Kodak EKTAGRAPHIC III ATS Slide Projector

My slide collection sat for about 20 years because my old Kodak Carousel projector stopped working correctly - the usual problem, would not advance the slide due to the crappy plastic gears Kodak put in their budget projectors.

Thank God for eBay, I found and Ektagraphic III, a top of the line professional use machine which corrected the gear problem with metal gears. This model was selling for close to $1000 back in 2006, but I obtained a like new machine in 2011 for $100 and it is all I ever hoped for. Came with a professional lens, and an infrared remote, and I can finally view pictures I took over 40 years ago.

Unfortunately, Kodak stopped making Kodachrome in 2008, and the last Kodachrome slides were processed by Duanes Labs (authorized Kodak processor) that year. I've pretty much moved over to digital photography, but Kodak Ektachrome is still being produced, as well as Fuji, and I might still drag out my old Canon Pellix QL and fire off a few shots just for fun.

Great Projector! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good old fashion slide projector! It has automatic rotation features that allow hands-free viewing. And it's very user friendly. Easy to use and learn.

I got this paraphrased info from Mermaid Underwater Photographic. It helped sort through all of the "top of the line" and "best" claims from sellers trying to sell their Carousels. This info should help anyone looking for a KODAK.

There are several lines of Kodak projectors:
The Carousel projectors are the home/consumer line. The current series have four digit model numbers. They had a one year warranty.
The Medalist AF is a heavier duty consumer projector. It came with a three year warranty.The Ektagraphics intended for professional and A/V work. Although they look similar to the Carousels some internal parts are different. The most current projectors are the Ektagraphic III series. They carried a four year warranty. The Ektapro is even higher end with microprocessor controls and more. The Ektalight models are similar to the Ektagraphic III models and are not available in the US.

There are older KODAK projectors than these. Do your RESEARCH!!!

Older projectors:
Original Halogen Features
600 600H Manual focus. No option for remote control. No forward/reverse. buttons. Advance by pressing the select button.
650 650H Manual focus. Remote control with forward/reverse only. No forward/reverse buttons on projector.
700 700H Manual focus. Remote control, no remote focus.
750 750H Remote manual focus (focus button on remote control).
760 760H Autofocus.
800 800H Remote manual focus (focus button on remote control), timer.
850 850H Autofocus, timer - 5, 8, 15 seconds.
860 860H Autofocus, remote focus override (focus button on remote control), timer.


The advantages of the Ektagraphics are:

They have extra heat dissipation, and therefore can use brighter bulbs.
The light is more even, especially in the corners.
They have more tighter registration- slides show up in the same place on the screen. This is important when using multiple projectors and a dissolve unit.
The autofocus models have a switch so you can turn autofocus on and off.

The disadvantages of Ektagraphics are:
The fan runs faster with a higher pitched noise.
They are more expensive.

The Ektagraphic III series projectors are currently available in four models, the IIIe plus, IIIa, IIIamt, and IIIats. Kodak also made the IIIam, IIIas, IIIb, and IIIe which are not currently in production but may be available used. The IIIe is the basic projector (the economy version), no auto or remote focus. The IIIb is the earlier version of the IIIe plus which has manual remote focus. Kodak also makes two projectors which are switchable for 110 or 220 volts, the IIIbr and IIIabr. The rest of the III series can be understood by looking at the letters in the name:
A Autofocus
M Remote focus
T Timer
S Flip-out screen

Carousel Ektagraphic Features
4000 Manual focus. No option for remote control. No forward/reverse buttons. Advance by pressing the select button.
4200 IIIe Manual focus. Remote control, no remote focus.
4400 IIIe plus, IIIb Remote manual focus (focus button on remote control)
4600 IIIa Autofocus
5200 IIIas Autofocus, screen
5400 Autofocus, timer, screen
IIIam Autofocus, remote focus override (focus button on remote control)
IIamt Autofocus, remote focus override (focus button on remote control), timer
5600 IIIats Autofocus, remote focus override (focus button on remote control), timer, screen.

the Kodak EKTAGRAPHIC III ATS Slide Projector works great. it has auto focus and that is a convenience. what can i say it does the job and well.

The projector is great. It worked without a glitch, the projection image is magnificent and it came with an easy to store carrying case. I showed it to some friends who have a massive library of slides and have been photography nuts for 50 years. They said although it is no longer a slide technology world this projector is still a top of the line piece of equipment for showing slides.