Re: TDC vs. Triad - Stereo Projectors

[P3D Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Although I've made a number of comments privately, I'll go public
a bit seeing as how the bees have been stirred up.

> >The Compco Triad is an excellent Projector, and the one that has been my
> >workhorse for 6 or 7 years. To me it is far superior to the TDC for two
> >reasons: You have a single control that corrects horizontal and vertical
> >adjustment, where the TDC has two separate controls.
> 
> Sorry, but I don't see this as an advantage... The two movements are not
> related to each other. Why would you want to change them with one control? 
> The vertical adjustment is via a friction pad in the Triad, which makes it a
> bit "jerky" in moving around.  If you only want to change the horizontal,
> you will accidentally move the vertical, which is a "no no" in projection.

I see it as an advantage.  There is only *ONE* place one goes to adjust the
alignment and it's easy to use.  One won't find the "wrong one" (and it's
intuitive which way to move it to go the direction desired).   Regardless
of the friction-pad mechanism, mine works smooth, nice, and easy.  Perhaps
there is a reliablity issue, but there hasn't been with mine.

When projecting one isn't supposed to be adjusting either on the fly 
anyway!

> 
> >The polarisers are
> >between the slide and the lens, eliminating any cross-polarization that
> >might happen with the base of some slides. Some slides, especially 
> >B&W ones cannot be projected successfully on a TDC because 
> >of the position of the polarisers.
> 
> Mixed blessing... As we've discussed, the polarizers before the slide
> absorb some of the harmful radiation that damages the image.  If the film

Was it actually concluded that "harmful radiation" falls upon the image
w/o having a polarizer to protect it?  I recall it being more like
"just in case there is a problem, having it polarized seems a safer bet".

I suspect the "radiation & heat" level also varies with the rest of the projector's
design so the info needed would to be compare their designs in total, not
just with a single design feature.

> >It's well built, has a steel carrier ( as opposed to some TDCs that use
> >aluminum) and is very reliable.
> 
> It takes some "getting used to" to use the Triad carrier with the system of
> feeding slides from both ends.  I use the aluminum TDC carrier and find it
> reliable (even though I would agree that steel is a better material than
> aluminum - hey, I do work for a steel company!)

It does take getting used to, however this "fault" is also IMO the biggest
"win" for the Compco Triad over the TDC projectors.

When seeing projection on a TDC projector, have you ever seen misfeeds?
Or slides doubled up?  These unfortunate happenings not only aren't fun to 
look at (not to mention the projectionist's stress level mumbling <explitive
deleteds> to himself) but probably aren't much good for the slides.  The 
TDC's seem to be somewhat picky  about the slide mounts and/or having mixes of 
different types or thicknesses. In the TDC, a slide is pushed out by 
the edge of the next slide.  

In the Compco Triad, the slides are handled with kid-gloves.  The slides are 
inserted and the whole carriage moves to move the slide.  No slide pushing, no 
jamming.  A metal mask-mounted slide with no glass or paper cover could 
be used with no jamming.

> 
> >I recommend it strongly and it's worth the extra bucks.

I do too, even if it costs extra bucks.  I even more strongly recommend it
if it costs less!  :-)

As I recall, when they were selling "new", the Triad costed more.

 
> What extra bucks?  I have always asked less for a Triad than the equivalent
> TDC.  I was trying to sell a nice Triad for $235 and could not get a buyer,
> no matter how hard I tried.  (Finally I sold it... and, Mike S., you got a
> bargain!)

Yes he did.  Absolutely!   

If you have another one, let me know.  I showed my visiting in-laws some images 
with a T'd  red-button,  and they said "buy us a setup!" (I think they 
were serious too...  but I'm giving them a cooling off period   :-).

> This might end up like the Realist vs. Kodak argument... There are reasons
> to believe that people get used and like/prefer their first projector. 
> Obviously, this was a Triad for Sam and a TDC for me.

Except that there actually are functional differences with the projectors.
Not biggie major ones (one is 2D one is 3D), but definite differences, particularly
with the slide handling.  

I'm not saying the TDC ones are bad.  In fact to get 750W lamps, the TDC is 
definitely the one to get.   One will NOT be unhappy with a TDC projector.
One just might be a little bit happier with a Compco Triad.  :-)

> 
> George Themelis
> 
> 

Mike K.

P.S. - Although I've owned a Triad "first", I saw a TDC used "first".  :-)


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