Latest iteration of my Zeiss Standard

[75RR]

Thanks to Charles and the modular design, an arm upgrade has turned my microscope into a Zeiss 18!
It now has a removable turret and though it is not immediately apparent, a 5 objective nosepiece. :)

[Crater Eddie]

Beautiful instrument with great optics, judging from your images. You seem to have your illumination sorted out too.
CE

[charlie]

Thanks to Charles and the modular design, an arm upgrade has turned my microscope into a Zeiss 18!
It now has a removable turret and though it is not immediately apparent, a 5 objective nosepiece.

Congratulations Glen! That looks great!

(Wait, Charles SOLD something Zeiss?)

[75RR]

Many thanks Crater Eddie and charlie. I am very pleased with it.

[KurtM]

Ooooh, Zeiss porn!!

[lorez]

The graceful profile of your microscope certainly show that those German engineers went a step farther with "form follows function".

lorez

[75RR]

Many thanks KurtM and lorez.

I admit that now and again, when my glance falls on it from across the room, I take a moment to appreciate its form.

[Charles]

A beautiful microscope!

[75RR]

Thanks Charles, and many thanks again.

[KurtM]

You know what, on second thought may I ask a couple questions? You say "an arm upgrade has turned my microscope into a Zeiss 18! It now has a removable turret..." What model was it before, and do I understand correctly that you replaced the curving spine to arrive at the removable turret?

Also, what's the black bit above the turret? Is it an optovar, and whether it is or isn't, what is an optovar?

Finally, I'm curious as to what type of head that is. (If it seems like I've developed a sudden interest in Zeiss stands, there's good reason for it. )

[75RR]

Hi KurtM

To be honest I do not have all the Zeiss models down pat, as there seems to be some overlap.

These are the most common models:
The Standard 14 has an internal illuminator with a rheostat on the base.
The Standard 16 has a illuminator that fits into the back of the base, it works on an external power supply of 6v 30w
The Standard 18 has a collector tube in the back of the base into which fits an external illuminator, normally a 12v 60w, the microscope sits on a riser plate in order to achieve the clearance needed for the illuminator, it also has a removable nosepiece.

Even though the Zeiss Standards are a modular design, and one can in theory convert any one of them into any other, it is simpler, cheaper and easier to buy the model that most suits you.
For your purpose that would be the Standard 18 which comes with an interchangeable turret. Useful for DIC
The WL would do as well but they tend to be more expensive.

Basically I would say you want something that looks like mine, apart from the head which is a workaround I came up with because the trinocular heads tend to be expensive. The trinocular head is the way to go.

Optovar: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... tovar.html

DIC: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1543

Manuals: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=773

[KurtM]

Ah, thanks - 'Optovar' is the name given the magnification changer then. Hear good things about 'em.

But you didn't say ... how'd you achieve the removable turret and change model numbers (and what was it before)?

[75RR]

The Optovar is more than a magnification changer, it is also a Bertrand lens and an analyser.

I changed the Arm it had which came with a fixed 4 objective turret for an Arm with an interchangeable turret.
I believe the model was likely an RA (these are early Standards that came with fixed 4 or 5 objective turrets and external illumination)
One could say it is now an RA with a changeable head I suppose, but it is easier to say it is an 18.

[gekko]

Super! And a beauty to look at.