average room. My Hasselblad PCP 80 with the 150 P-Planar is as good as it gets in my book but I have to watch where I use it.
 

AgX

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Leitz made those CF (curved field) lenses especially for glassless mounts. It is reported that they work best with those cardboard mounts.

As far as I know no lens with such curvature of the focusing plane has been made for medium format.
 

MattKing

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AgX said:
Leitz made those CF (curved field) lenses especially for glassless mounts. It is reported that they work best with those cardboard mounts.

As far as I know no lens with such curvature of the focusing plane has been made for medium format.
Click to expand...

Kodak also made curved field lenses for the Ektagraphic/Carousel 35mm projectors.
 

macfred

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In general parlance : For best focusing use glass - for simplicity use glass free mounts.
But there will be different opinions here ...
---
I must admit though that I have lots of cardboard mounts …
 

outwest

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Carousel/Ektagraphic type projectors provide for preheating slides so theoretically they arrive pre-popped. Thus Kodak CF (curved field) lenses provide adequate compensation for cardboard mounted 35mm slides which, because of their small size don't have a lot of room to curve/pop anyway. Medium format slides have lots of room to pop in cardboard mounts and will drive you batty trying to refocus to strike a compromise between edge and center. If you are going to MF for better quality, go with glass. Your shows will be better, too, because at the cost of glass mounts you are going to be much more selective about which images get mounted;-)
 

mnemosyne

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My 2 cts: I wouldn't waste my time with the P11 because spare bulbs are very hard to find and ridiculously expensive. Entry point would be a Rollei P66A, very basic projector, no autofocus (manual focus via wire remote control). Absolutely no frills, but works very well and service probably still available. Get yourself a modern, bright HLX bulb for the P66A (available very cheaply), an AV Xenotar lens and use glass frames.

Unless you are on an absolute budget or absolutely need the zoom function, based on my personal experience I would not recommend the Vario Heidosmat. I have three projection lenses (standard Heidosmat 3.5, the Vario and the AV Xenotar). The Vario is the worst, IIRC (haven't used it in a long time). I'm not even sure that it is really meant as a zoom lens for MF projection to begin with, I somehow remember having read that it was actually meant two allow 35mm and MF slides alongside with the P11 projector without having to change lenses (?), which would explain why my sample of this lens was not excatly stunning at shorter focal lengths. Anyhow, the Heidosmat 3.5 is a bit better, but again, I wouldn't recommend unless you are on an absolute budget. The reason is that the AV Xenotar simply blows everything else mentioned here out of the water. The difference is very easily discernible and absolutely worth the extra expense, IMO. Noticeably brighter, sharper and much better colors.
 

MattKing

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tomfrh said:
Are these Kindermann 6x6 projectors any good?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Diaproje...01?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item234e513185

How would it compare to the Rolleis?
Click to expand...

The Kindermann 6x6 projector I have works about as well as the Rollei 6x6 projector I have.

The Kindermann isn't quite as "refined", and it is a bit bigger (they both are quite heavy).

The lenses I have are both middle grade. I think you would have to upgrade my lenses to tell whether one projector was better than the other.
 

Sirius Glass

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Busch & Lomb made an superb 6x6 projector with trays. If you can find one and the trays, buy it.
 
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