Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Info about Zeiss TK35

This is topic Info about Zeiss TK35 in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=011020

Posted by Julian Baquero (Member # 6489) on 09-07-2011, 11:43 AM:

I still haven't found a 35mm for my budget which is around $1000 USD. I have seen the Zeiss TK35 can be found for even less but I have yet to find the right one and in the right place (shipping from germany is around 500 euros!!!). Can someone give some information about this projector and its overall quality and performance. Is its lamp and sound easy to upgrade? Can it handle scope lens? Any information is welcome. Thanks.

Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 09-08-2011, 05:13 PM:

You should write a post in the German projectionist's forum (English will be understood):

filmvorfuehrer.de (Forum)

There you will find many TK35 specialists and users. From my experience, it is a nice small portable machine originally built for changeover operation. Many film collectors have converted it to quartz light (usually 400W) and modern sound readers, and for a limited screen size, it is quite acceptable.

TK35s require careful operators, otherwise they can damage prints because the elements are really close together. In east Germany (former GDR) projectionists employed by the state were given a bonus payment if they ran more than 2 million meters of release print without damage, so it is possible!

Spare parts are no problem because there are lots of TK35s available, you can buy one or two machines just for parts because they are so cheap Lots of movements, film gate parts can be found on eBay.

I wonder if the 1990s TK35 clone from India is still available... [Smile]

Posted by Julian Baquero (Member # 6489) on 09-09-2011, 08:17 AM:

Thanks for the information Christian, the projector is very nice and it is really flexible, lamp and sound can be upgraded. From the information I have gathered it seems not all models can handle anamorphic lens. It is not really self contained and it needs of an external rectifier and sound amp.

The problem for me being in Colombia is the shipping,500 euros for only the projector, that's about all the money I have available for the projector! I am posting some pictures that where sent from Germany.