Suggestions in upgrading slide projector

I have a Leica P150 projector with the standard lens. I feel that this

projector and lens is the weakest link in my travel/street/landscape

photography. I use top quality prime lenses, mostly Velvia 50 or Provia 100

slide film, hand held metering, solid tripod, etc etc.

 

I now want to upgrade my projector. I need to ask some questions to be able to

understand which upgrade route is best.

 

1. Is there a big quality difference between a Super-colorplan lens and a

Colorplan lens for this projector?

 

2. How would I benefit if I replaced the projector with a 250watt version such

as the P300 or some other?

 

3. Should I upgrade to a 250watt projector as well as to a Super-colorplan or

Colorplan lens?

 

So basically, I'm not sure if I should upgrade by just changing the lens or the

whole system. My family and I use a projector to share our travel photos. I

guess we are still old timers. But its fun.

 

Thanks for your help!

With projectors so cheap this day, you should go the whole hog.

 

P600, 250-300W, Super colorplan.

What distances are you projecting at, that would seem to me to be the deciding factor?

 

On any screen size you will benefit from a change from the Hektor supplied with your 150 to the 90 Colorplan lens (to me it's like the difference between shooting with a vintage 50/3.5 Elmar wide open and a new (today's) 50/2 Summicron at f/4).

 

If you're projecting on a larger than 2 meter screen in a not fully dark room you could benefit from 250 watt.

 

Without stating your projection goals it is difficult to make a realistic suggestion, but you could probably assume that any increase in projector wattage and lens/condenser quality will increase quality of what you'll see on the screen, assuming good slide quality. But how much do you need?

 

I have a Leitz 200 watt projector dating to 1939 that does a fantastic job of projection. There isn't a person yet who has viewed slides projected through that vintage beauty who doesn't compliment it (matte white screen, screen size 2 meters, in a well darkened room).

The Colorplan lenses come both as curved field (CF) and flat field (FF). If you bind the slides in glass, you want the FF lens. For the best quality projection, you should have the illuminating system (condenser) matched to the projection lens, though the P150 system may be close enough. If you wish to upgrade everything, see if you can find a used Leitz Pradolux RT300. It has all the goodies with a carousel changer. Back when Modern Photography magazine tested projectors it garnered the highest marks!

I recently went for a couple of CA 2500s and a dissolving unit; the latter enhances the show -even w.o. tape recorder! And it is high quality and dirt cheap

Thanks for the responses so far.

 

To answer the question of how large i want to project... well i guess the bigger the better as long as i'm not losing quality and brightness by going too far. Thats why i'm looking into getting a brighter bulb and a sharper lens.

 

I wonder how large I could go with a 250Watt bulb and a colorplan lens. I think the limitation becomes the size of the 35mm slide. If i go too large, then it would cause the image to get a bit soft.

 

How much better and bigger are images projected with a 250watt bulb and a colorplan lens compared to a 150watt bulb and the standard Leica P150 lens?

I've been using a P150 with the ColorPlan lens for about 8 years.

 

I'm projecting on 245cm/8feet high walls and I do not believe that upgrading, for me, would make any improvement.

 

I did, however, notice a significant image projection improvement after upgrading to the ColorPlan from the Hektor after my first month or so with the projector.

Torben--CA2500s are great projectors , but what do you mean by "dirt cheap?" The reason I ask is that they still seem to be in the several hundred dollar range. An acceptable alternative is the get a good Ektagraphic--late series--and use a really good lens--such as the Navitar 70-125 zoom; there are plenty of others. Also, there is an adaptor that allows the use of Leica lens in Ektagraphics. They do a great job with the proper lens, and I find the round trays easier to handle then the linear trays. I wish I could find a CA2500 for an Ektagraphic price!

The biggest upgrade would come from shooting, and projecting, medium format slides.

Kodak Signet slide projectors offered a choice of 300 watt and 500 watt bulbs. The 500 watt had a three position power switch so you could continue to run the fan after you switched off the bulb.

Does anybody know if the e-Bay item no. 300199180001 (sorry, it seems that posting a direct link to the auction is not allowed here) would fit a Pradovit P150? It's a 90mm f/2.5 Colorplan-P2, but I'm not sure if all Pradovits and Colorplans are the same size.<br>

Thank you.

Some years ago a European magazine compared several 35mm projectors and lenses.

The P300 had the advantage of more even light distribution on the screen than the

P150. Is that a question of the light bulb, or the condensers? I don't know, but you

might check that out.

 

I would certainly verify that, also the difference between a Colorplan and regular lens

(probably important). For regular non-glass-mounted slides, the curved focus

Colorplan would be a good bet.

A few years ago I had a Kodak Carousel with a Schneider lens outfit to view my slides which I

had for years. But when I picked up a Lieca Pradovit RT-s projector with 90mm f2.5 Super-

Colorplan-Pro lens and a very good Da-Lite screen... it was a night and day difference. The

detail, color and sharpness of my slides were truly amazing. So, if you come across s similar

Lieca Pradovit RT outfit... don't hesitate to pick it up. You won't be sorry.

wow... i never expected so much of a response on projectors in this day and age. its good to hear that leica enthusiasts are still into film!

 

i just went on the B&H website as well as the Adorama site and searched the word... "colorplan".

 

a few leica colorplan lenses came up but i can't figure out exactly if these are CF (curved field) or FF (flat field). i don't glass mount my slides so i am looking for a colorplan or supercolorplan lens that is curved field.

>>Robert Budding, Feb 15, 2008; 06:11 a.m.<<

 

"The biggest upgrade would come from shooting, and projecting, medium format."

 

Apparently it is simply expecting way too much from some that their response might actually stay on topic and be helpful to the person requesting advice.

 

Your post is, so far, the number ONE candidate for "DUH, but not relevant!" post of the month award.

 

Congratulations on your achievement...

If you can find a Leica P2002 projector it would be the best choice. I use one (250W + Bright light kit) for more than 10 years with both Colorplan CF and Super Colorplan FF, (90/2.5) lenses, with great results. The "Super" is the top! (BTW the "Bright light kit" is a condenser lens kit which gives better picture results than the original one).

 

John.

I have and use a Kodak Cavalcade model 510 slide projector with a zoom lens. The image displayed on the screen is beautiful, plus the projector has a high and low bulb wattage setting that one can use, depending on the density of the slide being used. It's a heavy unit and uses the straight 40 slide tray. It works well for my needs!<div></div>