The Kinderman slide projector and future of MF slides

Two years ago, after years of 35mm slides, I bought a Hass. 501CM and

a new Kinderman projector. Slide mounting is laborious but images are

superb. Questions: What is your experience as to long term Kinderman

reliability and where are good MF repair places in the U.S. -

especially in the upper midwest? Eventually I may want to consider a

projector with more features. Would Rollei, Hasselblad,etc be worth

the considerable expense? Any speculations on the future of MF slide

projection? Equipment is expensive and rental seemingly

non-existent. Digital/TV processes may be the future but for now,at

least, MF slide presentations are incomparable.

I believe that medium format slide projection will always have

appeal to an audience. For someone who can access the right equipment, he or she will be able to dazzle the audience. The problem

is cost and future availability. It seems that all slide shows

nowadays are of the "dynamic" kind with a battery of several

slide projectors. There is never a dark spot on the screen,

a new image overlaps the other with fading etc. etc. This kind

of technique require several projectors not only to provide

overlap but also because it "consumes" plenty of slides. In the

end this costs huge amounts of money. Take for instance the

hasselblad projectors with their perspective control lenses.

They cost about $4000 each with lens. The perspective control

is necessary for some overlapping effects, for instance where

an image has the same background and only the foreground changes.

The effect is very nice, but if the images are not aligned

(perspective control lenses are necessary for perfect alignment)

it becomes disturbing. So, how to bring home money to cover the

cost? Well, as an amateur I would never get a nickel from slide

shows so I would have to be very devoted to save up the money.

For a professional it could also be difficult. When was the last

time you heard of anyone paying to see a slide show? A sponsor

would be needed.

 

All in all I'm pessimistic when it comes to the future of MF

slide projection.

I am a veteran of 35mm slide presentations and the previous post is accurate, IMHO. What your concerns boil down to, is putting a great deal of time & money into this effort going to be worth my while? Slide show are a lot of work and very expensive per image. I agree that most people would not spend a penny to see one, currently, unless the show is incorporated into another event or overall presentation of another sort. On the other hand, the Hassy projectors with "Hassy-chromes" or any other 6x6cm chrome will WOW anyone in short order! Obviously you see and appreciate the differences already, and are concerned. Some of the best "movie" presentations are in 70mm! For me, if money is no object and time is of no consequence, then I would not hesitate and "damn the critics"! Kindermann has been around a long time, don't worry. The entire technology is changing every 12-18 months so all bets are short-lived except classics.

Equipment does not have to be too expensive. I bought two used Rollei P66 projectors from the late 1970s/ early 1980s with 110-160 Zoom lenses and dissolve unit in Germany for about 1000 US$ (they needed some repair recently which was carried out at the Rollei factory in Braunschweig/Germany for a very reasonable price). These projectors have a flat body so that the lenses are close together and alignment should be easier than with Kindermann projectors. And they have autofocus which makes it more relaxing. The new Rollei projectors are even better built and also useable for 35mm slides. A 6x6 slide show with dissolve unit is a great experience. Well, I don't try to earn money with it. Now if I could find glassless mounts that hold my slides flat (tried Gepe, Hama and Kunze so far).

 

Ulrik

I've also considered MF projection but have balked at the thought of having to cut out each slide, then clean the glass for each individual mount, then unmounting the slide after the show (so humidity doesn't stick the slide to the glass). I'm convinced that the future of slide projection (if there is any) is digital (as is printing). At least with digital, you can make a scan of odd-sized chromes like 6x17 and still project them, and you can touch up scans beforehand in Photoshop, crop on the computer, etc.

The day that might happen, Jim, is the day when digital backs exceed film in quality, or when scanning and photoshopping 80 slides is less of a pain than mounting them :-)

I have always wondered where serious amatuers expect to see their

work in public. All that thought comparing MTF curves, "boken"{sic} and autofocus speeds, yet so little on presentation. Slides are simply the best way to view an image. What? Nobody pays you

for slide shows? Well, I bet print sales are pretty rare too.

Medium format shows are outstanding, a great focal point to a party,

and a way to break into small photo shows. I would invest in two Rolleis for the price of about one Hasselblad so as to get a dissolve show together. Rolleis are a stop faster, can fit in Chief racks, and

have a greater lens selection available. Best projectors are Groetschmanns, @ >$5000 a piece. Investigate Wess Plastic for all sorts of mounts, including my favorite, the widelux (24mmx54mm)

Digital will replace film, but when?

Folks,

 

Need top throw in my 2 cents. I've been shooting medium format (Hassy stuff) for about 12 years. Also have a complete Nikon system. When it comes time to leave the house to do photography, I grab the Hassy equipment. Why? My end product. We all need to think about why we photograph. What are you going to do with your end product? Make prints? If so, are you going to exhibit? Show your family? Compete in Camera Club competitions? Or keep your work to yourself.

At this point in my life, I'm inclined to shooting slides to 1) make prints for exhibits; 2) put together slide shows for the education and entertainment of others interested in the art of photography. With this in mind, I use MF vs 35mm. Also with this in mind, I've invested in two PCP 80 Hassy projectors. Bought one at a time. The first one was used, the second one new when Hasselblad had a super sale from the factory. There is nothing that can compare to a dual-projector medium format slide show using PCP 80's, with dissolve, put to music. Aside from the quality of a program like this, the personal and artistic satisfaction associated with producing this type of show is as satisfying as photography itself. Cost money? You bet! Is it worth it? Nothing (NOTHING) can compare to a PCP 80 projector. Everyone involved in this forum knows the expense associated with photography. But you need to figure out what direction you want to go with your work. If you don't do slide shows for public view, don't go for the big bucks. Get a less expensive projector to view your own work. It will work fine. If you are going to show your work to the public, save your bucks and wait until you can go for the PCP 80.

 

With respect to the future of MF slides, whats the future of film vs. the new digital stuff? With time, there won't be film. At age 55, I may very well see the time when film isn't around any more. But it's several years away. So keep the MF slides coming.

 

Bill

The most incredible slide show that I ever saw was presented by Dean Collins around 1986-87. He was doing a nationwide show on lighting techniques. As I recall he used something like 20 Hasselbad projectors and the slides were all Kodachrome. (Too bad Kodak discontinued Kodachrome in medium format sizes). The sharpness and clarity were amazing. The screen was about 40 feet wide. I'm sure this was a very expensive show to produce. But even with one medium format projector, most people I've shown my slides to say the image quality is great.

It should be noted that Kinderman has started producing their MF slide projectors again due to demand.

Another answer:

 

I bought my first MF-projector in 1984, a Kindermann. It was a bit noisy, had no autofocus but worked reliable. Recently I bought the new two format Rollei because of a spezial offer here in Germany and because of the fact that my old 35mm projector died in duty.

Up to now I had a first problem with the new Rollei. It wasn't able to settle the focus because of a possibly loosened screw in the focus gear. But this was fixed during the warranty period. The Projector is fine. My old Kindermann I could sell because of the demands of market at a prize higher than I spent in 84.

 

I started using GEPE antinewton slides, but I everytime I was eaten up trying to clean the them. It is nearly impossible to get dustfree mounted slides. In addition they become slightly dirty during the time because of additives in the plastics. Because of this problems I now switched to HAMA Proslide AV without glas (I don't know, wether tey will be available in the US). These frames have quite a good reputation in german slide news groups and I am content with them.

Anyhow, it is really an experience comparing a MF-slideshow with 35mm (By the way beside a Rollei 66E I use a Horseman Fieldcamera with 6x7 and cut the slides to 6x6 for using them with my projector).

I'm not a professional!