"Dumb" Trinocular question

[cpsTN]

Before I buy a trinocular microscope for ease of imaging, I thought I would ask this question. Does the light go through the imaging tube and the oculars at the same time or do you have to switch from one to the other?

[mrsonchus]

It varies, some have a 'permanently shared' arrangement where, as the name suggests, the split is fixed. Others have the switchable arrangement usually in the form of a push-pull stalk on the side of the head that will switch between 100% to eyepieces or something like 80% to trinocular (photo) tube with 20% to eyepieces for photography.
Personally I'd certainly go for the switchable - they don't seem to be significantly more expensive than the fixed but they are very much more flexible and therefore useful I think.

Many others will give some excellent and more detailed advice - good luck with your choices.

[Crater Eddie]

The LOMO trinocs that I have are both switchable, one way is 100% of the light goes to the eyepieces, the other way the light is split between the eyepieces and the photo port. I usually operate with the photo port enabled whether I am using it or not, don't miss the light at the eyepieces at all, and it is very convenient.
CE

[zzffnn]

It could be either way, depending on the manufacturer.

[p3aul]

Well if it's like my Amscope T400b, it has a knob that you pull across to block the Eyepiece ports an also opens the imaging tube.
In my case, I can use one or the other but not both at the same time.

Paul

[qawine]

My Amscope allows you to look through both at the same time.

[p3aul]

Ah, OK you have a more expensive scope than mine, and/or I don't know how to use this one. I have just been pulling the pin all the way out or pushing it all the way in. As stated in my sig, I have the T400b. Viewing both at the same time definitely has advantages. Since I was wrong, I'll shut up now!

[UPDATE] Nope, it's one way or the other for me

[qawine]

That's strange they would make them differently. It has the same pin that you pull but it opens and shuts the door for the camera.

When I first got it, I had no idea what the pin was for. I thought it was an adjustment and I unscrewed it - it just fell out.

[p3aul]

Mine opens and shuts for the camera but when the door is open for the camera you can't look through the eyepieces.

[apochronaut]

The system works by moving a prism back and forth, or possibly in a cheaper system, a mirror but the result is the same. Prism/mirror one way; the light goes to the eyepieces, prism/mirror the other way, the light goes to the photo-tube. two positions.
If it is a system where the light goes to both the eyepieces and the camera port, it is done with a beamsplitter. The percentages are usually 80% to the camera and 20% to the eyepieces. I have seen 50/50. two positions.

Some systems have both, where you can choose all eyes, all camera or a split image. 3 positions