Home > Consumer Reviews > Ektagraphic III AMT Slide Projector

First a little about the projector in this listing: The AMT model with the optional "Extra Bright" light module was Kodak's best selling professional projector for many reasons. It has the features most will use (auto-focus, remote-focus, variable timer, etc), projects an excellent picture, and like all the Ektagraphic III machines it is very durable. The AMT cost quite a bit more new but can be had used for about the same price now. If you are buying a slide projector this is the one I would recommend.

The most important tip I can offer when buying a Kodak projector: Buy an Ektagraphic III series machine and avoid the Carousel series machines. The Carousel projectors (5600, 4600, 4400, 4200, etc) are more familiar to most users but were built for home use. All have three plastic gears that get brittle and fail with age (whether they are used or not). The Ektagraphic series machines (ATS, AMT, A, E Plus, E) do not have this problem since Kodak used metal for these three gears in the professional models. The controls work the same and are in the same places (so if you've used a Carousel model using an Ektagraphic III machine is the same). The Ektagraphic units have other advantages over the Carousel series (better slide registration, the Auto-focus can be turned off when not needed, etc) but the major difference is the durability. There are three additional buying tips below but for now lets move on to model selection.

To determine which projector to buy it helps to be familiar with the three major features so let's quickly review them. Auto-focus is where you focus the first slide and the machine will focus the rest. Remote-focus allows you to manually focus each slide with the wired remote control. And the Timer feature is a slider control that will automatically advance the tray to the next slide at a set interval (adjustable from about 3 to 30 seconds per slide). Here are the features on each model along with my notes:

Kodak Ektagraphic III ATS and the Carousel 5600: Has all features plus a view-screen.
Direct Link: Kodak Ektagraphic III ATS Projector
Direct Link: Kodak Carousel 5600 Projector
Notes: Both of these have the same feature set on the AMT model with one additional feature, which is a small built-in view screen that allows preview of slides without a lens or screen.

Ektagraphic III AMT Features: Has all three features (Auto-focus, Remote-focus, and Timer) and as I mentioned above is the one I would recommend to most buyers.
Direct Link: Kodak Ektagraphic III AMT 35mm Slide Projector Without Lens.
Notes: The AMT is listed here on Amazon WITHOUT LENS since this is how Kodak originally sold the advanced Ektagraphic III models. You need to know that most slide projectors sold on Amazon DO come complete with lens/tray/remote/etc. What is included depends on the seller, so to see exactly what comes with each projector you will need to check the seller's comments (see the buying tips below if you need help locating these comments).

Ektagraphic III A and the Carousel 4600 Features: Has Auto-focus (no Remote-focus or Timer).
Direct Link: Kodak Carousel 4600 Projector
Direct Link: Kodak Ektagraphic III A model Projector
Note: The Ektagraphic III A is offered as an upgrade in some of the Carousel 4600 Listings for less. Again, you will need to read the seller comments for each item to locate these upgrades.

Ektagraphic III E Plus and the Carousel 4400 Features: Has Remote-focus (no Auto-focus or Timer).
Direct Link: Kodak(R) Ektagraphic III E Plus Slide Projector
Direct Link: Kodak BC4401 Carousel 4400 Projector
Note: The Ektagraphic III E Plus is offered as an upgrade in some of the Carousel 4400 Listings for less. Again, you will need to read the seller comments for each item to locate these upgrades.

Ektagraphic III E and the Carousel 4200 Features: No Auto-focus, Remote-focus, or Timer.
Kodak BC4201 Carousel 4200 Projector
Note: Again, check the Seller Comments in the Carousel 4200 Listings for E model upgrades (currently there are no Ektagraphic III E model listings on Amazon).

Three final buying tips:

This is important: The specific product description for each slide projector being sold IS NOT ON THE OVERALL LISTING PAGE FOR EACH MODEL (since the accessories for each machine vary you can't just look at the overall listing description). You must look in the "Comments:" section to see what is actually included. To get to these comments you must click into the new or used listings (from the overall listing page for each projector model). Only then will you see the "Ratings:" above the "Shipping:" above the "Comments:" for each individual listing price. Some projectors come with Extra Bright Light Module, most but not all come with a lens, some come with trays/a carry case/etc, but some come with no accessories at all. This information can only be found in the "Comments:" section found at each individual price point (and there are usually several different prices for each projector model once you click into the "New" and "Used" sections).

Any of these machines can use the optional Kodak or Navitar "Bright Light" modules but most were not sold with them. Buying a projector with the Extra Bright Light Module is recommended as they do increase the brightness of the projected image by about thirty percent, there is no disadvantage to using a brighter light module, and the same model with one can frequently be had for the same price.

All of the machines listed above can use any of these three lamp types:
EXW = Brightest available (but only about half the life of an EXR).
EXR = Medium life and Brightness lamp.
FHS = Long Life (but lower brightness and also adds a slight yellow tint to images).

If your goal is the brightest/sharpest slide image possible: Get a projector with an Extra Bright Light Module, use an EXW type lamp, and use a fixed (not zoom) lens since they have fewer glass elements (which allows more light to pass though the lens).

Hope the Mini Buyer's Guide has helped, and of course enjoy the slide show!

I ordered this product from slidecentral last week and it came very soon after! It was impeccably packed and neat. Very easy to unwrap and set up. Everything worked to my standards for a classroom setting and has come in handy already. The seller also sent a conformation immediately to my email and also let me know when it shipped! THanks so much for everything. I recommend this seller to everyone.

Gave this as a gift to my grandfather after his broke. He is extremely happy and it works great!

The truth is that both the Kodak Carousel and Ektagraphic machines are full of plastic gears. Today I opened the case of the Ektagraphic III ATS machine I just purchased and counted 9 plastic gears, and there are likely more. Though the seller and others have stated that the projector uses metal gears, this is simply NOT the case. Do these people believe there is a need to deceive the public in order to sell these machines, or are they just ignorant of the facts?

These slide projectors are extremely complicated electro-mechanical devices. I can tell you that it is a nightmare to attempt to repair anything other than very minor problems on these machines. If you do not consider yourself to be very highly competent in repair of such devices, you should not even attempt a repair because you will probably not be able to put it back together correctly, and in working condition. I successfully repaired my Carousel machine 15 years ago, and was unable to fix it this time though the problem was the same (failure to advance the tray).

Failure to advance the tray is probably the most common problem with these machines. I have seen machines for sale on E-bay where the seller explains how fine the machine is except for one "small" problem which is that is doesn't advance. Do not buy a machine that does not advance. It is probably not worth a dime.

Furthermore, failure to advance the tray is NOT caused by a gear, plastic or otherwise. It is however caused by failure of a plastic part in the Carousel models. Will the Ektagraphic models hold up better??? I do not have the answer to that, but we can hope.

In any case I am very happy with my Ektagraphic projector so far, though a plastic cover on the fan bushing fell off and was rattling around in the squirrel cage fan. It had to be replaced as there is a large resistor across the fan duct and it had melted a large hole into the plastic part. Ironically I was able to replace it with the same part from my old Carousel projector. This plastic cover probably has no function other than to contain lubricant.

There are other features I really like about the Ektagraphic projector I purchased. First, it came with a very sturdy plastic case. Also, the ATS models include a viewer and a reading lamp. I have found the viewer to be very nice to have.