A Vista Varia old school overhead projector

Описание: This was a very popular overhead projector, manufactured in South Africa. The case and focus arm are made completely from metal, except for the work stage frame. This is probably the most silent overhead projector with its wide blade fan and low revolution motor. There are not many overhead projectors, if any, with such a large work stage. It has all the bells and whistles that one can expect from a decent overhead projector, like colour edging adjustment, a spare lamp mechanism, a one step dimmer switch and a three element projection lens head was available after sales. This particular one has a fully electronic stepless dimmer fitted as well. Common problems which these projectors had, include a cracked condenser lens above the lamp due to incorrect lamp fitment or a bent condenser lens plate which caused the lamp and lens to be too close to each other coupled with the sudden temperature change during on or off, a stuck cooling fan, a work stage glass that would separate from the frame and a projection lens mirror that would detach when the attaching double sided tape deteriorates. The overhead projector works well without the condenser lens, but direct rays of light from the lamp would be visible through the fan vent and the projected area would be a little duller. On the other hand, the condenser lens can cause projected images to have more "fluffy" edges and yellow edges can appear around the projected area when the lens adjustment is too high or the lamp too low. Fortunately, this one's condenser lens is still intact and the projection lens mirror could be saved before it got completely detached. The front and rear racks, as can be seen on the instruction diagram on the projection head, are missing though.

The latest model Vista Varia called "System Vista" has a black instead of a white finish on the case, bigger knobs for the colour edge control and spare lamp mechanism, a lighter thyroidal transformer, an anti reflective coating on the projection lens and a cover for the focus arm alignment bolts which also protects the work stage glass when the focus arm is at its lowest position against the work stage (there is no bottom stop for the focus arm).