Difference Between Carousel and Ektagraphic Slide Projectors

[Dennis Baron]

What is the difference between the "consumer" and "professional" Kodak
slide projectors - particularly the Carousel 4600 and the Ektaghrapic III
A. Kodak says,
"The parts of these projectors that are subject to wear have about equal
life
expectancy."
Is it worth an extra 20% purchase price for the Ektagraphic? Or are you
just paying more for the "pro" designation? Or for the 3-year vs. 1-year
warranty?

I'd also be interested in comments on the Kodak Ektanar C lenses vs. the
Schneider Prolux.

Dennis Baron
dba...@MIT.EDU

[Paul M. Archer]

As someone who has worked on most models of Kodak slide projectors, I can
tell you that, with minor variations, the innards of all of them are
basically the same, AND that there is only one part that gets replaced
regularly. That is the link between the solenoid that activates the
advance mechanism and the actual mechanism. It is make of a semi-hard
rubber that eventually will crack and break. This only happens when the
unit gets fairly old (10+ years?). The only other parts of the Kodak
projectors that I have had to replace are the clutch spring (in maybe
three units), and the bulb sockets, which I think comes from user error
more than poor part design. What all this boils down to is that there are
no Kodak models that I wouldn't reccomend based on reliability. I would,
however, definitely buy one with autofocus! 8-)

Dennis Baron (dba...@MIT.EDU) wrote:
: What is the difference between the "consumer" and "professional" Kodak

: Dennis Baron
: dba...@MIT.EDU

--
-----------------------------------------
Paul Archer <par...@phoenix.phoenix.net>
or Pau...@houston.relay.ucm.org
-----------------------------------------

[pbri...@rdth2.rdth.luc.edu]

I remember reading that some models of Kodak's projectors/lenses are
curvature corrected differently to accommodate large flat or curved
screens, the curvature of cardboard mounted slides as they heat up.
Then again my memory could be as warped as the slides.

Preston

[Michael Covington]

pbri...@rdth2.rdth.luc.edu wrote:
: I remember reading that some models of Kodak's projectors/lenses are

: curvature corrected differently to accommodate large flat or curved
: screens, the curvature of cardboard mounted slides as they heat up.
: Then again my memory could be as warped as the slides.

That's right. The Ektanar C lenses have curved fields; Ektanon and
Ektanar (without the C) don't. This is not a Carousel vs. Ektagraphic
difference; both projectors take the same lenses.

--
< Michael A. Covington, Assc Rsch Scientist, Artificial Intelligence Center >
< The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7415 USA mcov...@ai.uga.edu >
< Unless specifically indicated, I am not speaking for the University. > <><
> "To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see them." -C.S. Lewis <

[Darrell A. Larose]

The curved field lenses are designated with a "C" such as Ektanar-C.
Kodak also makes (as well as others, like Tamron and Buhl) makes
flat-field projection lenses, for those of you who glass mount slides.
The main difference between the Carousel vs Ektagraphic, besides being
grey, is the Ektagraphic is designed for professional AV use, which
means a heavy duty cycle. A projector is left running 10-12 hours a
day during things like trade shows, so the Ektagraphic just was made
a bit tougher.

--
Darrell A. Larose.... ad...@freenet.carleton.ca
"..Just hitchhiking along the info highway..."

[Dennis Baron]

ad...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Darrell A. Larose) writes:
>The main difference between the Carousel vs Ektagraphic, besides being
>grey, is the Ektagraphic is designed for professional AV use, which
>means a heavy duty cycle. A projector is left running 10-12 hours a
>day during things like trade shows, so the Ektagraphic just was made
>a bit tougher.

But seems to contradict Kodak's statement that parts that wear have
the same life expectancy. Or is just that the Ektagraphic is expected
to be used more - so when it breaks it will still be repairable under
the longer, three year, warranty? Sounds to me like you're just
paying more for a longer warranty. Since I wouldn't be using it 10
hours a day the Carousel is probably a better choice.

Thanks to everybody that responded to my original question. One
person suggested a Telex Caramate 3170 instead of the Ektagraphic III A.
Any comments on Telex? It is about the same price as the Kodak. Will
it take a Kodak Stack Loader?

Dennis Baron
dba...@MIT.EDU

[larry sheffield]

Dennis Baron (den...@ATHENA.MIT.EDU) wrote:

: ad...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Darrell A. Larose) writes:
: >The main difference between the Carousel vs Ektagraphic, besides being
: >grey, is the Ektagraphic is designed for professional AV use, which
: >means a heavy duty cycle. A projector is left running 10-12 hours a
: >day during things like trade shows, so the Ektagraphic just was made
: >a bit tougher.

I have produced multiple projector slide shows in the past using
dissolvers and slide projector programmers. Largest show I shot for and
programmed had 15 slide projectors and 3 motion picture projectors and
lasted a little over 20 minutes. I was in the Navy at the Atlantic Fleet
Audio Visual Command in Norfolk, VA during the bicentennial year and this
extravaganza was about seapower in America's history. But I digress
and waist bandwidth.

The main difference between the Carousel and Ektagraphic slide
projectors is their intended market. The Carousel is intended for the
consumer and lighter duty market. The Ektagraphic is intended for
the AV professional, especially multiple projector useage. This
resulted is some design features for the Ektagraphic that weren't
needed in the other market.

I believe there are three important features the Ektagraphic has;

1) a slightly shorter and more consistent time when advancing the slide
tray. This is intended to allow quicker changes of image on screen when
multiple projectors are pointed at the same screen area and controlled
with a dissolver or fader (term depended on the manufacturer of the
controlling equipment but dissolver became more commonly used term).
When pointing 2, 3, 4 or more projectors at the same screen area and using
quick cuts instead of longer dissolves, the limitation of how quickly
you can bring up images (after the number of projector of course) is
how quickly you can advance or cycle the projector. As slide
programming equipment became digitally controlled or even with the
earlier punch tape systems you could tightly control the sequence of
images on a screen area. When doing rapid sequence you had to keep in
mind how quickly you could cut out or fade out the light of a
projector then allow it to advance before commanding it to light
again. Shorter and consistent advancing times of a slide projector
becomes important in these instances.

2) When pointing multiple projectors on a screen you must insure that
all slides are in mounts with the same size projector area and then
the slides must fall consistently in the projector or light gate
otherwise the borders of the slides move on screen calling attention
to themselvers instead of the image on the screen itself.
Additionally, if the scene you photographed remained basically the
same except an object or some objects moving you can attempt to show
motion or the passage of time in the changing of the slides.
Remember, a motion picture is nothing but a series of rapidly projected
still images. It is a phenomenom know as persistence of vision with
our eyes and mind that turn movies into visual motion. However, in a
multiple projector slide show if the slides don't fall the same place
in the slide gate then the attempt to show motion or the passage of
time is badly corrupted by the shifting of the background and image
edges. The Ektagraphic projectors have a medal tab in the side of the
slide gate that forces the slides up against the side of the slide gate.
Therefore, if your slide mounts are of uniform size and you aligned
you projectors before the show (special alignment grid slides are
often used) and no one bumps the projectors before or during the show
then the images should smoothly dissolve and move on screen. I've
seen excellent portrayal of motion in sophisticated slide shows at
major multi-image installations and at multi-image festivals. The
pushing of the slide to the side of the gate is one of the major
features of the Ektagraphic for the AV, multi-image professional.

3) another feature I believe is that the Ektagraphic is design to hold
a "hotter" or higher lumen output lamp and be able to do so over long
periods without seriously affecting the life of the projector. The
disadvantage to the average person with using these higher lumen rated
lamps is their life is shorter and they are more expensive.

A Kodak AV rep could probably point out additional features the
Ektagraphics have that the Carousels don't.

Larry W. Sheffield, Still Photographer, Nebraska ETV Network
LIME - Lincoln Informed Macintosh Enthusiasts or l...@unlinfo.unl.edu