What is the LEAST EXPENSIVE 6x6 slide projector?

[E. von Hoegh]

I know there are the Rolleis and the Hasselblads that are probably really great, but I don't have that kind of money. Looking at a freshly printed silver print is my favorite way to enjoy my b&w work and I want to find a way to really enjoy slides, completely analog. Looking at scans of slides on a computer or inkjet prints of slides doesn't really seem to be the best way to enjoy them.

Full disclosure, I'm young and I've never seen slides be projected. Maybe that's why it is so appealing to me, because I haven't had the experience tainted by being forced to watch slides from relative's vacations for hours...

35mm slide projectors are very easy to come by, in fact I know there is one at my grandparents' house, but affordable medium format projectors seem to be more scarce. What is the least expensive way to find these projectors? I don't care if it is completely manual and you load the slide in one at a time. As long as I can still get a bulb for it I will be happy. I'd want to spend under $100 (preferably less!). Are there any brands/ models I should look out for?

When looking online, it can be hard to tell if the projector will take 6x6 slides and the description is often just "slide projector. turns on." Is there anything to look out for that would make it easier to identify a medium format projector (i.e. some brands have never made slide projectors)

Thanks for the help!

Oh dear. Are you in for a treat!
Here's what you do. Get that 35mm projector from your grandparents, find some good quality 35mm slides, and view them. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality, if the projector is any good at all, and you've been viewing images on a monitor.
Then, when you get your MF projector, you'll be flabbergasted at the improvement over 35!!

You have no idea the can of worms you've opened for yourself.
Did you know that you can get transparency film in 4" x 5"??

 

[saman13]

Oh dear. Are you in for a treat!
Here's what you do. Get that 35mm projector from your grandparents, find some good quality 35mm slides, and view them. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality, if the projector is any good at all, and you've been viewing images on a monitor.
Then, when you get your MF projector, you'll be flabbergasted at the improvement over 35!!

You have no idea the can of worms you've opened for yourself.
Did you know that you can get transparency film in 4" x 5"??

I'll be sure to do it in that order rather than the other way around. I'm pretty excited to see how they look when projected.

And no 4x5 camera yet. I just bought my first MF camera about a week ago so that will have to wait. In fact I just shot my first roll of slide film less than a month ago so slides are completely new to me. MF slides even newer than new...

 

[MattKing]

For the great majority of projectors of any kind you will not be able to get an appropriate bulb, be it a plain incandescant or halogen bulb.
You then either would have to modify your system or live with shortcomings.

Thankfully, many of the projectors used bulbs that remain in use for other applications, so don't despair quite yet.
It is wise to check though.

 

[AgX]

And meanwhile, in the US too, the mains voltage rose.

 

[saman13]

It looks like this website has many options for this particular projector's lamp. Before buying the projector I checked to see if there were replacement options should I need one. In fact I might buy one or two just in case.

https://www.replacementlightbulbs.com/lampshardtofindd.html

 

[AgX]

Looking at that site voltagewise the situation seems better than in Europe.

 

[Fixcinater]

I know you've already found one for your MF uses but I happened upon a Leitz 6x6 and a Rollei P6x6 in a thrift store once. $40 each, should have bought them both but I hesitated so only the Rollei was left when I went back. I now have that and my only problem is I still don't have enough 6x6 slides! Beautiful, simple way to enjoy images at an exceedingly high quality.

 

[saman13]

I know you've already found one for your MF uses but I happened upon a Leitz 6x6 and a Rollei P6x6 in a thrift store once. $40 each, should have bought them both but I hesitated so only the Rollei was left when I went back. I now have that and my only problem is I still don't have enough 6x6 slides! Beautiful, simple way to enjoy images at an exceedingly high quality.

I need to start frequenting thrift shops more. The issue is, the only thing the Goodwill in my town ever has are size XXL shirts and VHS tapes. However, I did find a Stylus Epic at a vintage store for $10 so my luck hasn't been all bad. If I could find an even better projector at a price like that I would be pretty happy.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I need to start frequenting thrift shops more. The issue is, the only thing the Goodwill in my town ever has are size XXL shirts and VHS tapes. However, I did find a Stylus Epic at a vintage store for $10 so my luck hasn't been all bad. If I could find an even better projector at a price like that I would be pretty happy.

Yes, the same with my Goodwill or Goodwill's in my area. All the items I used to stop in for and check the store out for are no longer there. They put all the "goodies" on their auction now. I seldom stop there anymore. I don't think Goodwill understands that they certainly don't have the traffic flow in their store since they started doing that. Of course I don't think they care since they are "profit driven" unlike Salvation Army. My problem with Goodwill is that they claim to give the under-achiever's or handicap type folks a good job. Truth is they give them a job, but the management and upper management get the real gravy. Sad, since they get all their items for absolutely nothing. Goodwill is "NOT" a charity and that bothers me. I try to do all my shopping at our Mel Trotter Mission store or Salvation Army Store. I feel better knowing the money I spend there isn't going into some fat cats pocket. That's just me of course.

 

[John Koehrer]

Maybe they're a charity in the manner of the Trump foundation.

Anyway Cabin and Mamiya are two names* for the same 6X6 single load projector gotta admit
you see many of them way overpriced.

* I think there were a couple of other names for the same unit.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Maybe they're a charity in the manner of the Trump foundation.

Anyway Cabin and Mamiya are two names* for the same 6X6 single load projector gotta admit
you see many of them way overpriced.

* I think there were a couple of other names for the same unit.

We're not suppose to talk politics here, but I agree with you 110%!

 

[BobMarvin11225]

"And meanwhile, in the US too, the mains voltage rose"

Not in my lifetime and I'm 72. Actually I think it's been the same 110--125 V for >100 years.

 

[Arklatexian]

I know there are the Rolleis and the Hasselblads that are probably really great, but I don't have that kind of money. Looking at a freshly printed silver print is my favorite way to enjoy my b&w work and I want to find a way to really enjoy slides, completely analog. Looking at scans of slides on a computer or inkjet prints of slides doesn't really seem to be the best way to enjoy them.

Full disclosure, I'm young and I've never seen slides be projected. Maybe that's why it is so appealing to me, because I haven't had the experience tainted by being forced to watch slides from relative's vacations for hours...

35mm slide projectors are very easy to come by, in fact I know there is one at my grandparents' house, but affordable medium format projectors seem to be more scarce. What is the least expensive way to find these projectors? I don't care if it is completely manual and you load the slide in one at a time. As long as I can still get a bulb for it I will be happy. I'd want to spend under $100 (preferably less!). Are there any brands/ models I should look out for?

When looking online, it can be hard to tell if the projector will take 6x6 slides and the description is often just "slide projector. turns on." Is there anything to look out for that would make it easier to identify a medium format projector (i.e. some brands have never made slide projectors)

Thanks for the help!

There is/was a company named Golde who makes/made 500W (maybe even 1000W spot lights, One of these was equipped with a blower, snoot and lens and would project as large as 2 1/4 by 3 1/4 slides, one at a time and would certainly handle 2 1/4 x 2 1/4. This was not anywhere near, in new price, to either Hasselblad nor Rollei projectors. Not near as nice either but did work. I don/t know if the company is still in business...........Regards!

 

[AgX]

"And meanwhile, in the US too, the mains voltage rose"

Not in my lifetime and I'm 72. Actually I think it's been the same 110--125 V for >100 years.

In the US the nominal voltage rose from 110V to 120V and that difference already is substantial.
There is a tolerance allowed to both. But with a bulb made for 110V (especially if overrated) and a voltage at the upper limit of 120V one is stretching things far.

 

[MattKing]

The nominal voltage in the US rose to 115 volts in the 1930s, so if you have a bulb designed for 110 volts, it was designed for something really old now.

 

[RichardJack]

Ansco made one back in the 1960's that held 1 6x6 mounted slide at a time. It also accepts Sawyers 35mm straight trays.
I found mine years ago at a yard sale for $2.

 

[saman13]

The $25 Ansco got here today and it works great! It didn't come with the instructions but after about 20 minutes of playing around with it I had it figured out (took me the longest to figure out that the 35mm slide insert could actually be removed).
It's actually a pretty sharp lens. Not the brightest (I think it's a 5in 3.5) but it gets the job done. I'll open it up and clean all the dust out of it soon.
I've only used it with 35mm slides so far because I don't actually have any 6x6 slides yet. But, I have my first roll of provia in my mamiyaflex right now so I should have some soon! Thanks for all the help, everyone

 

[David Brown]

Glad that worked out. Actually f/3.5 is pretty common for projector lenses.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

And meanwhile, in the US too, the mains voltage rose.

The polyphase AC transmission system has not changed in supply voltage of 110 to 120 volts for residential customers since the late 19th century.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The nominal voltage in the US rose to 115 volts in the 1930s, so if you have a bulb designed for 110 volts, it was designed for something really old now.

I have some 1905-10 Edison carbon filament lamps, marked 110v, and a Sterling Spiralite marked 115v, even though it is at least as old as the Edisons. Also some later 20s and 30s CF bulbs marked variously 110, 115, 117, 120, and 125v.

 

[michr]

A Realist 620, a simple push pull will be cheap and works well. Need to be fairly close to screen. It will do 35mm as well with a different push pull adapter. Slightly more advanced is the Bausch & Lomb Balomatic 755. It does not have a stellar reputation but mine works well enough. Both projectors were USA made. If you find one make sure you get the slide trays as they are really hard to find. Projection bulbs, too, may be hard to find.

I came here to suggest the Realist 620. I have one just because I think it's cool looking, and it was like $20, for a medium format projector. Now it's a shame I don't have anywhere to get medium format transparencies made.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I came here to suggest the Realist 620. I have one just because I think it's cool looking, and it was like $20, for a medium format projector. Now it's a shame I don't have anywhere to get medium format transparencies made.

You can make them in a Rolleiflex or similar, and mount them in mounts made from cereal boxes.

 

[MattKing]

You can make them in a Rolleiflex or similar, and mount them in mounts made from cereal boxes.

Or buy GEPE mounts.
Craigslist Vancouver - in case you need a case or so: https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/pho/d/gepe-slide-mounts-for-6x6/6281376148.html

 

[E. von Hoegh]

In the US the nominal voltage rose from 110V to 120V and that difference already is substantial.
There is a tolerance allowed to both. But with a bulb made for 110V (especially if overrated) and a voltage at the upper limit of 120V one is stretching things far.

Just a few percent overvoltage will decrease lamp life drastically, not to mention color temp..

 

[saman13]

I came here to suggest the Realist 620. I have one just because I think it's cool looking, and it was like $20, for a medium format projector. Now it's a shame I don't have anywhere to get medium format transparencies made.

Yeah, someone suggested the 620 after I had already ordered the Dualet and honestly I like the look of the 620 better. Both have the same body but the gold and sea foam looks better than the gold and brown of the ansco imo. But, my girlfriend already has plans to paint the projector so that it can be a permanent fixture of our apartment. She'll be happy and so will I!