The most appealing features of this slide projector are that it runs cooler than the Kodak projectors I've used, and that it has an 8" square viewing screen nicely placed. Also, the method for viewing one slide at a time is extremely convenient. This means that for reviewing or showing slides in a small space, without a screen, it should be perfect.
Before ordering this projector, I checked for reviews online. I found a few satisfied users, but quite a few negative reviews. Still, the features were so appealing that I ordered it anyway.
When I set it up, I was a little startled by how much dust flew. Apparently slide projector fans just attract whatever dust is within the nearest mile. Perhaps that's a slight exaggeration?
Also, the 8" screen had a mark somehow molded into it that showed on every slide. Worse, it seemed impossible to align the mirror with the 8" screen so that the projected image was squared up with the screen. I worked at it quite a bit and could get it better, but never really square. This is one of the problems often mentioned online.
I was still in the game, though. Reviewing the slides on the 8" screen still allowed me to see the slide in a very comfortable way. The dust didn't seem to matter. The autofocus kept slipping in an annoying way, but it was convenient to keep one hand on the focus knob so I could keep bringing it back into focus.
It was only after I compared the Braun Novamat to an inexpensive Kodak Carousel 4200 that I borrowed from the library, that I decided to return the Braun. The Kodak kept slides in focus, while the Braun focus kept slipping. I could tell much better with the Kodak, which slides were sharp and which were soft. And I could tell better about exposures, too. Slides that looked fine on the Braun 8" screen looked too dark on the Kodak. Since I'm making my slides primarily to send to galleries and art juries, I need slides that will look wonderful when projected with a Kodak.
It's possible that a Braun Novamat manual focus projector would be better, since it would probably eliminate the problem of the focus continually slipping. Maybe I happened to get a poor quality Braun Novamat, and most are fine. But I think my chances are better with a manual focus Kodak like the one I borrowed from the library.
B&H Photo was great about giving me an RMA number. This is the first item I've returned to them, so I didn't know if they'd try to argue with me about it. The man who answered the phone was very gracious about it. I'll certainly order from them again.
9:38:14 AM 
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