If you want to view your priceless slide carousels at a family gathering, display them at a wedding, graduation, or other events, or simply want to enjoy them as they were originally intended, then you will need a high-quality carousel slide projector.
While a slide viewer will display one of your slides at a time, that’s time-consuming and a lot of work if you have an entire carousel full of memories. That’s why Capture vintage media experts used over 20 years of experience digitizing slides to compile this list of the best carousel slide projectors for sale online in 2024.
Everything about the carousel slide projector experience is full of nostalgia that you can’t get from DLP digital projectors including loading the slides, perfecting the image, and turning on the machine. Keep reading to see how you can relish that experience with the top 5 carousel projectors, their features, and a buying guide to make sure you choose the best option for your precious memories.
Quick list of the 5 best carousel slide projectors for sale in 2024
- Kodak Carousel 5600 Projector
- Vivitar 3000AF Projector
- Leitz Prado 250 Projector
- Sawyer's Rotomatic 727 Projector
- GAF Anscomatic 660 Projector
Carousel Slide Projector Comparison Chart
|
Kodak Carousel 5600 Projector |
Vivitar 3000AF Projector |
Leitz Pradovit Color 250 Projector |
Sawyer's Rotomatic 700 Projector |
GAF Anscomatic 660 Projector |
|
|
Amazon Rating |
4.3 Stars |
3.6 Stars |
Not Available |
Not Available |
2.0 Stars (Only 1 Amazon rating) |
|
Approximate Price |
$250 to $400 |
$175 to $300 |
$75 to $225 |
$50 to $200 |
$100 to $225 |
|
Year Released |
1981 |
1987 |
1969 |
1963 |
1976 |
|
Compatible Slides |
2”x2” slides including standard 35mm, half frame 35mm, 126, 127, 127 Superslide, and 110 |
35mm Slides |
2”x2” slides including standard 35mm, half frame 35mm, 126, 127, 127 Superslide, and 110 |
2”x2” slides including standard 35mm, half frame 35mm, 126, 127, 127 Superslide, and 110 |
2”x2” slides including standard 35mm, half frame 35mm, 126, 127, 127 Superslide, and 110 |
|
Number of slides |
80 or 140 capacity carousels |
100 slide capacity carousel |
50 slide capacity |
100 slide capacity carousel |
40, 80, and 100 slide capacity carousel |
|
Additional Features |
Wired remote control, autofocus, gentle gravity feed |
Autofocus, universal remote, portable |
Full Manual and autofocus, easy-to-load slide tray |
Full manual and autofocus, reverse option, manual timer |
Wired remote, easy-to-use focus knob, high-quality lens |
1. Kodak Carousel 5600 Projector
Image Source: https://www.amazon.com/Kodak-BC5601-Carousel-5600-Projector/dp/B00005213O
This is the best Eastman Kodak carousel slide projector you can get today and works for all 2x2 slide formats. While some prefer the Kodak Ektagraphic III, Ektapro S-AV Stack Loader, or Carousel Transvue model, we prefer this Kodak slide projector because of the exceptional image quality it produces. By improving on the Kodak Carousel 4200 slide projector, it also uses a remote control for forward and reverse viewing, autofocus function, as well as remote focusing ability.
This Kodak carousel projector offers a projection elevation of up to 16 degrees and you can use both 80 and 140 slide capacity courses. It also has a variable timer and automatic slide change. Plus, much like Capture does by preserving your memories as high-quality digital copies, this carousel slide projector protects your memories using a gentle gravity feed and high-capacity trays that make loading easy.
Reviews highlight the exceptional quality of the projection as well as the lens, easy operation, and easy maintenance. While there are very few negative reviews online, some do indicate that the timer may show issues more than some other vintage carousel projectors. Plus, as some reviews indicate, not all sellers include a high-quality lens or warranty with the refurbished product.
Pros
- Easy operation with 80 and 140-capacity carousels
- Remote control for forward and reverse viewing and focusing
- High-quality projection
- Easy maintenance with replacement parts available online
Cons
- May have timer issues even with rebuilt or refurbished products
- Not all sellers include a lens
- More expensive than other options
2. Vivitar 3000AF Projector
Image Source: https://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-3000AF-Carousel-Slide-Projector/dp/B000UXY0T4
This Vivitar slide projector uses the same formula used by classic slide projector brands like Bell & Howell but updates it for an iconic 80s style. It’s affordable and available on sites including Amazon and eBay in very good condition because this option was built to last. It works with 35mm slides only and you must use the 100-slide capacity carousel designed for this machine, but other than that this projector has a lot to offer.
It's lightweight and portable, which makes it a great option for taking to vacations or family gatherings. It offers autofocus, tabletop projection, and a universal remote-control function. Plus, it’s just about the easiest carousel slide projector to use because of its simple design.
Reviews indicate tons of nostalgia for this model, but they also praise the ease of use, autofocus function, and durability. Most negative reviews indicate problems with individual sellers, but some reviews suggest issues with the included carousel, which is a problem because other carousel brands and sizes don’t work with this machine.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Durable and easy to maintain
- High-quality autofocus feature
Cons
- Only works with Vivitar 100 slide capacity carousel
- Can only project 35mm slides
3. Leitz Prado 250 Projector
Image Source: https://www.fstopcameras.com/projectors-and-typewriters/leica-pradovit-color-250-autofocus-slide-projector-by-ernst-leitz-wetzlar-with-remote-control-power-cable-slide-tray-fully-functional
While this option may be a little harder to find, it’s still available in many places in 2024, and considering the price of as little as $75 or less, it’s certainly a carousel slide projector best buy option. Add this slide projector model to your wishlist if you want a bright, high-lumens video projector lens. Plus, it’s easy to operate because of the slide tray-style carousel that holds 50 slides.
Made by the German Leitz Wetzlar company, this product is sturdy and seemingly indestructible despite being available new from the late 60s to 1977. Collectors and photography aficionados love this projector because it’s bright, offers great image quality, and offers manual and autofocus adjustments.
Reviews find that this durable slide projector is as good as anything you can get today, but some people do find that the 50-slide tray is quite limiting. The good news is that some people have had success inserting an 80 slide tray or even larger carousel trays with good results. It might just take a little trial and error (and maybe even a few pieces of duct tape!).
Pros
- Durable
- Bright projector lamp
- Great image quality with auto and manual focus options
Cons
- Only designed for 50 slides
- Hard to find parts if something breaks
4. Sawyer's Rotomatic 727 Projector
Image Source: https://www.ebay.ph/itm/224500420549
Sawyer’s Rotomatic line offers a wide variety of related products, but the 700 model is excellent for a couple of reasons. First, it’s known for offering some of the best parts in any projector, which is why people often buy the whole machine just to get replacement parts for newer projectors. Second, it offers easy-to-use switches for the timer, cycle, autofocus, forward and reverse functions, and manual focus. This makes it both simple and highly adjustable for the highest possible image quality.
This model holds a 100-slide capacity carousel and is available for a wide range of prices online as low as $50 or less and as high as $200 or more. While replacement bulbs can be hard to find, you can still find them in certain second-hand and electronics stores online.
While reviews are somewhat hard to find with this model, they indicate that the product is well-built, works great, and is easy to set up. However, they also find that replacing the original lens can drastically improve the quality and number of lumens that the machine produces.
Pros
- Great bulbs, wires, cables, and other parts
- Manual adjustments are easy to use
- Affordable price as low as $50 or less
Cons
- May want to replace the lens for higher quality
- Replacement bulbs are hard to find
5. GAF Anscomatic 660 Projector
Image Source: https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Anscomatic-Slide-Projector-Bulbs/dp/B00XQNJERI
If you’re looking for slide film projectors that have the highest-possible quality projection lamp, slide mounts, bulb, and more, then this model is a good option. With superb lighting and a great motor, this GAFD Anscomatic model has the bones to be an exceptional option for as low as $100.
While the projector lamp and motor are great, the best feature of this is the lens which is just about as good as you can get with an old carousel slide projector. It provides a high-quality image, but it can get kind of loud compared to other models from the 70s. It also has wired remote and autofocus capabilities.
Reviews for this carousel slide projector demonstrate fantastic results with sharp images using either the autofocus or manual focus functions. Negative comments online are mostly concerned with durability and a tendency for the individual components to wear down. Others have difficulty finding some parts for repairs.
Pros
- Bright projector lamp and great quality image
- Fantastic lens
- Easy to use focusing
Cons
- Loud motor
- Hard to find repair kits
Carousel Slide Projector Buying Guide
Whether you want to rent carousel slide projector options or buy them outright, you need to know what to look for. Here are some things to consider and tips for shopping for the best slide projectors.
Slide Capacity and Type
If you have hundreds of slides, then you don’t want to constantly switch them out and stop your slideshow using a projector with a capacity of 50 slides. Keep this in mind when shopping around because many projectors have carousels that will hold 100 slides or even more! Consider the type of slides as well because most projectors will play all 2x2 slides, but some will only play certain types.
Image Quality
There are a lot of factors that go into image quality including focusing ability, projector lamp, lens, and more. If you want vivid, sharp projections, make sure you get a good-quality projector that will display your photos the way you want.
Ease of Use
There’s nothing worse than finishing the checkout process, receiving your slide projector, and then finding out that it’s confusing and difficult to set up. Try finding an easy-to-use option, especially if you’ve never used a projector before (or haven’t used one in years or decades!). Options like the Kodak 750h, Medalist II, or Stack Loader B40 OEM are fully manual or lack easy loading qualities designed for experienced users while the Kodak 5600 slide projector we included is easy to use even for beginners.
Budget
While you want a high-quality slide projector for your precious memories, you don’t want to overspend either. Most slide projectors are quite affordable these days, but you can save $100 or more by finding a cheaper model. Keep this in mind alongside the other factors.
Conclusion
You can use a carousel slide projector to enjoy your old slide memories, but there are so many options that it’s sometimes hard to determine which is best. We compiled 5 of the best options to make the decision a little easier, but we also recommend preserving your slide memories as high-quality digital images.
That way you can easily share and view them on any device or even connect a computer to a digital projector with an HDMI cord or WiFi to protect them in the highest possible quality.
Capture can convert 35 mm, Super 35 mm, 110/220, 126, 127, and 127 Superslide slides to digital to save your memories for future generations to enjoy. Click here to learn more!
