Setting-up TL on the microscope

[Saul]

After converting to infinity my Optiphot, it is time for the Microphot.
For 200mm I used Reichert TL, works OK, now looking for the shorter range TL.
Question - how correctly to setup correct TL FL distance on the microscope, full of internal optics ? I cannot simply take a Microphot to the window and take a look to the distant chimney ... Remove objective and put angled mirror on the stage (have one somewhere) ? Or there is some simpler method ?

[Scarodactyl]

If the objective has a known working distance ypu could focud it on something flat and then just mess with it until the camera focuses, right?
I wonder if it would be possible to make the eye tubes extra adjustable to make parfocality with any tube lens within range.

[microb]

Hi,

So I'm really interested in understanding the goal here. Do you want to take a Microphot and add the right tube lens to get good images from infinity focus objectives?

Which series would you try? There are the older objectives that require corrections with relay lenses. For example such as Olympus and BH2 series with the NFK corrections. But in one of you examples you show a newer Nikon APO.

Thanks,
Ted

[Saul]

...
So I'm really interested in understanding the goal here. Do you want to take a Microphot and add the right tube lens to get good images from infinity focus objectives?

Hi Ted, it is correct

...Which series would you try? There are the older objectives that require corrections with relay lenses. For example such as Olympus and BH2 series with the NFK corrections. But in one of you examples you show a newer Nikon APO...

It will be mostly Mitutoyo set, Nikon BD infinity set, some Olympus/Nikon high NA

Adjustment is done, tried the next procedure - printed adapter for the angled mirror , which is attached to the TL, placed microscope close to the window and ... voila ! - saw neighboring trees ! Adjusted distances with extension tubes (125mm was almost there, no adjustment was needed).
It will be one more similar adjustment with Microphot UV adapter (still waiting for shorter FL TL, 200mm is in place already)

[microb]

When you say 200mm and 125mm tube lenses, are these achromatic doublets? Or something fancier?

I have a Thorlabs achromatic doublet? Did you ever try that as a tube lens (based on a 2011 posting you had linked to).

[Saul]

When you say 200mm and 125mm tube lenses, are these achromatic doublets? Or something fancier?

200mm is Reichert Microstar IV head TL (no idea what is inside), 125mm - achromatic doublet.

I have a Thorlabs achromatic doublet? Did you ever try that as a tube lens (based on a 2011 posting you had linked to).

You mean ITL200 ? Please refresh my memory ... If ITL200 - yes, I'm using .

[microb]

AC254-200-A - Ø1.0" , efl=200mm (https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cf ... 4-200-A-ML)

The post said you bought the B coating.

But it looks like you more recently bought Thors Labs' actual Nikon tube lens: https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cf ... ber=ITL200

I was hoping the AC254 might be considered good enough. A paper recommended it for a Bertrand lens. http://www.zia-lab.com/sites/default/fi ... A_2015.pdf

[Saul]

AC254-200-A - Ø1.0" , efl=200mm (https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cf ... 4-200-A-ML)

The post said you bought the B coating.

But it looks like you more recently bought Thors Labs' actual Nikon tube lens: https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cf ... ber=ITL200

I was hoping the AC254 might be considered good enough. A paper recommended it for a Bertrand lens. http://www.zia-lab.com/sites/default/fi ... A_2015.pdf

Correct, B, but 100mm. I'm little bit concern about crop sensor coverage.
ITL200 I got maybe couple years ago from ebay, but it is for the different purpose, not for Microphot

[Saul]

Microscope turret solution, using printed slider adapter for the Microphot DIC intermediate tube:



100mm - Thor Labs AC254-100-A1
200mm - Reichert tube lens
130mm -130mm FL Achromatic Doublet Lens, 32mm diameter





...tried to fit 100mm to the filter cube shape adapter (proof of the concept), it kind a worked but did want to use this solution - method above is more universal.

[Scarodactyl]

That's extremely cool! Is it troublesome to refocus going from one to the other, or is it more an case of sticking with one for a particular set of photos?

[Saul]

...or is it more an case of sticking with one for a particular set of photos?

Correct. And I have to refocus, what is not a big deal

[microb]

It will be mostly Mitutoyo set, Nikon BD infinity set, some Olympus/Nikon high NA

Do you have a ring mirror to widen out the Nikon BD lighting to the 40mm Mitutoyo BD lighting?

[MichaelG.]

That's extremely cool!

Agreed !!

I see that what you are doing will work ... but I had always presumed that the tube-lens would be in the upper part of the microscope body [to provide the ‘infinty space’ for other devices].

I am feeling rather dim now
... Thanks for opening my eyes.

MichaelG.

[Saul]

... but I had always presumed that the tube-lens would be in the upper part of the microscope body ...

Hi Michael, correct.
I have no plans to purchase the real infinity microscope, but I want to use my infinity objectives from the vertical setup.
I tried to use TL on the Microphot top , but it did not work out. For me (simple hobbyist) it is not a big deal - I can use converted to infinity Optiphot. within seconds I can go to the finite version. Or I can use Reichert Microstar IV trinocular head from my vertical setup - TL can be below, above or original TL inside (which is pretty good). Situation is pretty flexible

[MichaelG.]

It all clearly works very nicely for what you are doing, Saul

... Well done you, for thinking ‘out of the box’

MichaelG.