MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

I have released another chapter in the Olympus BH-2 hardware. This one covers the sliding focus block: Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7ckZ6amci3tcVdXdnFYVDJSRW8 Now to get to w...

You BHS may have its coarse focus locked down? I cannot remember which direction it goes, but hold still one side of the coarse focus knob and turn the other side. Likely counter clockwise, like all other unlock/release/opening mechanisms. Please wait a day or two, I will take a look for you. Other...

Thanks for the informative responses. I'll be getting a PMII in the coming few months (to balance out my Olympus side). What type of Darkfield condensers will work on these?

Carl

I am totally unfamiliar with the Zeiss photomicroscope. Can anybody set me straight on the tube lengths for the various incarnations of this beast (I,II,III)?

Carl

Here is my latest, on the BH-2 substage condenser holder:

Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7ckZ ... nFYVDJSRW8


Carl

This is the latest bit of the BH-2 I've been able to write up. It covers the BH2-SVaR XY mechanical stage for the Olympus BH-2. Hope it's useful. Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0...

I'm about to plunge into microscopy as a hobby for the first time. I have done a lot of book study on biology and microbiology just because it all fascinates me. Now I want to explore whatever small biological specimens I can with a microscope. My budget for a microscope is below $500. In that rang...

Any heat at all should help the old grease move. More is obviously better, but in some cases you have to limit the heat due to nearby plastic parts, etc. I picked up a heat gun at Harbor Freight for under ten bucks, and would not try to tear into an Olympus BH-2 scope without it. Not just for the dr...

I will just add this to this old thread. Its a procedure to teardown and rebuild the coaxial focus mechanism in an Olympus BH-2. Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7ckZ6amci3tcVdXd...

For anybody who's interested, I just updated the BH2 focus rebuild document linked above to revision 2 (now 3). This revision corrects a few minor errors, as listed on the cover sheet. The link above will take you to this new revision. Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master...

I made a few minor edits to the story.

Carl

It's good to hear from others, and to learn that maybe my story is not quite as unusual as I originally thought. Charlie - my interests gradually moved from biology, and I ended up with a fascination with electronics, to the exclusion of just about everything else, by the time I was in High School. ...

So, here is my story:

Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7ckZ ... nFYVDJSRW8


Carl

I finally got around to finishing this one up for distribution: This shows how to do a teardown and rebuild of the coaxial focus mechanism in an Olympus BH-2 stand, to get rid of the old gummy grease and make it perform like-new again. I hope somebody finds this useful. Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outd...

For anyone who is interested in what exactly is inside the BH-2 coaxial focus mechanism:

Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7ckZ ... nFYVDJSRW8


Carl

Rudi,

Did you happen to take any pictures of the gear you made for the BH-2?

Carl

Rudi, Thanks for the photos. I never knew these would fit the BH-2. I asked Amscope for physical details of the mounting on these parts a few years ago, and that went nowhere. They couldn't even tell me if their finite objectives rely on ocular compensation for chromatic aberration or not. Just that...

After long delays I had 2 more microscopes arrive this week! The first is an Olympus CH2, this one I bought mostly for the trinocular head, the complete scope was cheaper than any trinocular head I could find on eBay! It was describe as "In good working condition" but it arrived in a less the worki...

The BH-2 contains a small plastic gear inside the right-hand fine focus knob, as well as one in the right coarse focus knob, that the small gear meshes with. But don't worry. They are not like the Nikons. If not mistreated, these parts are plenty durable. They don't shrink and crack like some of the...

Yes, those Wiha drivers are definitely worth the coin. Love mine.

Carl

Just a few things to keep in mind with a BH-2. 1) If you're using Olympus objectives, and not their eyepiece or NFK projection lens, you'll get uncorrected (or improperly corrected) images, with significant lateral chromatic aberration. This will limit your results you can achieve, once you work th...

Another option for the BH-2 is to use an MTV-3 C-mount adapter with a Nikon J1 or V1 camera. I have not personally tried this, but it sounds good in theory.

Carl

Crater Eddie,
The 1.67x NFKs are indeed very rare, and damned expensive when you find them. You're probably better off just getting a second-hand full-frame Canon body, for about the same cost either way.

Carl

so only an NFK should be used here. I was unclear- I do have a 3.3 NFK which I have read that should be changed to a 2.5. From what I have read, for the projection method I have to drop an eyepiece adapter over that, connect it to a photomicro adapter L. The adapter L is constructed to fit into an ...

Crusty- The eyepiece will not fit fully into the trinocular port, so only an NFK should be used here. If you use an eyepiece here, the tube length will be wrong, and the objectives will not perform at the optimal capability. Problem with the NFK it that it won't work properly for afocal shots. Only ...

Just a few things to keep in mind with a BH-2. 1) If you're using Olympus objectives, and not their eyepiece or NFK projection lens, you'll get uncorrected (or improperly corrected) images, with significant lateral chromatic aberration. This will limit your results you can achieve, once you work thr...

Here is a recent update to this document.

Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7ckZ ... nFYVDJSRW8


Carl

To keep this thread current, here is a link to a recent significant update to this document.

Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7ckZ ... nFYVDJSRW8


Carl

Anybody know what's going on?

Carl

Here is a link to a PDF describing the repair of the Olympus 20W lamp house in the Olympus BH-2 (BHT/BHTU) stands. I hope somebody finds this helpful. Edit 4/14/2019: Replaced outdated link with a link to the master index, which always contains the most recent versions: https://drive.google.com/open...