Search found 212 matches

by Zuul
Tue Oct 06, 2020 3:56 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: AO part 2070
Replies: 3
Views: 2633

Re: AO part 2070

It will work on a 10 or 20. I don’t know how well it works on a 110/120, but it should physically mount up.
by Zuul
Fri Oct 02, 2020 5:55 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: Phase contrast for a Microstar
Replies: 13
Views: 5858

Re: Phase contrast for a Microstar

@Apochronaut, when you say that the 1970 could be used with oil immersion, does that mean oil on top of the condenser below the slide or just objective immersion with the 100x? It means oil between the condenser and the bottom of the slide. You cannot achieve the maximum n.a. of an oil objective wi...
by Zuul
Sun Sep 20, 2020 4:21 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: LOMO microscope hunting for you
Replies: 21
Views: 15391

Re: LOMO microscope hunting for you

Are Lomo (or Lytkarino) stereo microscopes available to you very often? I don’t know how many (or none?) were made with trinocular heads, but that would very interesting.
by Zuul
Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:12 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Can anyone help with identification?
Replies: 13
Views: 5171

Re: Can anyone help with identification?

No serial number necessary. It’s a fine microscope, and very much worth keeping. Letting the kids enjoy it now will just require slightly more supervision.
by Zuul
Thu Sep 10, 2020 4:00 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Where to buy slides and #1.5 coverslips
Replies: 12
Views: 6409

Re: Where to buy slides and #1.5 coverslips

@apochronaut Good point about #1 slips for aquatic samples. If anyone is looking for high precision 0.17 +- 0.005mm #1.5 cover slips (18mmx18mm) you can get some Zeiss on eBay for $2.50 per 100 pack plus $5 shipping with $0.50 shipping each additional unit. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-Microscope...
by Zuul
Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:04 am
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: New infinity corrected water immersion 100X objectives have arrived..
Replies: 24
Views: 9778

Re: New infinity corrected water immersion 100X objectives soon.

There is a tilting ergonomic trinocular head with a 26mm f.o.v. that will fit any AO stand and for 1/2 the price a standard 26mm f.o.v. trinoc. Care to point to this? More curiosity than burning need, but it never hurts to window shop. I also have friends in China, which can be helpful on occasion....
by Zuul
Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:31 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port
Replies: 157
Views: 86916

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port

I don't think "infinity-corrected" changes anything fundamentally, it just indicates that the complete optical system (including the rest of the stuff after the objective) is designed such that aberrations are minimized (corrections most effective) when rays from the imaged point are parallel leavi...
by Zuul
Sat Aug 29, 2020 12:52 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port
Replies: 157
Views: 86916

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port

Moving an eyepiece doesn't have anything to do with the scope being infinity corrected. If you move an eyepiece then refocus by moving the objective relative to the specimen the space between the objective and telelens is no longer at infinity focus. That is why I am trying to pin down what exactly...
by Zuul
Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:07 pm
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port
Replies: 157
Views: 86916

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port

I have been interpreting some of your other suggestions (see below) as involving moving the objective away from the designed working distance and in that case the space between the objective and telelens is no longer really infinity space and the behavior (in terms of what sort of aberrations appea...
by Zuul
Fri Aug 28, 2020 2:23 am
Forum: Collecting microscopes and slides
Topic: Wetzlar Micropere?
Replies: 3
Views: 4105

Re: Wetzlar Micropere?

So were these also-ran companies from Wetzler poor(er) quality? Or did they just never hit critical mass to survive in a global market?
by Zuul
Thu Aug 27, 2020 2:58 am
Forum: Collecting microscopes and slides
Topic: Wetzlar Micropere?
Replies: 3
Views: 4105

Wetzlar Micropere?

When I read the name Wetzlar, I expect to also read Leitz. I happened across a microscope which is marked only Wetzlar. “Micropere” appears to be the model? Accessories and objectives bear the name “Will Optik”. Does anybody know the history of this microscope or anything about it? This link is a ve...
by Zuul
Wed Aug 26, 2020 7:34 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Bristoline value?
Replies: 31
Views: 11506

Re: Bristoline value?

Having observed these beasties myself, I can say that the color of the dinoflagellates themselves is what you would see using standard brightfield. The background is somewhat grayer/muddier, but not as much as I would expect based on other phase photos I’ve seen.
by Zuul
Wed Aug 26, 2020 4:07 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Microscope for engine oil analysis
Replies: 43
Views: 13925

Re: Microscope for engine oil analysis

The simple answer to your question is, any “decent” compound microscope will allow you to observe the particles in oil. What qualifies as decent in new microscopes of Chinese manufacture is open to some interpretation, but you would be looking at something around $200-ish with 10x eyepieces and a 10...
by Zuul
Fri Aug 21, 2020 5:18 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Microscope for Saltwater aquarium and dinoflagellates
Replies: 24
Views: 10505

Re: Microscope for Saltwater aquarium and dinoflagellates

Halogen vs LED. The Bristoline may not have a blue filter installed, either. That would improve the color. Just because the LED is “whiter” doesn’t mean it’s showing the true color better, though. Inexpensive LEDs actually render color pretty poorly.
by Zuul
Wed Aug 19, 2020 2:10 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Phase Contrast or Brightfield if all things are equal?
Replies: 27
Views: 9377

Re: Phase Contrast or Brightfield if all things are equal?

The other way to look at it is this. All things equal, upgrading a brightfield microscope to phase is much more expensive than buying a set of brightfield objectives to use on a phase microscope. The lingering question is, why is the phase scope not more? It could just be a better deal, or there cou...
by Zuul
Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:47 pm
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port
Replies: 157
Views: 86916

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port

I turned the collar, and bonded a t-mount (M42 x 0.75) eyepiece adapter into the bore. Threading is beyond my capacity atm.
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by Zuul
Mon Aug 17, 2020 5:26 pm
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port
Replies: 157
Views: 86916

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port

Very nice, so the thing with thumb screws is the T-mount adapter and clamps to the dovetail on top of the trinocular head? I still haven't decided what to do with the dovetail. Lacking appropriate machine tools and the skills to use them I was considering just leaving it off and attaching a plate, ...
by Zuul
Mon Aug 17, 2020 4:21 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port
Replies: 157
Views: 86916

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port

Here’s how I chose to incorporate the CA correcting element. I trimmed the length, and mounted it in a circular plate. That plate was sized to sandwich securely between the segments of an old Nikon K extension tube. Now it can be assembled into the stack anywhere between the t-mount adapter and the ...
by Zuul
Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:31 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?
Replies: 27
Views: 10093

Re: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?

Both oculars are at an angle, so why would one be “off axis” more than the other? I think you are inventing problems to solve your mystery. What you are calling C could only exist at exceedingly small angles. Even a degree or 2 off-axis would be easily detected by eye. The angle of the eye tubes is ...
by Zuul
Fri Aug 14, 2020 7:52 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?
Replies: 27
Views: 10093

Re: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?

I don't see how the splitter changes anything fundamentally. If the splitter was removed from the microscope you could look straight through it at an object and, without moving the object or splitter, obtain slightly different perspectives of the object by moving your head side-to-side? And a secon...
by Zuul
Fri Aug 14, 2020 4:34 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?
Replies: 27
Views: 10093

Re: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?

Zuul, I think the splitter is causing confusion. If we ignore the splitter and mirrors and consider only the "unfolded" positions/angles of the eyepieces relative to the optical axis of the objective and telan lens, do you agree that should be equivalent for the purpose of discussing parallax? No, ...
by Zuul
Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:54 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?
Replies: 27
Views: 10093

Re: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?

The exact same image is being split 2 ways. No amount of angle in the tubes will change the image. This was the mental model I had, without having thought about it too carefully, until earlier today. But now I think there is no "exact same image" and that is why I brought up the possibility of para...
by Zuul
Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:27 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: New here! Questions about the Big Four
Replies: 33
Views: 13465

Re: New here! Questions about the Big Four

Thanks, I had filtered for trinocular scopes.. so that one didn't show up. I'm still searching, so there's a lot to filter through :) Many microscopes on ebay that have a trinocular head are not listed that way, so be careful with your search and filtering. Remember that frequently the best deals a...
by Zuul
Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:39 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?
Replies: 27
Views: 10093

Re: Why are binocular eye tubes angled inward slightly?

Thanks for all the background. It is easy to look at the cartoon ray diagrams in introductory microscopy resources and think you have a pretty good understanding and that most microscopes are basically the same. But trying to map that onto a real microscope, no end in sight, just increasingly subtl...
by Zuul
Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:04 pm
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port
Replies: 157
Views: 86916

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" head -- corrective element present in binocular path but not trinocular camera port

Engineer 1: “the best correction is obtained by my optical formula!” Engineer 2: “but my formula does the job 99.9% as well with half as much glass.” Engineer 1: “it’s a multi thousand dollar instrument. Who cares about an extra 20 cents worth of glass?” Engineer 2: “it’s not just the cost. The smal...
by Zuul
Wed Aug 12, 2020 2:51 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Modify my microscope or just give up???
Replies: 18
Views: 6495

Re: Modify my microscope or just give up???

A salt water aquarium will bring a huge variety of microscopic subjects into your home, as well as being a hobby on its own. It is actually quite shocking at times what diversity of critters is found. I think for most hobbyist, the desire to have a better microscope is just for the sake of having it...
by Zuul
Tue Aug 11, 2020 3:52 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" coarse/fine focus mechanism diagrams
Replies: 6
Views: 3596

Re: Reichert 410 "Microstar IV" coarse/fine focus mechanism diagrams

You are supposed to set the fine focus to the middle of the range (5 revolutions from either end iirc) and using the 10x (or 4x?) focus as well as you can with the course focus. Then you lock the course focus and, in theory, you never need to touch the course again for that session.
by Zuul
Mon Aug 10, 2020 2:27 am
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: Good price on GEM stereo scopes
Replies: 5
Views: 3247

Re: Good price on GEM stereo scopes

If a board member does decide to pick up, I might be interested in one if that member is willing to ship. ;)
by Zuul
Sun Aug 09, 2020 5:28 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Alternative mountants
Replies: 8
Views: 4778

Re: Alternative mountants

Digging deeper (or paying attention, more correctly) it looks like the 170 is also very high viscosity. That can’t be good. The 165H is low viscosity and hardens to 55 shore D, so that’s looking like a better candidate. I wouldn’t be opposed to giving it a try if it weren’t for 2 things. First, I ha...