Zeiss Standard Junior + Zeiss Standard RA + UHL

[75RR]

Zeiss Standard Junior (circa 1952-1957) It sleeps in the box that can be seen.
Zeiss Standard RA (circa 1960's)
Walter Uhl Rod Microscope SM

Zeiss Standard Junior:
Was entry "Students" scope to the Standard range in its day.
Extremely well made microscope, no skimping on quality at all.
Works as well now as it did when it was made 60 years ago.

Zeiss Standard RA:
Bought economically for repair or parts. Worn but in good general condition. Had to find a few missing parts, now working well.
Wanted something that would allow Köhler, had the ability to take a Phase condenser and was robust enough to take a heavyish 50/50 (cube) trinocular head + camera. 60w external illuminator + riser plate was a bonus.

Only problem is I just can't help adding to it. Downside of a modular design!

Walter Uhl Rod Microscope SM:
It has a removable glass base to help flatten cloth and paper (printing and thread count).
Once removed one can view 3D objects. (It is focusable)

Ocular is a standard 23mm - objective has a standard RMS thread. So one can swop them out.
It came with a 15x ocular and a 7x objective = 105x Using it with a 8x ocular at the moment = 56x
Nice build quality as well.

Camera is an Olympus E-p2. Bought second hand, body only.
Using it with legacy Olympus OM lenses. Now experimenting with Projection using a raised eyepiece.

Junior and its colour coordinated LED flashlight.


Size comparison.


Latest iteration fashion shot.

[gekko]

A lot of ingenuity here. I find it wonderful that you get such lovely images using a propped up flashlight for illumination! I hope you will keep us posted as your system is finalized.

[75RR]

... hope you will keep us posted as your system is finalized.

Not quite finalized, but closer. Enough for an update anyway.

Picked up a transformer today, should allow me to use the incandescent bulbs and with a little modification a Led.
2v – 12v AC and DC 5A in 2v steps.




Update 12/Jan: Just got the Zeiss RA back from a service. Binocular head now squeaky clean and condenser stand now moves smoothly.

[Crater Eddie]

I hadn't seen your update here. That power supply looks good, I bet it will work great for both light sources.

[The QCC]

I really like your flashlight light source.

I purchased a 2000 lumen CREE LED flashlight with external power supply that I sometimes use to replace the 100w halogen on the Labomed.

[gekko]

Very nice. I find the curve of the arm of the Zeiss scopes both very elegant and suggestive of strength. More practically, the (full-wave rectified) DC output of your new power supply does not appear to be filtered, so you may need to filter it if you want to avoid interference in video if your frame rate is close to 30 fps (or some other multiple of 120 Hz).

[75RR]

Quite pleased with the transformer although it is not as accurate as I had expected.

Nominal-------DC--------AC
2-------------2---------2.5
4-------------5---------4.5
6-------------8---------7
8------------11---------9
10-----------14--------11
12-----------17--------13

Will be using the module Crater Eddie field tested successfully to run the LED on the 12v DC output..
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=194&start=30

I really like your flashlight light source.

Then you will probably appreciate the upgrade! Added UV filter with electrical tape.

Very nice. I find the curve of the arm of the Zeiss scopes both very elegant and suggestive of strength.

Agree. They are beautiful machines. Did you notice the Phase Condenser?

[gekko]

I too liked the elegant simplicity of the flashlight illumination, and I even like the upgrade! Yes, I remember now about the module-- thanks for reminding me. No, I've not noticed the phase condenser until you mentioned it. Do you have any phase objectives?

[75RR]

Do you have any phase objectives?

The Zeiss RA came with a Ph1 10x/0,22 a Ph2 40x/0,65 and a 100x/1,25.
Curiously the 100 does not have a Ph written on it, though the annular ring is visible. I imagine it must be a Ph3.
I had initially stored them, thinking I would have no use for them as I did not have a Phase condenser at the time and did not think I would be able to get one very easily. In the end one turned up; so they could turn out to be a nice bonus.
My fix-it man who came up with the Phase condenser also came up with a Zeiss Phase contrast focusing telescope, so I am all set to try it out, well, as soon as I sort out the illumination.

What phase objectives do you have? Which do you use most?

[gekko]

The Zeiss RA came with a Ph1 10x/0,22 a Ph2 40x/0,65 and a 100x/1,25.
Curiously the 100 does not have a Ph written on it, though the annular ring is visible. I imagine it must be a Ph3.
I had initially stored them, thinking I would have no use for them as I did not have a Phase condenser and did not think I would be able to get one very easily. In the end one turned up; so they could turn out to be a nice bonus.
My fix-it man who came up with the Phase condenser also came up with a Zeiss Phase contrast focusing telescope, so I am all set to try it out, well, as soon as I sort out the illumination.

Great! So I hope very soon we will see phase contrast images!

What phase objectives do you have? Which do you use most?

My phase objectives are 10x, 20x, 40x, and 100x (my 20x is fluorite). I think I was lucky that I bought them on ebay when I did (now they are being listed at significantly higher prices). I don't really know which I use most often, but the fluorite 20x is my favorite (and I think overall I think 20x is my favorite power).

[75RR]

Well, got the camera stand up and running. Had to extend the vertical bars as the RA is considerably taller then the aptly named Junior. Seems stable enough.
Still testing the RA - bit of fine tuning yet to do. Transformer works well, though the fine control of a dimmer would be nice.
Have not got used to the incandescent bulb - fiddly thing. Looking forward to getting the LED working.
Please note Optovar. :) Very pleased with it.

[The QCC]

75RR:
I am curious why you have chosen youir method of mounting the camera. To me, it looks unstable.
I have a 1.8kg camera (Canon 5D MkII) mounted directly to a microscope and a 1kg camera (Canon XS [1000D]) directly mounted on a second microscope.
This is how I mount my DSLRs

[75RR]

I am curious why you have chosen your method of mounting the camera.

• Had been using an external afocal method before (tripod), so I know it works.
• Had and or picked up locally what I needed.
• Avoided having to import something that might not work well with my camera.
• No vibration problems.
• Cool factor :)

P.S. The Magnetic Bases grip the metal plate very strongly. It is not much different to an enlarger base.

[Crater Eddie]

I have to say that I do like the looks of that RA. Beautiful instrument.

[75RR]

I have to say that I do like the looks of that RA. Beautiful instrument.

Thanks. I think so too.

[gekko]

Congratulations for getting it all working. I agree with everyone: gorgeous instrument.

[75RR]

Congratulations for getting it all working. I agree with everyone: gorgeous instrument.

Many thanks. Am looking forward to trying it out once all the fine tuning is done.

[75RR]

Thanks to a chat with gekko it occurred to me to try to set up the tripod for a comparison test with the magnetic base. The idea was to take a photo (as always with the tripod) through the binocular.

To my surprise - while fiddling with it - turns out it actually fits over the trinocular. That was unexpected!
Turns out the Focusing Stage and the Focusing Rail fit nicely as well.
Looks like a feasible arrangement + a little steadier that the magnetic bipod.

[gekko]

Looks very sturdy. Now we need to see what that beautiful scope is capable of .

[Peter]

Hi 75RR,
What you might like to aspire to is the Zeiss AC stand (for ultimate stability).
Peter.

[75RR]

Thanks for that Peter. It makes my arrangement look positively svelte! :)

[Peter]

Hi 75RR,
I've not come across svelte before, had to look it up still not 100% sure of your meaning.
Zeiss tend to be a bit over the top.
Peter.

[75RR]

Zeiss tend to be a bit over the top.

Just thought that my tripod arrangement (though very sturdy), was a bit bulky and cluttered up the table a bit.
After seeing the Zeiss image you posted (serious over kill on their part) I do not feel it is as excessive as I had feared.

[gekko]

Sorry for the stupid question: are you using a film camera? It doesn't look like a digital camera to my (admittedly bad) eyes.

[75RR]

... are you using a film camera? It doesn't look like a digital camera to my (admittedly bad) eyes.

Good eyes. It is an OM2. Used it as a place holder (to show how my E-P2 is set up over the photo-tube with the tripod) as I only have one digital camera.