Pradovit P-2002 projector

["Richard W. Hemingway" <n5xrd@telepath.com>]

Well after 6 weeks it finally made it from Germany.  Actually the projector
only took 4 weeks from Solms and the slide trays 2 extra weeks, in stock
from N.J.!!!

I have shot Kodachrome 64 in the M6 and EliteII 100 (given to me) in the R7,
which allowed me to try out the new (to me) film and the difference in slide
mounts, cardboard for K64 and Pakon plastic mounts for the EliteII.  I used
the Super Colorplan FF 90/2.8 lens.

Heretofore, I had been using a Kodak Ektagraph III with an older Colorplan
CF lens.  I had a Leica RT-300 which I gave away as it had severe problems.
With the Ektagraph I could use the older CF lens or a Golden Navitar 100/2.8
FF.  I found neither satisfactory with the cardboard mount or the Pakon
mounts, although the Navitar worked fairly well with the Pakon mounts.

After using the  2002 and super colorplan: Superior projector and lens.
Autofocus was right on and quick.  Interestingly, the FF super colorplan did
a better job with both the cardboard mounts and the Pakon mounts than either
of the above lens with the Ektagraph. The Pakon was a little better across
the entire slide than the cardboard mounts which showed slight unfocus on
the edges. I'm astounded.  If I decided to stay with the K64, I thought I
might have to have it processed and returned unmounted and mount them in
Pakon mounts.  I like glass - but it is way too expensive for me.

It looks like either of the mounts will be satisfactory, although I will
have to look at a lot of my old slides before I make up my mind fully on this.

On the light table the EliteII looks a little more "normal" in coloring than
does the K-64.  Actually, the EliteII 100 is somewhat warm and the the K-64
seems to have a greenish cast.  Upon projection, the EliteII was warmer than
I like and the K-64 pretty close to what I like (all subjective).  The K-64
was sharper than the Elite II/100, although I used a 35mm/f.20 (new) on the
M6 and the 28-70 (at about 35mm) on the R7.

For the forseeable future I will probably use K-64 in cardboard mounts.  I
don't print any more and my wife has an eye problem and can see projected
slides much better than prints.  Also don't have room for any more 16 x 20
prints.

One of the reasons for the ability of the 2002 to project the slides sharper
from edge to edge than the Ektagrpah may be the gate temperatue.  The
Ektagraph runs about 160-170 F. and the 2002 about 90 F.

Cons about the 2002: Can't use a stack loader, have to change to straight
slide trays.  I am in the process of doing the later with about 8000 slides
and makeing slide labels and a data base on the computer. At the rate I am
going it will take about 2-4 years!

On other thing, I also bought a Colorplan-P CF lens 90mm/2.8 which I thought
I would need for the cardboard mounts - so far I haven't had in out of the
box to use.

Sorry I've run so long, but I received a number of replies when I asked
about various slide mounts and thought this would be the best way to relate
my experience, so far, with the Pradovit P-2002.

Dick Hemingway
Norman, OK