American Optical and Reichert Model 580 Stero Star Zoom scopes
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:06 pm
Here are some pics of completed scopes and some in process scopes. As most American Optical aficionados are aware, when Reichert acquired AO they began using the Reichert name in place of the AO name. The Reichert 580 and AO 580 are identical except in color. I have 2 complete units. One with the camera option as shown below and another without the camera option but soon will have one. In addition I have 2 pods complete except backplate and eyepieces. I intend to add a camera attachment as well.
Anyone interested in a cat #565 camera adapter for their #580 scope or would like to have one of the Reichert 580's once complete please PM me. Both incomplete pods function perfectly optically and mechanically. I just need to get back plates and eyepieces.
I intend to keep one complete set-up and sell the remaining. The model #580 was intended to compete against the B&L SZ7. It has a lower magnification, 60X vs the 70X of the SZ7. However, unlike the SZ7 the AO/Reichert 580 camarea adapter does not utilize a "tube" and as such can be easily adapted to a modern DSLR. The camera adapter in combination with a modern DSLR introduces a 3X magnification factor. Interestingly, if you used the polaroid camera adapter it introduced a 15X magnification factor ostensibly to fill the 4X5 Film.
Anyone interested in a cat #565 camera adapter for their #580 scope or would like to have one of the Reichert 580's once complete please PM me. Both incomplete pods function perfectly optically and mechanically. I just need to get back plates and eyepieces.
I intend to keep one complete set-up and sell the remaining. The model #580 was intended to compete against the B&L SZ7. It has a lower magnification, 60X vs the 70X of the SZ7. However, unlike the SZ7 the AO/Reichert 580 camarea adapter does not utilize a "tube" and as such can be easily adapted to a modern DSLR. The camera adapter in combination with a modern DSLR introduces a 3X magnification factor. Interestingly, if you used the polaroid camera adapter it introduced a 15X magnification factor ostensibly to fill the 4X5 Film.