Search found 2775 matches

by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 08, 2023 7:16 am
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot
Replies: 82
Views: 74865

Re: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot

Shading like that is common with slightly mismatched DIC prisms, isn't it?
by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 08, 2023 6:58 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: A microscope for Christmas….
Replies: 5
Views: 1960

Re: A microscope for Christmas….

Apart from the question of how much money spent, I think the most relevant question is what it is going to be used for. Absolutely. If there's no strong direction a stereo is a good general purpose scope that's easy to use and practical (splinter removal). But it's not good for hunting tardigrades.
by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 08, 2023 5:01 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: A microscope for Christmas….
Replies: 5
Views: 1960

Re: A microscope for Christmas….

A stereo microscope. Smz-1b, 2b, smz-10, sz7, any wild, leica ms5, olympus sz 3045, 4045 etc
by Scarodactyl
Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:52 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot
Replies: 82
Views: 74865

Re: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot

That is fascinating. As you say I don't know if it's bad news for the dic or if it's good news for the oblique. Probably the latter, you're getting really good lighting. Probably time to try it on some diatoms or other classic fun subjects.
by Scarodactyl
Wed Dec 06, 2023 9:04 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Olympus cable pin configuration for BX61/BX-UCB cables
Replies: 6
Views: 2759

Re: Olympus cable pin configuration for BX61/BX-UCB cables

Scoper wrote:
Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:24 pm
One of the reason for buying a scope of the Big Four is for post sale support.
Only if you buy new. You can't typically expect much from them as a secondhand buyer.
by Scarodactyl
Wed Dec 06, 2023 5:18 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: SMZ-10 OPTICAL AXIS COLLIMATOR
Replies: 27
Views: 21955

Re: SMZ-10 OPTICAL AXIS COLLIMATOR

The problem is usually in the head, not the zoom body, even if nothing is loose. Not 100% of the time but usually. You'd need to mix and match with known good components to isolate the issue. It's never an easy fix, usually not really possible without factory tools unfortunately.
by Scarodactyl
Tue Dec 05, 2023 12:25 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

Yeah, a good SZ7 is a remarkable scope, especially with the 15x uwf eyepieces. Just a bit annoying to get a good copy, though quite inexpensive.
by Scarodactyl
Mon Dec 04, 2023 11:27 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

Yeah, it's a lot of scope for the money. You can also keep an eye out for Olympus SZH-10s which have similar specs, maybe not quite as good with the default df plan 1x objective but with the bonus of sometimes having a dual-objective revolver to extend the magnification range.
by Scarodactyl
Mon Dec 04, 2023 8:53 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

Yes, the 508's 8:1 is going to feel very similar to the 10:1 on the smz-u. The 508 is rated apochromatic but not planar. The 0.075 numerical aperture of the 508 is lower than the ~0.1 of the smz-u ed plan 1x so it will resolve less and be less bright, though color correction may be better on the 508...
by Scarodactyl
Mon Dec 04, 2023 7:12 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

Still, apologies, I might have come across too strong. I am not at all offended, it's a fair concern. To make this point: Is this one here a good representation of a microscope that I can buy used? Is the price fair? My assessment Returns are accepted, description is detailed, shop has many very po...
by Scarodactyl
Sat Dec 02, 2023 10:33 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

Less than a used trinocular or even binocular 508 typically goes for, if you can even find one. Heck, probably less than trinocular 2000s usually go for.

Seriously, a used trinocular 508 sold for 2400 on ebay a couple weeks ago. An smz-u can be had for half that.
by Scarodactyl
Sat Dec 02, 2023 6:30 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Petrographic Microscope Slides
Replies: 7
Views: 3376

Re: Petrographic Microscope Slides

Yeah, the specific petrographic ones tend to be realllllly pricey but don't let it discourage you. Cheap simple polarization will do what you need.
by Scarodactyl
Sat Dec 02, 2023 12:20 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

For someone who considers a Zeiss 508 expensive a Nikon SMZ-U is not exactly a bargain. An smz-u on the used market is typically cheaper than a 508 and probably more capable (though much less compact, the 508 is superb within its niche). Thank you for offering. I don't have the experience to judge ...
by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 01, 2023 7:05 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

I actually have an SMZ-u surplus to my needs, shoot me a message if you're interested.
by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 01, 2023 5:52 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Petrographic Microscope Slides
Replies: 7
Views: 3376

Re: Petrographic Microscope Slides

Everything surrounding petrographic microscopes is weirdly expensive, probanly because geologists don't get nearly as many microscopes as biologists and instead of swapping them out they hold onto their microscopes until they die. Slides are usually expensive too. I am kicking myself because I can't...
by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 01, 2023 4:06 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: The mysterious Bausch and Lomb Monozoom 4
Replies: 2
Views: 1238

Re: The mysterious Bausch and Lomb Monozoom 4

Wow, 15x/1.2 is astonishing!
by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 01, 2023 1:22 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22737

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

Wysiwyg is difficult on a stereo because the true 3d view will always look better than the single 2d image the camera gets.
The smz-u is an excellent stereo and often a crazy value.
by Scarodactyl
Fri Dec 01, 2023 12:41 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: The mysterious Bausch and Lomb Monozoom 4
Replies: 2
Views: 1238

The mysterious Bausch and Lomb Monozoom 4

Here's an odd speck of history. Years back i was researching the Bausch and Lomb/Cambridge/Leica Monozoom 7, and in trying to find the exact year it was released (1985?) I found a much older reference to a 'Monozoom 4' in 1979 in a German laser journal. The google preview was limited but I managed t...
by Scarodactyl
Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:03 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective
Replies: 16
Views: 5249

Re: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective

That is annoying I agree. It's an acceptor but not a donor.
by Scarodactyl
Wed Nov 29, 2023 4:55 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Leica redesigns their stereo lineup (and it's their ugliest yet!)
Replies: 12
Views: 4207

Re: Leica redesigns their stereo lineup (and it's their ugliest yet!)

We're in trouble online. Look at this user above, aaronramsdale. All his posts are fairly relevant to a given thread, almost natural, but if you read through them you start to get that chat-gpt stink off of them. And as expected there are links hidden in his posts. This is so much more sophisticated...
by Scarodactyl
Tue Nov 28, 2023 11:21 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective
Replies: 16
Views: 5249

Re: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective

Yeah, m60x1, just like ol' grandpappy (the M8). It's very cool that they revived that standard--I wonder if the plan 1x design is a direct descendant too.
Of course you can also directly mount a Zeiss SteReo objective on it too same thread (if they didn't cost a million skillion dollars).
by Scarodactyl
Tue Nov 28, 2023 7:12 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective
Replies: 16
Views: 5249

Re: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective

I' surprised to see it listed as 3ph1. I was sure it was just m50x1. They did use 3ph1 on the z swries though.
by Scarodactyl
Mon Nov 27, 2023 3:56 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective
Replies: 16
Views: 5249

Re: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective

It isn't threaded--it has a bayonet mount. If it's anywhere close to 300 it would be a total steal, though I suspect it's a bit more.
by Scarodactyl
Mon Nov 27, 2023 3:40 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective
Replies: 16
Views: 5249

Re: Nikon plan 1x stereo Objective

The m50/60/80 do have an m60 thread but the nikons do not, they're m58x0.75. Iirc adapting one of the clone plan 1xes on a wild m8 worked but vignetted a bit. That said my adapter made it sit lower than ideal.
by Scarodactyl
Fri Nov 24, 2023 5:43 pm
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Increase FOV
Replies: 23
Views: 5650

Re: Increase FOV

Almost nobody officially specs objectives for ultrawide coverage at high magnifications, though some of them nevertheless deliver a good image outside their specced area (others show serious image degradation even within their spec). Your options would be to try a shorter focal length tube lens and ...
by Scarodactyl
Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:51 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Increase FOV
Replies: 23
Views: 5650

Re: Increase FOV

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186045045314 This lens has proven to be an excellent shorter focal length tube lens, and this listing is from a trusted community member. You'd need to do some adapting to make it work and the question of whether your objectives can cover that wider area is an open one, but ...
by Scarodactyl
Mon Nov 20, 2023 11:28 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: SMZ-10 OPTICAL AXIS COLLIMATOR
Replies: 27
Views: 21955

Re: SMZ-10 OPTICAL AXIS COLLIMATOR

Yeah, this lens can be improved on by replacing with a more recent equivalent. Really the special part of the smz-10 is the head, if that's in good shape putting it on a newer smz series body or one of the Chinese clones would be an improvement.
by Scarodactyl
Mon Nov 20, 2023 8:00 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: DIC with Leitz Wetzlar Dialux
Replies: 18
Views: 6263

Re: DIC with Leitz Wetzlar Dialux

It's nuts, you could assemble an infinity Nikon system with wider fields and better photography potential for less.
by Scarodactyl
Fri Nov 17, 2023 5:09 pm
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Increase FOV
Replies: 23
Views: 5650

Re: Increase FOV

It'll be interesting to see if you can push it that far. As is if my calculations are right you are pretty close to using the full rated image circle of the better objectives but they can often be pushed a bit further.
by Scarodactyl
Tue Nov 14, 2023 4:20 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Usin Mitutoyo objective on Olympus BHMJ
Replies: 7
Views: 2512

Re: Usin Mitutoyo objective on Olympus BHMJ

Olympus bh2 eyepieces apply corrections that are needed for olympus objectives. Mitutoyo objectives need no further corrections so the nfk eyepiece will degrade the image.