MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Why would one want a Chinese copy when you can get the real thing in excellent used condition and at reasonable to cheap prices?

I will never understand that.

Interesting and verifies what I thought. Regarding pol, I only have the basic pol cube that goes above the revolver (the one that does not have any dials, levers etc.). If I could find the polarizer unit that goes on the outlet of transmitted light, under the condenser, that would give simple transm...

Keep in mind that the back focal plane was not a big issue because even in the era of finite optics, Reichert upper prisms for DIC had the ability to move the prism vertically relative to the back aperture. Meaning only one prism was used for all magnifications Even better then! I like the prospect...

All Reichert objective were built to a strain free standard so they were conditionally strain free. Those marked suitable for IK were selected as the most strain free and optimized for work in POL applications. . Keep in mind, that strain can be introduced simply be overtightening an objective in t...

That is my hope as well :D Apparently it takes a lot of glass to build a Plan low mag lens. In comparison the high mag Plan Apo IK Iris lenses on the Polyvar seem almost weightless. I do like the prospect of having this low mag option on board. Who knows, after some years maybe I'll have a second, l...

Thanks again for the advice! Finally had a chance to inspect the objectives more thoroughly, including the newly arrived heavy-weight Plan 1.25x lens. Outside of normal cleanable dirt on all of them, I wasn't able to detect anything serious. Same with both eyepieces and the DIC slider. Both of the h...

Update: this objective weighs 309 grams

I have many times been able to bring the price down at silo 1/3 to 1/2 of the asking but then on some items they won't budge. I have to buy 5 items to justify the shipping, since it is the same to me for up to 5 .Canada. Other foreign buyers would likely be the same. I think, if they know there wil...

I have many times been able to bring the price down at silo 1/3 to 1/2 of the asking but then on some items they won't budge. I have to buy 5 items to justify the shipping, since it is the same to me for up to 5 .Canada. Other foreign buyers would likely be the same. I think, if they know there wil...

Apochronaut, ok that sounds quite reasonable. I actually asked silo about one item several days ago but there was no reply. The 1.25x objective arrived today in the mail. Boy, it's big and heavy, a real big whopper! Serious chunk of glass, maybe even close to the weight of a Leica/Reichert 150x Epi ...

Here's the worse one of the two new problems that were found during the iris diaphragm repair. All three phase contrast annuli have pretty nasty surface scratches on them, please see the pic: 20230520_102539small.jpg Don't be fooled by the 10 IC marking. The markings on the outer rim of the disk alw...

Ok, thanks. That verified what I thought/guessed.

Thanks for the tips! However, what exactly is a 'first surface mirror'? I have seen those mentioned but not really explained. Are all the mirrors in microscopes of that type?

Thanks :) During that work I unfortunately made more discoveries that will require further repair work but also replacement parts. More talk and pics on these later but for the moment this burning question: what solvents does Reichert suggest for cleaning various optical surfaces? I have not been ab...

Here's a pictorial on how to open up, clean and fix the iris of a Polyvar Universal Condenser. The first step obviously is to the remove the condenser and it's carrier from the substage. The next step is to unscrew the single long screw that attaches the swing-in widefield optics sitting under the c...

Hmm, okay, maybe I was too quick to dismiss phase completely. Regarding the 2x or 2.5f mag changer lens, would it be possible to replace my existing Bertrand lens with either one of those? The attachment method of the lenses on the changer looks to pretty simple (see the pic below, seems that just a...

MichaelG. wrote: ↑

Mon May 15, 2023 5:35 pm

Rorschach wrote: ↑

Mon May 15, 2023 9:33 am

Here's the blueprints I got from Leica. For others to use as well.

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That’s very decent of them … and of you.

MichaelG.

I have received so much help, great advice and tips here that I will try to do what little I can do return the favor

Ahhh..the age old question. I have been as high as 30 stands and am currently at my lowest with 20. However, I am going to be selling off stands and objectives shortly given my lab has shrunk considerably. My primary focus will be entomology so will retain the 3 stereos. Trying to pare down the bio...

You don't need to tap any holes for this one. You just need to do some careful measurements. Mine is actually off a little bit but I've been too lazy to adjust it. Ok, that's great! What thickness is your plate? Oh, and thanks jifiresto for the good tips on tapping! Here's the blueprints I got from...

So it seems that the scope wasn't quite "shelved in working condition". I have some work to to. However, I am not going to give up on it. I think it is gem or a diamond among scopes...maybe a little bit rougher along the edges than anticipated but a diamond nevertheless

More bad news, regarding the HBO lamp house. When I detached it, there were loose glass shards coming out from within the compartment where the lamp is. They were of bluish tint but didn't look like parts of a mirror or a lens. Heat absorption filter? I did not yet open up that compartment as I had ...

Thanks for jarring my memory, On the Bio platform the 4th mag changer position included the bertrand lens, The 2x and or 2.5x was used on the Met and SC versions. The primary function of the bertrand lens was to view the back aperture of the objective for phase ring alighment. Thanks Wayne. Ok, so ...

All you need is a drill press and a plate of aluminum. https://i.imgur.com/mggsF82.jpg Hmm, okay that looks promising. That's a different column and meant for another scope but I guess I would just need to calculate the offset difference between optical axes in the Wild trapezoid system and the Lei...

Thanks again, these are fascinating to read! That's what I thought as well: the Polyvar magnification changer is a real game changer (pun intended) as it in my scope's case basically triples the number of available magnifications. From what I have read, the optics are extremely high quality so ther...

I have one of those Leica BF/DF/Rotterman bases but haven't been able to find the Leica adapter for putting a Wild trapezoid column on it. I have searched the planet for the adapter but to no avail. Fortunately I was recently able to get the blueprint from Leica's finnish representative so will be a...

Thanks again, these are fascinating to read! That's what I thought as well: the Polyvar magnification changer is a real game changer (pun intended) as it in my scope's case basically triples the number of available magnifications. From what I have read, the optics are extremely high quality so there...

Here's pics of the two pages in the Leitz DMRX/E brochure that deal with Delta Optics. Perhaps someone with skills in German can summarize the main points.

Lots going on since my last post, I agree scanning the lit will be helpful. Regarding Delta optics. Objective thread size is different from the DMR and the Polyvar and the reference focal length is different as well as lateral color correction in the tube lens. An image could be formed, but would n...

Phill Brown wrote: ↑

Wed May 10, 2023 1:45 pm

Sometimes good to work on in a tub.
Parts should only be able to go so far.

What a great idea! Just that I don't have one. Almost nobody here in Finland has a tub...most everybody has a sauna in their house or apartment.

Ok, that is reassuring to read :) Although I am not exactly known for calmness :oops: But I will certainly restrain myself on this one. The iris assembly can't be reached without first opening the whole condenser. So that in itself will be nerve-wrecking. Edit: has anyone here opened up one of thes...