Kodak Ektapro 35mm slide projector - really dim image?

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adam_dynamic

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Not many people seem to use slides these days, hopefully someone here can still help me though :)

I bought a Kodak Ektapro slide projector on eBay recently (sold as working and with a new lamp just fitted). I've just tested it and everything seems to work except the projected image is extremely dim (unusably so).

The light coming out the back of the projector seems bright (and is certainly brighter than the light through the lens) and apparently the lens is new anyway.

Can anyone with experience with slide projectors suggest what I might be doing wrong? I'm reluctant to open it up without knowing what I'm doing - could something have come loose during shipment?

Any assistance in this would be appreciated, please let me know if any more info from me would be useful.

Thanks in advance!

Adam
 
Sorry if this is stating the obvious. Are you sure the lamp is sitting in the correct position?
 
Thanks for the replies!

RaglanSurf said:
Sorry if this is stating the obvious. Are you sure the lamp is sitting in the correct position?
Click to expand...

No problem with stating the obvious :)

I've no idea whether the lamp is in the right place , I can open the projector and check though (is it likely to be obvious if it is or not?)

The model is the 3020, it does have two settings for the lamp brightness which I can see working from the light coming out the back of the unit changing but makes little difference to the light out of the lens.

Thanks again,

Adam
 
Check that the lamp and anything in the path of the light is clean and not covered in dust.


Steve.
 
Hi, Adam. I've reported this thread to the moderation team suggesting that it might be better placed in the film & conventional area where there are more people familiar with slide projectors.
 
Problems with an old projector can be the lamp,is the the correct model fitted,also these projector have variable voltage are you running at 240V?

The lens is often so covered in dust and this it will have a big impact on performance,lastly these machines also have a low and high performance option check which your,s is on.
 
Hi all, thanks for the replies so far.

I took the lamp tray out of the projector this evening and had a look at everything. The lamp looks find and the lens and heatshield both look good as well (no dust, no damage). One thing I did notice is that there's a mirror on a pivot that looks like it's designed to reflect light from the lamp through the lens. It's on a sprung pivot but the way the mirror is positioned it just directs the light straight back towards the lamp. I can pull it forward with my finger into a position that looks like it would reflect light through the lens but it springs back when I let go - should it be attached to something?

I've attached an image below that tries to show it, any info on what I'm doing wrong would be appreciated :)
 

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Hi, I have had a quick look at the service manual for the Ektapro but not sure which model you have. Now my experience with messing with slide projectors is limited to older models which are mostly mechanical, yours is stuffed with electronic sensors and stuff. Suggest you do a quick search for the service manual on line and see if you can make sense of any of it. For instance does yours have two lamps because I think the mirror may have something to do with the two lamps. In any case if you have the service manual you just need to find a techie to to sort it for you. I have found in the past that having a service manual makes techies more likley to help out.
 
The projector is a 3020 which I think is the most basic model? I had a look on the tray and can't how the mirror would be controlled (there doesn't seem to be any motor attached to it or anything). I think jamming it forward (gaffer tape on the back) might be the best 'quick fix' :)
 
adam_dynamic said:
The projector is a 3020 which I think is the most basic model? I had a look on the tray and can't how the mirror would be controlled (there doesn't seem to be any motor attached to it or anything). I think jamming it forward (gaffer tape on the back) might be the best 'quick fix' :)
Click to expand...
Just be careful using gaffer tape anywhere near the lamp or reflector, it's likely to get very hot.

Also might be worth checking if you can just disconnect the spring from the mirror so it just sits in the right place.
 
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