MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

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If your AmScope T690 does not have compensating tube lens or compensating eyepiece, then it may be best to upgrade it with self-corrected infinity objectives. Apochronaut may have some good objectives for you, PM him to ask.

Both sides of the infinity vs 160 arguments have some truth to them. Most of them are not conflicting - you would have to have some personal experience to understand those. It depends on exactly what you want and your budget.

Most forum members are willing to take PayPal. It is just that shipping internationally costs more time and may not worth it for small transactions.

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Hey Rudi,

I see now you haven't ordered your microscope yet, and I thought that I'd drop you a message quick to add my suggestions - which may save you some money

I agree with the guys that you'll be better off buying something decent from one of the members.

You are welcome to pop around to my house and I will happily show you the difference between my Omax and Olympus scopes and what you should be looking at - and heck, if you still set on a cheap and nasty starter - you can buy my Omax, which is exactly the same as the Amscope you looking at for half the price

You are going to love Johann's Olympus!!!

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BTW Johann, you can always sell me the Olympus

Hi Rudy,

Sorry if I'm making things more complicated

This is the Omax I have:
http://www.microscopenet.com/omax-40x25 ... 39p0hfth85

And then I got the following extra:
1. Plan objectives
2. Canon 2x adapter
3. Dry darkfield condensor

The light source is a 3W LED - not sure how it relates to normal light wattage??

My invite to come have a look is still open

Olympus most definitely not for sale
Lekker dag

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Hi Rudi, I've sent you a PM.

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I have also found a Olympus CX41 locally, I am still trying to find out what objectives it has, it has 5 as far as I can see from a photo. It does have the trinocular head with 1/2" CCD camera (with optical zoom) and is equipped with the CX-PCD Universal Turret condenser so it can do BF, DF, phase and DIC illumination.

I take it you saw Johann's Olympus? :)

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Its always good to have a backup. Looking forward to your thoughts on both setups.
And photos.
CE

No, actually not, have not had a chance to go and look.

You should visit him before you buy, it will give you a better idea of what to look for, what questions to ask etc...

Rudix wrote:Hi everyone, I have been away on a business trip but I am back with an update in my quest...

While I was away by dear better half decided she would make up my mind for me (as a surprise) so she went ahead and ordered the items in my shopping cart on eBay, the Amscope T690B with extras should be here before the weekend, not really ideal but I suppose I should not complain, she meant well

I have also found a Olympus CX41 locally, I am still trying to find out what objectives it has, it has 5 as far as I can see from a photo. It does have the trinocular head with 1/2" CCD camera (with optical zoom) and is equipped with the CX-PCD Universal Turret condenser so it can do BF, DF, phase and DIC illumination.

The plan is to go look/fetch it asap, it is just about new so exciting times ahead!

I have never heard of a CX that can do DIC. As far as I know, the cx-pcd is a dark field and phase condenser but has no room for DIC prism. Unless they have changed the setup on the most recent models. I had a CX with phase and they normally are equipped with regular PLAN objectives. Sometimes the even cheaper ACH

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I watched their videos, lots of live blood analysts stuff, but I won't go there.
They mention DIC a couple of times while discussing illumination types, but when talking about their system they refer to it as "relief contrast" and just show that universal condenser as doing it all. That and the "3D" photos in the gallery make me wonder if it is simply oblique? I might well be wrong, as I often am, hopefully someone else will chime in.
CE

Biomedx is an Olympus OEM

Sounds like a marketing ploy. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer as you no doubt know, yet there is a world of difference between customizing Olympus microscopes with standard options for the 'Live Blood Market' (which by the way is a swindle to sell vitamin supplements) and manufacturing parts for The Olympus Corporation.
That is not to say that one of their microscopes with Phase and Darkfield for x amount of money is necessarily a bad deal (I am not sufficiently familiar with the costs of Olympus microscopes to comment on that) - but do approach them with caution.

Link to the specs - does not mention DIC, and it would if it were possible:

http://www.olympus-lifescience.com/en/m ... ight/cx41/ (Then press specs)

Olympus did/does make their "Olympus BX Series U-UCDB Universal Condenser" which does DIC for the BX series scopes. Hold onto your wallet though, the ones I find online for sale are pretty spendy. It doesn't look like the one shown in the videos though.
CE

Crater Eddie wrote:I watched their videos, lots of live blood analysts stuff, but I won't go there.
They mention DIC a couple of times while discussing illumination types, but when talking about their system they refer to it as "relief contrast" and just show that universal condenser as doing it all. That and the "3D" photos in the gallery make me wonder if it is simply oblique? I might well be wrong, as I often am, hopefully someone else will chime in.
CE

They are tricking you. I studied the video and the specs of the systems. They refer to it as "E. DIC" and in other places as 3D Relief contrast.

"This condenser has six positions; brightfield (w/iris), 3 phase contrast positions, darkfield and 3D/relief contrast.

You cannot do DIC with just one condenser position unless you limit the DIC capability to a single objective. Every magnification needs its individual prism. Also, the condenser needs to have a polarizing filter which it does not have. Everything indicates that they have implemented a Oblique stop in one of the condenser slots and call it 3D, Relief contrast and in one place "E DIC". A marketing hoax if you ask me.

Also, the price of the entire system is about the same price as the DIC components from Olympus would cost. The main DIC slider alone required has a list price of $2700 and then the individual objective prisms are around $650. The complete "DIC system" you need for getting DIC at all 5 objectives would then be close to $6000. Then, if you need the condenser turret to put the prism in (U-UCD8) it will cost you another $2500.

The CX stand is more limited when it comes to expansion. I would rather spend the money on a used BX stand which is much more future proof and expandable (to the absurd). Avoid the BX40, but BX41 and up are all ok. Same Heads, objectives, eye pieces etc can be used on both CX and BX.

Well now, here's an interesting development.
CE

Anybody know what's going on?

Carl

Someone did not like our answers. The question is who this someone is...

Perhaps we were not diplomatic enough. Apologies if so.

Perhaps we can ask Rudy Mazzocchi, the founder of BioMedX, if he ever sold a scope to RudiX. They might know each other. After all, they share the same name.

Rudy A. Mazzocchi
Founder / Acting-CEO & Chairman
BioMedX Group, Inc.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-a-mazzocchi-15382139/

Interesting.

He also has a flattering Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_A._Mazzocchi

Seems to have gone to a lot of trouble for someone supposedly worth millions.

Photo matches the avatar he used