Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

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Micro_creatures
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Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#1 Post by Micro_creatures » Mon Dec 16, 2019 3:24 pm

Guys, I am in urgent need of your wisdom.

I was craving phase contrast ability for so long, and now have the opportunity to but Leitz Labovert Phase Contrast. Information is limited, so I’m attaching all the pics seller had sent me. Asking price $400. Seller sais it works. Yay or nay?

I never had experience working with inverted scopes. My scope are Unico IP730 and Balplan. I use scopes as a hobby to observe and video protists, mainly: https://www.instagram.com/micro_creatures/

Would you buy it? I have one microscope, older Balplan, that I bought and don’t use - as it has extremely limited depth of field. Don’t want to get another scope that would gather dust.
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Micro_creatures
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#2 Post by Micro_creatures » Mon Dec 16, 2019 3:25 pm

Additional pics
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MichaelG.
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#3 Post by MichaelG. » Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:12 pm

There is nothing to suggest that the depth of field will be any greater than a ‘right side up’ microscope.

That said ... it does look a lot of ‘scope, but value will depend on condition.

This might help:
http://www.frankshospitalworkshop.com/e ... manual.pdf

MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'

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wporter
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#4 Post by wporter » Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:29 pm

Laboverts are very nice scopes. They even have their own patent: US patent 4,619,503, which also covers the Fluovert (the fluorescence version). The idea was to make an inverted stand more like the usual upright scope, which would lessen confusion when moving back-and-forth between the two types. The downside being more optical surfaces (i.e., prisms and mirrors) which theoretically would reduce contrast and resolution a bit; not a big consideration in a typical inverted application (low-to-medium power plate scanning, etc).

My own Labovert is an incomplete stand, but I can give you some preliminary tips:

- be sure to get the 6v bulb and bulb holder, they appear to be missing in one photo, but are there in the other. ?
- get a working bulb, plug the scope in, and confirm that the built-in power supply still works. The power switch is at the back left, and the brightness control at the back right.
- check the objectives for cleanliness and good front lenses.
- check that the Phaco slider is Phaco 1 to match the Phaco 1 objective(s).
- check the trinocular head for loose prisms and correct alignment (no double images when viewing through it, etc)
- if you decide you need an x-y stage slide holder, the applicable Leitz part is 520573. You can get along without this part if just using low powers.
- check the coarse and fine focus knobs, and the condenser height adjust knob, for turnability and functionality.
- the one shown has the S95 condenser, a good starting condenser but only for lower powers.

The one shown is pretty filthy, but that's par for the course in old used scopes. Be prepared to do a lot of cleaning and possibly re-lubing. The price isn't totally ridiculous as equipped, if it works; and if you absolutely need or crave an inverted. As pointed out on this forum several times, you can get by without an inverted if you have a good upright scope and the right specimen container/slide/dish & cover slip arrangement. Q.V.

Parts for this scope are rare, especially if you want to add DIC or higher N.A. objectives: you would profit from the UK or SK condensers, which can be found rarely and are usually missing the phase rings and/or prisms.

einman
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#5 Post by einman » Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:44 pm

I own several inverted scopes and have coveted a Labovert for some time but never agreed with how they were being priced. This one seems to be priced fairly.

apochronaut
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#6 Post by apochronaut » Tue Dec 17, 2019 1:14 am

There is a L.W.D. 10X .25 planachromat for the Balplan. It looks like the standard one but is just a little shorter.

MicroBob
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#7 Post by MicroBob » Tue Dec 17, 2019 7:32 am

Compared to my simple Olympus CK the light path seems to be quite complicated in this microscope. So if it has been stored in a damp or dusty place it might need a cleaning which could be difficult to do.
Bob

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ImperatorRex
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#8 Post by ImperatorRex » Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:45 pm

I am a big supporter for the Zeiss Inverted IM35 series ... they are research grade instruments and can be equipped with components from the Zeiss Standard series and there is really a big second hand market. I would already have bought the below scope ... but it gets too much if you add transportation and toll and taxes to sent over to me in germany.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Carl-Zeiss-IM-3 ... 4339279247

But it is clear - you cannot expect it will work out of the box, so cleaning and re-lubrication (usually the objective turret and the stage /table) is usually a must. Also you probabely need to replace the oculars, they offen are delaminated. Objective may or may not be installed, this is not really visible on the fotos, but anyway you will get them rather cheap.

Micro_creatures
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#9 Post by Micro_creatures » Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:41 am

apochronaut wrote:
Tue Dec 17, 2019 1:14 am
There is a L.W.D. 10X .25 planachromat for the Balplan. It looks like the standard one but is just a little shorter.
Could you elaborate please? Not sure what you teferring to. One of the objectives?

Micro_creatures
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#10 Post by Micro_creatures » Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:46 am

wporter wrote:
Mon Dec 16, 2019 10:29 pm
Laboverts are very nice scopes. They even have their own patent: US patent 4,619,503, which also covers the Fluovert (the fluorescence version). The idea was to make an inverted stand more like the usual upright scope, which would lessen confusion when moving back-and-forth between the two types. The downside being more optical surfaces (i.e., prisms and mirrors) which theoretically would reduce contrast and resolution a bit; not a big consideration in a typical inverted application (low-to-medium power plate scanning, etc).

My own Labovert is an incomplete stand, but I can give you some preliminary tips:

- be sure to get the 6v bulb and bulb holder, they appear to be missing in one photo, but are there in the other. ?
- get a working bulb, plug the scope in, and confirm that the built-in power supply still works. The power switch is at the back left, and the brightness control at the back right.
- check the objectives for cleanliness and good front lenses...
-.
Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I’m seeing the scope tomorrow to decide. Quick questio - mechanical stages from upright scope won’t work on this one? I have one extra around...

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wporter
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#11 Post by wporter » Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:59 am

It might work; it has to fit properly. The Leitz stage for this scope looks just like an upright scope x-y stage, and in fact may be one.

Micro_creatures
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#12 Post by Micro_creatures » Wed Dec 18, 2019 10:55 pm

wporter wrote:
Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:59 am
It might work; it has to fit properly. The Leitz stage for this scope looks just like an upright scope x-y stage, and in fact may be one.
Want to thank once more for your advice. To finish thestory - I decided not to take it in the end.

The microscope is in working condition, but need cleaning, primarily objectives. Knobs - coarse and fine could use lubing, but work. Condenser works smoothly. The Phaco 1 slide was missing, PH3 was in place. There are 5 objectives, 2 brightfield 4x and 10x, 2 phaco-1 with the same magnification, and fifth - not sure, extremely dirty, was not able to see what’s on it. The scope was a donation to school. Price seems to be negotiable. Just in case, since you have this microscope and parts are rare, here is the listing, it is in Philadelphia PA suburbs: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 615121877/

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wporter
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Re: Urgent! Labovert Leitz - please advise!

#13 Post by wporter » Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:18 pm

I don't need any of these parts at the moment; too much duplication of what I have already. Thanks for the heads-up, though.

Anyone else? Even though it's on Facebook Marketplace (which I guess is like Craigslist), the seller may package it up and ship it for a small sum.

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