Hello from The Netherlands

What is your microscopy history? What are your interests? What equipment do you use?
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75RR
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#31 Post by 75RR » Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:37 pm

I wonder if it would be a good idea to buy a phase contrast microscope instead if a normal compound microscope. Or is a phase contrast too specific? Is it better to upgrade later to phase contrast?
All of the big four: Leitz/Leica, Nikon, Olympus and Zeiss 160/170 finite system microscopes can be upgraded quite easily to phase with the purchase of a phase condenser and the specific phase objectives.
This upgrade is not overly expensive but if already installed on a microscope at the time of purchase it is quite a bit cheaper.

Having Phase installed does not preclude brightfield, darkfield nor any of the oblique methods of illumination. This is not an either or situation.

See link: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... denser.pdf

If I have understood MicroBob's and apochronaut's advice correctly we have two valid yet differing views on how a beginner should approach his/her first purchase.

MicroBob suggests getting a good yet simple microscope that will give you uncomplicated access to the micropscopic world.
A first microscope with which to learn the trade so to speak. One that you will outgrow and therefore replace with one that has many more possibilities.

apochronau's suggestion is that you purchase a quality stand (that usually means a research microscope) to start out with and use it in its basic configuration to learn the ropes.
When you are ready to upgrade you just need to add components to the microscope you already have.
It should be pointed out however that research microscopes even in their basic configuration do have more fiddly bits than simple/student microscopes do.

The choice is of course yours. What I will say is that sometimes those of us who have a bit of experience tend to forget how daunting those first steps into microscopy were.
On the other hand, a well appointed research microscope at a good price is difficult to pass up on.
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#32 Post by janvangastel » Fri Dec 07, 2018 5:00 pm

Thanks for the answers. I understand now that it is not difficult to upgrade to phase-contrast or other lighting methods.
Today I found a link to a shop in The Netherlands, not very far from where I live. They sell brands like Leica, Leitz, Zeiss, Olympus and Euromex (don't know if the last one is of equal quality to the others, although I found a test report that says it is).
I found these trinocular scopes, that - to me - look very nice: http://www.microscopen-specialist.nl/in ... 656-detail, http://www.microscopen-specialist.nl/in ... 656-detail. The last one is the phase-contrast variant of the first one. These were the only trinoculars they have, except for Euromex. I don't know if these are used or new and - if new - of which quality, because they seem relatively cheap. They are yust within my budget.

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75RR
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#33 Post by 75RR » Fri Dec 07, 2018 5:23 pm

Forget Euromex, it is a Chinese clone.

As to which is better value ... the Brunel Orthoplan at €550 or the Abro Orthoplan at €1750 ... I will let others decide.
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#34 Post by MicroBob » Fri Dec 07, 2018 5:42 pm

Most microscopists will have to admit that they own more than one microscope. It is nice to have a second one if the main instrument is set up for a specific task or to have a simple one to take to a meeting or on a journey. Simple but good used microscopes sell often for really little money like 20-50€. Most more attractive bits for a nice research instrument cost more than that. So in my opinion it is never wrong to buy a simple good instrument if the decision process for the first "really great" instrument starts to look difficult. Before spending real money at a later point of time it will be advisable to choose the right system and not necessarily stick to the first cheap buy. But this is very much a personal thing and there is no methods that fits all.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#35 Post by janvangastel » Fri Dec 07, 2018 5:52 pm

Simple but good used microscopes sell often for really little money like 20-50€
No reason why I shouldn't believe you. But how to decide if a certain cheap microscope offered on the internet (or in a shop far from home) is good (enough). I know microscopes are no telescopes, but buying one looks very much alike. When I wanted to buy a telescope long ago, I ran into the same problem: which one to buy. But then I decided to build one myself, which is - at least for me - not possible with microscopes.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#36 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Dec 07, 2018 5:54 pm

Hi there janvangastel, I've been reading this thread a bit and thought I may add some info.

I bought my own Orthoplan, which is now my everyday 'scope for use in my tiny Botanical lab, almost exclusively for brightfield work, from, you guessed it, Brunel Microscopes!
I bought mine in the same brightfield configuration as the one they have for sale now and then 'upgraded' it to phase contrast just as you are contemplating now.....

Price-wise the Brunel 'scope is the better buy I'd say. It's not very expensive to add phase contrast to the Orthoplan. You will need a set of 'phaco' phase objectives, a phase contrast condenser the '402a' is the Orthoplan model and a pair of adjuster 'sticks' to center the phase plates in the condenser - just once usually.

To switch from phase to brightfield, if you have all the parts including a spare turret to hold the phase objectives and a 'normal' model 600 series condenser, simply involves sliding out the condenser and turret and sliding in the brightfield versions, or of course vice-versa.

I'd go for the Brunel version myself, and of course have done just that.....

Here's a link to my post in 2017 asking about the Orthoplan

You may find the thread useful.

John B.
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#37 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:02 pm

Hmm, having had a closer look at the Brunel 'scope I see it has a rather 'hotch-potch' set of objectives and eyepieces - you really need to telephone them (they're notoriously bad with e-mail) and speak to Helen, their technical director. Ask her to send you a complete spec itemized before you consider a purchase.

John B.
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75RR
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#38 Post by 75RR » Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:06 pm

Just noticed that neither of the two Orthoplans mention a power supply. This is a question worth asking the sellers.

It should also be said that having the seller near enough to visit and or to complain to is useful.

If you can get the seller to give you a "spin" on the Orthoplan, then better yet. Get as many lessons as you can!
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#39 Post by janvangastel » Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:21 pm

Both last messages are too late. I already ordered. Became enthousiastic after reading the thread mentioned in one of the former posts.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#40 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Dec 07, 2018 7:04 pm

Congratulations! Wow, are you in for a treat! :D :D
The Orthoplan is a fantastic 'scope. Also of course there are many objectives etc 'out there' and it won't take very long or too much expense to get it just how you like it.

Which one did you go for?

Fun-times are coming your way, if you get an Orthoplan, you will NOT go wrong my friend!

John B. :D :D :D :D :D
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#41 Post by janvangastel » Fri Dec 07, 2018 7:30 pm

It's the 504 UK pounds Orthoplan I ordered, left one of the two images on the former page of this thread. If there's no power supply included, I suppose it will not be very difficult to find one. And I can always buy better objectives if they turn out to be really bad. The specs say everyting is original. Doesn't that mean the eyepiecdes and the objectives are original as well?

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#42 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Dec 07, 2018 7:51 pm

Yes indeed, no worries there, they'll all be original Leitz for sure. As far as the power supply goes, I still have mine if you're interested, although I simply replaced it with this,

The original,
wss_orthoplan power conversion (1).jpg
wss_orthoplan power conversion (1).jpg (58.24 KiB) Viewed 13471 times
New Chinese PS simply stuck onto the side of the mighty Orthoplan with double-sided tape,
wss_orthoplan power conversion (2).jpg
wss_orthoplan power conversion (2).jpg (33.52 KiB) Viewed 13471 times
and,
wss_orthoplan power conversion (3).jpg
wss_orthoplan power conversion (3).jpg (48.37 KiB) Viewed 13471 times
wss_orthoplan power conversion (4).jpg
wss_orthoplan power conversion (4).jpg (36.41 KiB) Viewed 13471 times
If you need an original just let me know, this one's just sitting in my lab doing nothing.

John B.

p.s. Images are of the Orthoplan I bought from Brunel in 2017.
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#43 Post by MicroBob » Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:09 pm

Hi Jan,
congratulations to your first microscope! The Orthoplan is something like an older S-Klasse Mercedes - the engineers simply made everyting as good as possible and the howling business people were not asked about their opinion. There were a couple of different objective and eyepiece lines around at the time of the Orthoplan and some quite different looking things fit together well, some don't. I think I would be able to guide you in this respect.

Some links for manuals and information:

http://ronaldschulte.nl/downloads.html
http://www.science-info.net/docs/leitz/
http://microscope.database.free.fr/Welcome.html

I'm sure the Brunel people know how to pack a microscope of this weight. :D With private sellers this is always quite exciting. :roll:

Bob

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#44 Post by 75RR » Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:12 pm

Congratulations! You got very good value for money there. Build quality is excellent. Nothing nowadays can touch it.

Post lots of images when you get it + details of the objectives and the condenser.

Try and find out if there is a power supply included. If there isn't take up mrsonchus on his offer to sell to you.

Always best to start of with the original equipment before attempting any changes - that way you know where you are starting from.
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#45 Post by mrsonchus » Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:16 pm

Haha! I don't know about you fellows, but I'm a bit excited myself to see another 'Big-O' in the forum! :D :D

John B.
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#46 Post by Hobbyst46 » Fri Dec 07, 2018 8:25 pm

Congratulations, Jan. Your decision is excellent, I feel. I Wish I could afford such a scope for myself - but they are large and heavy.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#47 Post by KurtM » Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:46 am

Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, time to start looking at a stereo microscope. Gotta have a stereo microscope too, you know.

:mrgreen:
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#48 Post by apochronaut » Sat Dec 08, 2018 2:17 am

Congratulations. Excellent choice. A power supply should not pose too much of a problem. If you search for Leitz power supply or Orthoplan power supply, usually the seller knows what he has and prices accordingly but , occasionally if you search for 12V. variable power supply, classic microscope units show up, with the seller not realizing it is for a microscope. I have seen this several times and the surplus dealer just put 40 bucks on it, to move it a long. Searching for microscope parts requires several different strategies in order to cover the field.
You will love your microscope and it is built to grow old with.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#49 Post by janvangastel » Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:38 am

Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, time to start looking at a stereo microscope. Gotta have a stereo microscope too, you know.
I already have a stereo microscope, a simple binocular one, magnifying 7-45 x. This instrument made me interested in microscopy.

@mrsonchus: as soon as I am sure that there's no power supply included, I will contact you. I wonder though if it will work in The Netherlands. We have 220 Volts coming out of the wall here and if I remember correctly, in the USA (assuming you are in the USA) it's 110 Volts.
Also found some on ebay: https://www.ebay.ie/sch/sis.html?_itemI ... PrRngCbx=1, but I don't know it these will work with the microscope.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#50 Post by 75RR » Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:41 am

Power supplies are heavy so it would be better to limit your search to Europe.

mrsonchus is conveniently in England so close and 220v

Many of these power supplies are able to switch from 220v to 110v (and back again) ;) Best however to check.

Note: Do not know how familiar you are with Ebay and the advanced search features.
One of the most useful to my mind is the ability to see how much items actually sold for recently (giving you an actual average price) as opposed to what some optimistic/outright bandit sellers ask.

The advanced option is at the top right, next to the blue search button.
Press it and type in the name of what you are searching for.
A little further down tick the sold listings box, then press search.
Sold listings prices appear in green.
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#51 Post by MicroBob » Sat Dec 08, 2018 11:50 am

A laboratory power supply with adjusters for volt and amperes is useful to have. If it is a chinese one you should choose one that has amperes to spare eg. 10A instead of the 6A needed. Probably not much more expensive than a Leitz original.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#52 Post by janvangastel » Mon Dec 10, 2018 12:11 pm

I e-mailed Brunel that I missed the power supply in the specs of the Leitz Orthoplan I ordered and asked if it is included. They answered "Yes don’t worry an original Leitz transformer box is required along with a European plug adapter". So no need to look for one any more. I hope the instrument will arrive soon.

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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#53 Post by Nerdoid » Wed Oct 16, 2019 5:40 pm

janvangastel wrote:
Fri Dec 07, 2018 5:52 pm
Simple but good used microscopes sell often for really little money like 20-50€
When I wanted to buy a telescope long ago, I ran into the same problem: which one to buy. But then I decided to build one myself, which is - at least for me - not possible with microscopes.
Dobson?
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Re: Hello from The Netherlands

#54 Post by Dave S » Thu Oct 17, 2019 9:48 am

Hi Jan, and welcome.

I was a keen amateur astronomer/astro-imager, until a move from a dark sky location, to one with light pollution, put an end to it.

https://davesimaging.wixsite.com/mysite
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