Slide Projector

[Bigpaul]

Not sure whether this is the right forum to discuss slide projectors, so please bear with me?

A while ago I acquired a Kindermann Silent 2500 projector for 35mm slides, which I like for its' full features and ease of use. It has the Kindermann f2.8 90mm lens. However, compared to my old (owned from new in 1970) Hanimex Rondette manual projector (with f2.8 85mm Hanimar lens), the colours appear rather washed out and lacking saturation/vibrancy, even with the lamp intensity reduced to match that of the Hanimex. I am assuming that the lens must be the culprit? If so, could anyone recommend a better lens for the Kindermann (I have removed it, and it unscrews with a very coarse thread.......I have tried to substitute the Hanimar lens into the Kindermann projector, but can't work out how to remove the lens.........it doesn't seem to unscrew, so I don't suppose it would fit anyway).

I know that the Hanimex was a fairly budget model in its' day, so I was very surprised that the much more modern Kindermann, for all its' bells and whistles, has an inferior optical performance?

 

[Ian Grant]

Check the Kinderman's lens for dust, dirt & perhaps cleaning marks or even condensation it may just need cleaning.

I had a Kinderman projector for years (mid 70's) and their lenses are usually excellent comparable to Rollei, Hanimex etc so it shouldn't be worse than your Hanimex unless it has issues.

Ian

 

[Bigpaul]

Thanks for quick reply, Ian. Following your comments about the decent quality of the lens, I have inspected it closely, and can see that it is in fact quite cloudy inside.........I've cleaned the outer surfaces to no avail. Since there is no obvious way to dismantle the lens, it looks as though a replacement is the best way to go. Should I stick to Kindermann, or are there other lenses with the same fitting (a coarse screw that I measure as 42mm diameter across the threaded part) that I should consider?

Thanks again for making me look again at the lens!

 

[Ian Grant]

I picked up a nice Dixons (Rollei) projector for £5 a couple of years ago, it'll probably be easier to get a complete one than find a lens that fits.

Try a car boot sale or local charity shops Mine came from the RNLI shop.

Ian

 

[Clay2]

My Hanimex projector from the 1970's is still going strong.Only problem is finding DAK 500 watt bulbs.
Best regards,
/Clay

 

[Joachim_I]

As a rule, projection lenses for 35mm projectors with a maximum aperture of 2.8 are usually of low quality. Usually, a high quality alternative was offered with a slightly larger maximum aperture of 2.5 (Zeiss, Leica) or 2.4 (Rollei, Kindermann). I would look for such a 2.4/90mm lens for your Kindermann. A friend of mine has your Kindermann model and the projection results with the better lens are very good.

 

[Steve Roberts]

Some projector lenses that might be quickly dismissed as 'cheap and nasty' actually aren't so bad at all. For years my father used a Boots branded projector which came with an 'Isco Gottingen' 85mm (I think) lens that wasn't half bad. Worst projector lens ever has to be the 70 - 120 zoom that came with so many otherwise excellent Kodak Carousels.

Steve

 

[Bigpaul]

Thanks for your comments...........most welcome!

Just one point..........I'm a little confused about the universality (or otherwise) of the lens mounting systems for slide projectors. The Kindermann has a coarse thread, whereas some other lenses seem to have a smooth barrel for (presumably) a push or friction fit...........just wondered whether there was any simple way of knowing which brands of lens would have the same fitting as the Kindermann?