MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Ah, I found the repair manual for this SZ4045 unit (https://www.manualslib.com/download/1843702/Olympus-Sz3060.html). I got fooled when I only read SZ3060, but applies to 4045/4060 models as well. I guess parfocality adjustment maybe different from person to person, so the optical tube path length n...

Good to know. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Just saw this.

Hi, I recently bought an Olympus SZ4045 stereo-microscope, but couldn't figure out how to make the zoom range parfocal. So, I have to pretty much refocus whenever I change zoom. Right side optical tube has two screws that can be released, but I don't know what it does. I would imagine I can adjust t...

Hello All, For sale is the 0.5X auxiliary lens for the B&L Stereozoom 7 stereo microscope (31-27-04). This reducer is pretty hard to come by, so get it if you can pick one up. It works very well with my Stereozoom 7, but I have way too many scopes and lens than I need. Glass and coatings are clear, ...

Hello All, For sale is the Bausch & Lomb 0.5x auxiliary lens (31-26-18) for Stereozoom stereo microscopes 1-5. Tested it on my SZ4 and works superbly. I had bought 2x, but need only 1. Glass and coating is clean and clear, free of defect. This is in like new condition. Yours for $100 shipped. Thank ...

I have yet to make adjustments to the plastic piece. There are actually two lenses (4 elements-2x cemented) on top and bottom of the plastic housing. Can I make adjustment to both lenses or just the most bottom one? So does this mean that it is safe to assume that SZ7 lenses are pretty much intercha...

Howdy, After hearing good things about the BL Stereozoom 7 model, I bought a few "for parts or not tested" items from ebay, so I could (in theory) build a "working" one by swapping out bad parts. I have swapped out damaged bottom lenses with clean ones to realize that one eyepiece cannot come to foc...

hm...I'll try to look for those IKEA ones. Thank you.

Thank you JPL on your analysis. I've found an old thread that discusses about relay lenses. https://www.microbehunter.com/microscopy-forum/viewtopic.php?t=7628&start=60 From what I've gathered is that the 2.5x relay lens is really intended for full frame cameras. To cover an APS-C sensor with the 2....

Thank you, I failed to mention that I was taking images at its max 75x magnification. Through the 10x eyepieces, projected images are plenty bright, so I automatically thought that the camera port would also send similarly bright light to the camera sensor. But in all fairness, I don't know how much...

Sorry for the very late reply. I have resolved the camera to eyepiece parfocal issue--one of the photo tube adapter got stuck and was not all the way in. I have another issue with DSLR exposure times. With a 50W desk lamp shining directly on a specimen, it typically takes 1-2 second exposures (800 I...

Hi, For offer is an open box Olympus 0.5x auxiliary lens (VM-AL) for Olympus VMZ, VMT, and VMF stereo-microscopes. Glass is clean and appears never been used. It will increase your working distance from 90mm to 156mm (over 6 inches). I bought this for an Olympus VMZ stereo-microscope, but I have dec...

Yeah, raising eyepiece height will not make zoom ranges parfocal, so that's is not recommended.

Thank you, I"ll look into those models as well. I'll look into platform/desk height adjustment as the last resort as it will still restrict my arm placements and movements.

Are there models with high eye tubes that can be included in the same price range as the Olympus SZ-4045? My bench height is not adjustable unless I build a platform of some kind, but that may make my arms less ergonomic as well.

Thank you.

ClassMSPecie

Thank you for sharing your experience on the SZ-3060. I have once again changed my stance on the SZ-3060 because of the 60 deg inclination. I am now looking to get a used SZ-4045 instead due to its 45 degree angle. Lower degree is better, but that appears to be in the realm of more modular and speci...

Try to look under a microscope at max mag to reveal more information. If the surface is not smooth, you may have physical damage. Then it may not be worth refurbishing. There are some bargains that can be had on older eyepieces, so it's no big deal if you happen to damage the lens while refurbishing.

Ok, thanks. I"ll research more on the pl 2.5xa and pli 2.5x lenses.

It came with the unit. At first glance, I thought I can use it with a wee 1/3" sensor camera for video. With my DSLR, the mag is too much; I need lower mag like 2.5x. Did you have to raise the eyepieces just a tad bit to make it parfocal or do your eyepieces sit flush (all the way down) inside eyepi...

The SZ 3060 has 200mm and up working distance with various auxiliary reducers; it's so versatile. Do you see doming affect on this model? I've decided to skip the VMZ model, so checking for the doming affect is not necessary, unless you want to share it for the record. Yeah, come to think of it, I d...

It's a Nikon SMZ-U with a trinocular module add-on. I read somewhere that removing a lens in front of a prism would create infinity optics, but I can't entertain a super long photo tube. I'd prefer to use a projection lens.

Thanks.

ClassMSpecie

Wow, a Meiji EMZ one looks very solidly built, and appears to have a non-helical zooming mechanism. It's a serious competitor to the Olympus SZ series. Is ~40% larger FOV area worth getting a whole new system for? Yeah, I'd definitely get one from a "free return" vendor unless a "as is" item appears...

Hm....A food for thought. I read somewhere in the forums that even the Nikon SMZ 10 (older, not the new 10A) and SMZ 2T/2B models have some doming at low magnifications. How is the VMZ or VM model's doming compare to that of B&L Stereozoom 4, 5, or 7? I did see little bit of doming on my BL SZ4 near...

Ah, I figured it out how to collimate. Basically the aluminum rings where the eye socket tubes screw onto can be adjusted to collimate. There are three torque screws that can be adjusted on the outer circumference of those two aluminum rings (one for each eye). The moving lenses should not be touche...

Thanks PeteM for responding. It would be used for many purposes including taking out splinters on my fingers, viewing plants and critters, occasional soldering microelectronics, etc. Because of such versatility, more working distance couldn't hurt, though not mandatory above 6 inches. How much more ...

Hello All, I got myself a B&L Stereozoom 4 today and realized that it is out of collimation. Luckily the lenses are in pretty good shape. Anyone have any experience collimating the so ubiquitous B&L stereozoom 4? There are 3x size 4 or 5 torque screw slots on the upper moving lens, but only two fron...

Hello All, I can't make my stereo microscope's photo pot optical path and eyepieces parfocal to each other. I can raise the eyepiece height a bit by adjusting the diopter to make the eyepieces parfocal with the photo port's optical path, but this makes the continuous zoom range not parfocal to each ...

Hello All, Torn between which one to get (max 4x mag). 6 inch working distance for VMZ and 7.5 inch for SZ-3060 with 0.5X auxiliary lenses. More the merrier, but 6 inch works as well. I might be providing inaccurate information, so correct me if you see one. Pros for VMZ: Older Cheaper Sturdier zoom...