new boy

[bally796]

Hi all
brand new to the microscope world, I'm interested in anything I can get under it ( Leica zoom 2000 stereo 7x30 mag ) I would like to get into small colourful crystal's. I have only just purchased the scope and am raring to go. a couple of question's what are the best type of crystals to get and do I need any type of filters. Thanks in advance
Bally

[JimT]

Welcome New Boy. The short answer to your second question is crossed polarizing filters which I made from movie 3D glasses.
The best answer to your first question is "experiment" with different crystals. That is half the fun

[bally796]

crossed polarizing filters which I made from movie 3D glasses

Thanks I will try that

[The QCC]

Crossed polars on a stereo microscope is a bit difficult. There is no practical place to put the analyzer and polarizer without them being in the imaging path.
If the image degradation is acceptable you could use simple polarizing sun glasses.
If your microscope looks like this, you will have to hand hold the analyzer or make a bracket to hold it.
The Polarizer will have to sit on the light source with the analyzer being the rotated element.

49400_01.jpg (53.52 KiB) Viewed 12635 times

[bally796]

http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/bally ... sort=3&o=0

This is the one

[The QCC]

The objective/lens on your microscope is recessed, therefore you will have to build a bracket to hold the analyzer and the polarizer will sit on the light source below the slide or subject.

If you are courageous you could remove the microscope head and see if there is a place to put a fixed analyzer above the lens assembly. The Polarizer would then be the rotating element and you would have to build a mechanism that would rotate the Polarizer and not the subject.

Just what type of crystals do you have in mind that you want to view?
Crystals that you grow as in Crystal growing kits
Or crystals from common chemicals you prepare on a glass slide.

BrownsugarL5X_17 10x.jpg

[JimT]

New Boy, oops! I missed that it is a stereo scope. AI defer to QCC who has a lot more experience and knowledge than I do. Regardless as I said earlier, half the fun is experimenting

Good luck.

[bally796]

The objective/lens on your microscope is recessed, therefore you will have to build a bracket to hold the analyzer and the polarizer will sit on the light source below the slide or subject.

If you are courageous you could remove the microscope head and see if there is a place to put a fixed analyzer above the lens assembly. The Polarizer would then be the rotating element and you would have to build a mechanism that would rotate the Polarizer and not the subject.

Just what type of crystals do you have in mind that you want to view?
Crystals that you grow as in Crystal growing kits
Or crystals from common chemicals you prepare on a glass slide.

BrownsugarL5X_17 10x.jpg

Its more minerals and gems and insects . Regarding microscopes would something like this be better http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221751832392? ... 1436.l2649 Thanks
Bally

[75RR]

If it were me I would want one with a stand.
Making one's own is impractical.

http://www.reichertms.com/Manuals/SZ7%2 ... 20View.pdf

[The QCC]

"GEMOLOGICAL MICROSCOPE" is just another term for a stereo microscope.

The stereo microscope is best for small 3 dimensional items. A full feature stereo microscope will include top and bottom light sources. Microscopes used for gem stone viewing are relatively low power compared to a compund biological microscope.

The Leica Zoom microscope you have will do just fine for gem stone viewing.

[75RR]

The objective/lens on your microscope is recessed, therefore you will have to build a bracket to hold the analyzer and the polarizer will sit on the light source below the slide or subject.

Agree best as a DIY project.

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/ind ... eopol.html

Bear in mind that Polarized Stereoscopes are not the norm.
There are a lot of other things to see apart from crystals.

[lorez]

"GEMOLOGICAL MICROSCOPE" is just another term for a stereo microscope

While a gem scope is a stereo scope, it is quite a bit more specialized than the common stereo microscope. The main difference is in the illumination. The gem scope has a unique reflector dome that creates excellent darkfield. It also has an iris in the base to help regulate the darkfield. There is also a fluorescent incident illuminator as well as fiber optic bundles that provide a wide variety of options as the gemologist looks at a lot of different specimens . I always tell my jeweler friends to "buy at twenty and sell at ten".

lorez

[75RR]

While a gem scope is a stereo scope, it is quite a bit more specialized than the common stereo microscope.

So is the link that bally796 provided a genuine gem scope?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221751832392? ... 1436.l2649

[lorez]

Good morning,

The ebay photo in the link is a B&L stereozoom7 pod with co-axial illumination. I have never seen one used as a gem scope component. The description in the ad is of a gem microscope. There are some gem scopes that have simple two power pods and others that use very good zoom pods. I have one with a Leica pod that is a descender of the B&L design. Knowing how to use a microscope properly is a real advantage if you find yourself in 'shopping mode' at a jewelry store. Remember, "buy at twenty, sell at ten".

lorez

[bally796]

just purchased this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391140868427? ... 1436.l2649, The head needs new lens carriers but the base is in great condition

[lorez]

The head needs new lens carriers but the base is in great condition

What is a lens carrier ?

lorez

[The QCC]

A lens turret?

[lorez]

A lens turret?

Not in the case of the stereo 7, or any of the B&L stereo zoom series.

lorez

[The QCC]

What I call a turret. Will not be easy to replace.

Turret.jpg (30.96 KiB) Viewed 12446 times

[lorez]

What you have marked as a turret is the casing, or housing for the objectives. It does nothing except protect the objective mechanism and keep light out. It is attached with four screws and is easily removable.

lorez

[The QCC]

I will take your word on this particular scope, but on my old OMAX the assembly rotates the the 2x and 4x objectives into position.

[lorez]

Not in the case of the stereo 7, or any of the B&L stereo zoom series.

You are correct. The omax is not a zoom microscope, but a fixed power stereo. The various powers are two separate lens systems. In the case of the stereo zoom that is pictured all powers are attained with the same two groups of lens. Magnification changes as the position of the lenses in the system change. The zoom lens cells are mounted on bars and are controlled by a cam shaft.

lorez

[The QCC]

If what you describe as the zoom mechanism, Bally796 has a bigger problem than just "replacing" the part that holds the objective.

[lorez]

We have not yet established just what a lens carrier is, but any time a stereo zoom microscope is not properly aligned, or is not parfocal through the zoom range there is potential for some serious work. There is a set of tools and jigs and a very precise protocol to do the job properly.

lorez

[The QCC]

From the original listing.

This is the sale of a rare classic VINTAGE GEM INSTRUMENTS GEMOLITE MK 5 DIAMOND MICROSCOPE BAUSCH & LOMB TO RESTORE.

Bally796 may not have questioned "to retore"

[lorez]

Bally796 may not have questioned "to retore"

In this instance Mr. Bally 796 may be better off if he were "to re(turn to)store.

lorez

[The QCC]

Very good suggestion. If possible.
Another case of eBay "You get what you see".
Another item Bally796 will have to fix is the voltage for the lamp .
The microscope's power supply is 110V
“LOVELY CONDITION GEM MICROSCOPE. UNABLE TO TEST AS 120V.”

[bally796]

http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/bally ... sort=3&o=1 that's the part, I purchased the scope and base for the base, the cost was £50 including post. Just needs a transformer for the florescence lights, already put another bulb in which works fine heres a few pics o this was from gumtree and I made up with the price. http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/bally ... ort=2&o=17 , Its in mint condition, would love to have a go at replacing the lens carriers.

[charlie g]

crossed polarizing filters which I made from movie 3D glasses

Thanks I will try that

Hello, Bally and all. Yes, yes Bally...you can easily and low cost place two astronomy polarizer filters on top of each of your stereo scopes occulars...and a larger diameter polarizer filter in front of what ever light source you use with your stereo scope. I do it all the time. Used polarizer filters with metal houseings are very low cost online.

Then you try viewing natural stream bed clays...very, very diluted with water in a glass dish (watch glass, petri dish, whatever clear glass dish0...crystals charm you under simple crossed pol illumination. all the best. BTW careful you don't catch 'microscope fever', Bally. Once your world views with a stereo scope beguile you,,,well..compound microscope world views start to bekon...often times. Stereo scopes, and compound microscopes complement each other...and compound microscopes with 8X occulars+a 2X objective lens...really offer crossed-pol crystal observations....etc., etc. .

[bally796]

crossed polarizing filters which I made from movie 3D glasses

Thanks I will try that

Hello, Bally and all. Yes, yes Bally...you can easily and low cost place two astronomy polarizer filters on top of each of your stereo scopes occulars...and a larger diameter polarizer filter in front of what ever light source you use with your stereo scope. I do it all the time. Used polarizer filters with metal houseings are very low cost online.

Then you try viewing natural stream bed clays...very, very diluted with water in a glass dish (watch glass, petri dish, whatever clear glass dish0...crystals charm you under simple crossed pol illumination. all the best. BTW careful you don't catch 'microscope fever', Bally. Once your world views with a stereo scope beguile you,,,well..compound microscope world views start to bekon...often times. Stereo scopes, and compound microscopes complement each other...and compound microscopes with 8X occulars+a 2X objective lens...really offer crossed-pol crystal observations....etc., etc. .

Hi ive just purchased one of theses http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/bally ... ort=2&o=17
Cheers Bally