MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

A while back I got a lot of B&l stereo heads and accessories, which turned out to be in awful shape--dirty, some moldy and to top it off the seller shipped them with almost no bubble wrap. So I've been sitting on a bunch of parts units. A couple days back I grabbed some eyepieces to disassemble and clean, and found this lens in one of them.

It's completely delaminated, with whatever they used to cement the elements together having recrystallized. It's kind of pretty in reflected light, and even nicer under crossed polars (click for larger size):



At least I got something from that lot!
Taken on my Wild M400 (with a camera pol filter below the lens and the coaxial illuminator providing a nice analyzer)

that's the most wonderful delaminated lens, I have ever seen.

Hi,
it is not unlikely that the crystal structures would have had more flowing lines and gentle colour gradients if the microscopes would have been padded better for shipping!
Really nice images for such a sad view and a great way to minimize the damage.

Bob

Amazing, beautiful, images
... well worth the loss of an eyepiece

MichaelG.

Imagine seeing the world through that - puts rose colored glasses to shame.

Very beautiful photos, thank you for sharing. amazing how much detail is on a slightly degraded lens. I wonder what caused it to delaminate though?

apochronaut wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 27, 2019 1:54 am

that's the most wonderful delaminated lens, I have ever seen.

I second that!

I wonder what would happen if you soak them in warm hexane or xylene.