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Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:17 pm
by wstenberg
Just wondering...
Are there inverted stereomicroscopes?
I can't remember seeing one, and a google search didn't come up with anything. I've seen horizontal stereomicroscopes, but not inverted.

A lot of things I'm interested in are visible in the 10x range.

I suppose a regular inverted scope with a low power objective could work in this range. But it's not the same.

I've thought of flipping over a stereomicroscope, but then the viewing angle is all wrong.

I'm sure someone here knows the answer to this.

Thanks.

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:10 pm
by MicroBob
Hi William,
I'm not aware that this was available.
But you could improvise: When adding a 0,5x front lens the working distance doubles. So it would be possible to look down at a series of two front silvered mirrors and upwards again at a stage. Old polaroid cameras and microfiche readers contained nice front silvered mirrors.

Bob

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:43 pm
by photomicro
What would be the specific advantages of an inverted stereo?

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:03 pm
by Scarodactyl
The closest I can think of are 90 degree stereos. I suppose you could put one sideways, though a mirror arrangement would be better.

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:48 pm
by wstenberg
photomicro wrote:
Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:43 pm
What would be the specific advantages of an inverted stereo?
OK, what if you want to examine the ventral surface of a small aquatic invertebrate, perhaps a small insect? You could flip it over, but it would flip right back. You could kill it and then flip it over. But what if you want to observe some behavior or function of a living organism, from the bottom? There might be interesting things going on under there... I guess my normal way would be to put it in a petri dish with water, hold it over my head, and examine with a hand lens. Not very ergonomic for prolonged studies, and no method of photo documentation.

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:18 pm
by Rylander
Hi wstenberg, I came across this link, this may fulfill your wishes.
https://bolioptics.com/8x-50x-wf-invert ... ing-light/

Rylander

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:28 pm
by wstenberg
Thank you everyone!!!
There it is! and it even has an LED ring light!
I knew someone here would have the answer.

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:39 pm
by apochronaut
Bolioptics is a nice, small, innovative company. You can buy off the shelf infinity corrected positive and negative phase objectives from them, for a decent price. They seem to have plumbed the depths of what is possibly good out of China and avoided the large morass of mediocre.

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:59 pm
by Scarodactyl
From what i have heard they're the retail arm of a wholesaler which provides scopes to a lot of different businesses. They do seem to have made good selections, and I enjoy looking through their offerings. It is possible that a local seller could do better for you since they're getting wholesale pricing.

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2020 9:00 am
by MicroBob
That Bolioptis design is nice as it need only one mirror. I one wante to build such a unit unfortunately the focus block of the stereo microscope could not be used.

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope-Got it!

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:09 pm
by wstenberg
OK, Put together the inverted stereomicroscope. An old Zeiss SM off the back shelf, a 90 degree connector from an OPMI, and a binocular from a ophthalmologists' slit lamp. All fits together mechanically, and actually works optically!

Just need to build a stage now!

Re: Inverted Stereomicroscope

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2020 10:19 pm
by Scarodactyl
Nice work! That looks really cool.