slide projector recommendations?

[AgX]

Do I need a special canvas to project onto?

The standard against which all screens are evaluated is a layer of Bariumsulphate. A matte white wall paint would be very similar to such.

There are various screens with different properties. The variation to the standard typically is a more narrow angle of reflectance* and brighter image. However they might also show a grain. And, more important, the more narrow angle means that the audience must sit very near to eachother and the projector, unless far away from the screen.
For some stereoscopic projections one needs a special variety too.
In hindsight, at least over here, there were fashions concerning screen types.

I bought all my various screens used locally for next to nothing. You should either project on a plain flat white wall, or get a used rollable screen on a tripod-stand.


*Technically more correct is "angular light fall-off".

 

[John Koehrer]

Your problem will be image size, In the chart linked to the image is around 2X3' There should be aftermarket lenses for the
Kodak but availability in Japan may be like finding a chicken lip sandwich in NY.
One maker of compatibles was Buhl, I'm not familiar with a Japanese brand.

The Leitz you found uses straight trays and there was another european projector that used the same tray. Was
there a standard tray that was used in europe?

 

[AgX]

Straight trays were the standard in Europe. Circular trays were much lesser used. Of both existed various types.
Common european projectors used straight trays. Some of them in addition could take circular trays. Projectors that only accepted circular trays were few (typically Kodak Carousel and successors.)

 

[ericdan]

I grew up in Germany and only ever saw straight trays when I was young. I now live in Japan and the only thing around seems to be Minolta and Cabin.

 

[MattKing]

And I've never even seen a Minolta slide projector.
The vagaries of the international markets.

 

[AgX]

I grew up in Germany and only ever saw straight trays when I was young. I now live in Japan and the only thing around seems to be Minolta and Cabin.

Here I often come across a variety of straight trays and makes of projectors. But only very rarely circular trays. Kodak projectors only 3 times in the last 10 years and only 1 time a Agfa CS magazine...

 

[AgX]

Was there a standard tray that was used in europe?

The most common tray was the "Universal"/"Gemeinschafts" (Association) tray.

Here some of the trays you would find in Germany:
https://mediafix.de/diamagazine-welche-verschiedenen-typen-gibt-es/

Universal and Paximat are the ones I most often came across.