Buying Slide Projector

[Jim Jones]

The Kodak and Ektagraph projectors are part of an extensive and versatile system. This means trays, accessories, and repair parts are more available than for other brands. They, and projection screens, are also sometimes available at little cost in second-hand stores and elsewhere. Shipping may be more expensive than the item itself when buying online.

[BrianL]

Oh, you shoot both 35mm and mf so the projector will need to handle both which the one you asked about does. I have 2 projectors as I also shoot both, a Kodak Carosal and a rare Polaroid. I'd suggest finding a MF projector as you ain't seen nothing until you see a mf transparency projected but it will spoil you to the point that 35mm is not worth shooting.

[Francis in VT]

I have 2 projectors as I also shoot both, a Kodak Carosal and a rare Polaroid.

I didn't realize a Polaroid projector was a RARE item.
I have one with two lenses and two slide carriers.
It was made for Polaroid by American Optical Co,

RE: screens as a poster mentioned a DALITE or RADIANT brand matte White is the best, IMHO

Francis in VT

[jeffreyg]

I have a 30 + year old Leitz Pradovit Color (don't recall the number) that has hardly been used. It is very sharp and bright. It does not take carousels and I rarely take personal slides now. I also have a couple of combo projector/viewer units for slides I take in my dental practice. If you can find one it might fit your needs. One is a Kodak Ektagraphic model 260AF and the other is a Telex Caramate 4000. They are identical other than the case color and were most likely made by the same company and re-branded. They have worked perfectly for very many years and if you can find one it probably costs very little. Check with some AV companies they may have one gathering dust on a shelf.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

[cheuwi]

What about a Kodak Carousel 4200? Are they any good. Found one in my local craigslist but the selling is asking for $250 as he claims that it is in mint condition...
Thanks,
Cheuwi

[MattKing]

What about a Kodak Carousel 4200? Are they any good. Found one in my local craigslist but the selling is asking for $250 as he claims that it is in mint condition...
Thanks,
Cheuwi

That is way too high for a Carousel 4200.

As a comparison (at the other end of the country) a Carousel 4600 for $40:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...605178517.html

[MattKing]

Here is a CL listing that includes a free one - no details though:

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/pho/2628655492.html

[cheuwi]

Thanks Matt... really appreciate it. I tried to get a reasonable price for these things but they seem to be all over the map on ebay.
I have contacted the toronto CL list that you pointed to but have not heard back.
I will keep looking... thanks again.
Cheuwi

[scribblescribble]

I haven't tried the projector you mention, but I did go through searching for a slide projector just over a year ago. I ended up, after much research, going for a used Leica Pradovit P300-IR with a Colorplan lens. The contrast, sharpness and brightness of the projected image is outstanding and worlds ahead of the Kodak and Rollei models I did a direct comparison with.

That will depend on WHICH Rollei you did the comparison against,andwhat lens it was fitted with. The Leica Pradovit P300 (and its bigger p600 brother) is a noisy, clunky, badly-designed piece of prehistoric junk compared to the final generation of Rollei projectors - the twin lens dissolve models like the MSC 300. Look inside a P600, and you realise it basically hasn't changed since the late 1960s - it is just a 1950s-style manual projector with a lot of levers and rubber bands and flywheels added to turn in into an automatic one.

[Discoman]

I'll throw in my 2 cents for a kodak as well. The carousel projectors are quite common, so you could find one (working too) at a garage sale, craigslist, or a thrift store/consignment shop.
A guy down the street from me has one he was looking to essentially give away, with a few trays and all. Some appear in my local classefieds, but never sell (as people forget they have lost all value.)
I personally use a Keystone 770, have enjoyed it enough to want to replace it. It uses carousel type trays, but SIDEWAYS, and the automatic advance is push the button top remove the slide and advance the tray, then manually push the slide lever back in to load the next slide.
If you want the best of the best of the best, then an absolute top of the line Rollei, Leica or Hasselblad projector will be what you want.
If you shoot medium format and want a projector that can handle that, then all I know of is Mamiya apparently makes a slide projector, and there is Götschmann as well.
But, seriously, Carousel is very good for what they usually cost.