Used Diaphot

[FunkEngine]

I found a used diaphot with a local liquidator, and was hoping someone could advise me on the scope. They list the objectives as follows:
HMC 40 LWD 0.5NA 160/0-2 by Modulation Optics
Ph2 20 DL 0.4 160/0-2 by Nikon
10/0.22 by Zeiss
PhL PLAN 4 / 0.13 DL by Nikon

The pictures they offer are pretty poor, but I want to inspect it in person and can take better pictures.

As for completeness it's obviously missing the stage. I should also make sure it has the phase discs. I'm not familiar with Hoffman modulation, is there an additional element I should be looking for?

Lastly, what is a fair price for this microscope?

[zzffnn]

HMC condenser should have a slit like this: http://www.phasecontrastmicroscopes.com ... del-g3.php

And condenser slit should align with objective slit for HMC (assuming all optics are present and functional).

It would be nice to get 20x phase contrast, but you may be able to DIY darkfield stops at NA 0.4 and below (including 4x and 10x, so you may not need phase rings for 4x and 10x; darkfield works better for amateurs at those magnification).

DIY darkfield may not be easy at 40x NA 0.55 and above.

40x phase contrast would be nice to have, if 40x HMC condenser is missing.

I would pay $400 or more for a scope like that, assuming stage is missing and HMC 40x and 20x phase are included.

$50 for eyepieces
$50 20x phase
$50 for those 4x and 10x objectives
$100 for HMC 40x
$100 for condemn with 40x HMC slit and 20x phase ring
$50 for the stand

Maybe even $500, if I want the exact HMC + phase set-up.

The stage may cost you $50 to obtain.

[photomicro]

It looks to me as if the condenser fitted is the ELWD NA 0.3 type, which was the standard one usually supplied from what I can gather. It has only phase inserts, namely Ph L, Ph1, Ph2 and Ph3, with no bright-field setting as such. To set up the lamp and the field diaphragm, you use the Ph L setting, and lift out the insert, but there is no condenser diaphragm.

The NA is rather limiting too, not being high enough for the x40.

This condenser almost certainly doesn't have a suitable insert for the x40 HMC lens. Though these can be made, it would need a condenser of higher NA such as the LWD NA 0.52 model.

That x20 objective is worth more than the others, it has a collar allowing adjustment for the thickness of the vessel your sample is in.

The manual for this instrument is widely available.