MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Thanks again, these are fascinating to read! That's what I thought as well: the Polyvar magnification changer is a real game changer (pun intended) as it in my scope's case basically triples the number of available magnifications. From what I have read, the optics are extremely high quality so there...

Here's pics of the two pages in the Leitz DMRX/E brochure that deal with Delta Optics. Perhaps someone with skills in German can summarize the main points.

Lots going on since my last post, I agree scanning the lit will be helpful. Regarding Delta optics. Objective thread size is different from the DMR and the Polyvar and the reference focal length is different as well as lateral color correction in the tube lens. An image could be formed, but would n...

Phill Brown wrote: ↑

Wed May 10, 2023 1:45 pm

Sometimes good to work on in a tub.
Parts should only be able to go so far.

What a great idea! Just that I don't have one. Almost nobody here in Finland has a tub...most everybody has a sauna in their house or apartment.

Ok, that is reassuring to read :) Although I am not exactly known for calmness :oops: But I will certainly restrain myself on this one. The iris assembly can't be reached without first opening the whole condenser. So that in itself will be nerve-wrecking. Edit: has anyone here opened up one of thes...

Probably, I use 100% ethanol. Just don't force anything now, first disassemble then clean... Wipe each leaf carefully to remove residue. I use a wooden toothpick to help with assembly. It is hard to do with anything metal (magnetic). Not hard, you just need some time and calmness :mrgreen: Ok, that...

Probably, I use 100% ethanol. Just don't force anything now, first disassemble then clean... Wipe each leaf carefully to remove residue. I use a wooden toothpick to help with assembly. It is hard to do with anything metal (magnetic). Not hard, you just need some time and calmness :mrgreen: Ok, that...

Thanks people for the valuable tips and insights on the iris problem! I have Ronsonol lighter fluid - I guess that would be suitable for cleaning the iris?

Bad news :( The aperture-iris diaphragm of the condenser appears to be stuck. I also noticed that the iris blades are not positioned normally. The knurled disc that operates the diaphram does budge a little both ways but that's it. For some reason I didn't check this the first thing when it arrived....

What you say about Delta Optics on Polyvar certainly sounds encouraging. I would definitely not mind a slight loss of magnification like that - especially as the Polyvar has the high quality magnification change turret on it which can be used to compensate. Do you think Delta Optics IK objectives wo...

Would this be only compatible with Nikon microscopes or is it more universal than that? And what would be your asking price for it in the case of a swap not being possible? Unless you are also interested in Wild and Leitz parts

Yes, definitely in more than one place, to be on the safe side. After all, that kind of literature is extremely valuable to hobbyists. I have a 75 page Leica 1991/1992 catalog/brochure in German which I am going to scan next week. Unfortunately it doesn't have objective lists or other useful details...

I finally dug into my Reichert catalog to try and find this objective. I recall it in the program for the Polyvar, but can't realize the details. I have reference materials for the Life Science Polyvar, and Polyvar 2 as well as the Polyvar Met, Polylites up to the 88 with literature from 1983 to 19...

Yep, a rarity it seems. I tried to go through all available Reichert literature, brochures etc. that are available on the web but couldn't find this lens in any of those. In fact the lowest magnification in general was 2x so this is truly a peculiar one. Well, I got it for 85 euros including shippin...

Hi fellow microscopists!

I bumped into a rather rare (at least to me) Reichert lens; an infinity 1,25x a= 0,0375
What was it for? I guess it must work on the Polyvar, being an infinity objective.

Here's pics:

einman wrote: ↑

Sun May 07, 2023 11:20 pm

If I didn't know better I would think apochronaut is actually just AI? Seriously-- simply astounding.

Yes...he seems to be a sentient tome of knowledge Along with a few others here.

The Polyvar is the second iiteration of the concept. The first was the Univar of which only about 500 were made but the important thing is that the objective complement that was originally manufactured for the Univar is also relavent to the Polyvar, as well as objectives later manufactured for othe...

Wayne & Pete, thanks again for the info! Look forward to finding out more about the centering keys.

This may be a dumb question but I will ask anyway. The universal condenser on the Polyvar has provisions for using centring keys. Alas, as you probably guessed, a microscope rescued from oblivion like this one, does not have the matching centring keys any more. But is there any need for them and for...

apochronaut wrote: ↑

Wed May 03, 2023 12:41 pm

You probably know of the docs. on here already?
https://www.science-info.net/docs/reichert/A4/

Yes, these I know of. But thanks anyway.

Sorry I haven't been on the forum in a while. Here are a couple of update points relative to the Univar/Polyvar. If i recall correctly, the Univar was introduced about 1973 and the Polyvar approximately 1975. The major difference is the Polyvar required phase specific objectives with annular rings ...

Sure Squintsalot wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 17, 2023 10:54 pm

Well, these things can't be that rare!



It might be worth nabbing this just for the parts!

I did stalk this one but the final price went far beyond of what I would consider reasonable for a parts donor piece. I think it ended up north of 600 USD.

If 'dance flies' mean the Dipteran family Empididae, I think you are probably correct. When I get them, they are dead in ethanol and look quite a bit different than your individual, but yet, that's what I'd say.

I do have a DIC slider, but I am not sure if it is for the Polyvar or the MeF4 Interesting. Do you have photos of it? I am not entirely sure but I think it's the same slider that is used also for polarization (with the appropriate cube installed). In the attached images, I have delineated the vario...

wabutter wrote: ↑

Mon May 01, 2023 12:35 am

I do have a DIC slider, but I am not sure if it is for the Polyvar or the MeF4

Interesting. Do you have photos of it? I am not entirely sure but I think it's the same slider that is used also for polarization (with the appropriate cube installed).

Okay, now the Polyvar is home! It's a pretty impressive tower of power, especially with the control unit / power supply for the 100W integral halogen and the separate power unit for the 200W HBO burner. It definitely has a large system footprint. A Cthulhu monster comes to mind with all the cables a...

Interesting, at least two possibilities then. I hope the special coating applies here (pun intended) as a PL Apo would be more useful than polarization.

Hi,

I recently acquired a Leitz objective with these markings:
C PL 10:1
A 0.25
170/-
3577

The letter 'C' is in red.

Does this mean that this objective is actually PL Apo, like in the case of the 100x?

Lo and behold! Even the original HBO 200W lamphouse power supply was found from the abysmal depths of departmental storage, together with a used (1900 hours) bulb and a brand new one (Osram). No idea if the power has issues or is fully functional but there is some hope as the system apparently was ...

Here's a good test. https://youtu.be/-MtdhSopACQ. Didn't blow enough to break the envelope. But just in case https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Kappler-Z5H382-HazMat-Suit-Zytron-500-Vapor-Total-Encapsulating-Orange-LG-XL/393935808154?pageci=dbbf1026-4403-4ab7-bc23-ad0b3eadca6e&redirect=mobile Well, that clip ...