An unknown chinese microscope for a newbie

[Kionka]

Hi,
I'm a newbie in microphotography. I was trying to find a trinocular microscope so that I can take photo with and almost bought a Swift 380T. However, I saw this in that auction side and thought it was well built so why not.

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The package came today and the scope is 12kg . Full Koehler gave me some very good results, compare to my old Motic Kolleg SH45. Overall, I am quite please. The downside is although it is expandable, there is not much information about this scope and its accessory and where to get it. I guess it is a tradeoff so...

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[apochronaut]

It looks like it has a rear mounted lamp housing. Is there a transtormer with it or is the power supply in the base? China has made microscopes with rear mounted illuminators since the 1980's. How do you know it is made in China?

Post some pictures from different angles and some pictures of the objectives. That might offer clues as to who made it.

[Kionka]

The manufacturer is Chongqing Optical Instrument. It has no lens and since I have some plans lying around, I just put them in. The condenser has a swing out.

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[Scarodactyl]

Looks solid enough. It may have partial parts compatibility with big name brands, so it'd be worthwhile to measure the dovetail size on the head at least to get a sense of that. Several makers (including Olympus) had 42mm dovetails for the head, meaning other accessories (intermediate polarizers, mag changers, etc) would probably at least mechanically fit.
What's the wattage on the lamp?

[Kionka]

How can I measure the dovetail and where is it? I'm sorry but I am still pretty new in this business.

The lamp has 30W 6V rating.

[75RR]

.
They are still making them:

https://www.chinamicroscope.com/product ... scope.html

https://www.chinamicroscope.com/product ... scope.html
.

[Kionka]

Thanks for the information, I sent them an email already.
I wonder why they didnt do the stencil on this model, it looks like a nice one.

[Microworld Steve]

That looks like a really nice microscope. Just remember that even though it's from China, it's far from junk. China is known for superior, top quality optical equipment.

[apochronaut]

It is a two tiered industry and has been for some time. For many years they have been manufacturing quite good microscopes for their domestic needs and exporting them to some other Asian countries , Africa, the middle east. Some were marketed in Europe and North America too but not many. This COIC is likely an example.
The influx of lower grade hobby microscopes into the western world is more recent, largely driven by mass marketers such as Amscope.
Interestingly, this scope seems to have been set up with a purpose in mind, not just a run of the mill 4 objective achromat model.. It sports a very interesting L.W.D. plan 25X objective, something I have not seen on a Chinese microscope before.
Perhaps used for hanging drop microscopy?

[Kionka]

Thanks Steve, if it is junk, it is 12kg of metal junk lol.

It is a two tiered industry and has been for some time. For many years they have been manufacturing quite good microscopes for their domestic needs and exporting them to some other Asian countries , Africa, the middle east. Some were marketed in Europe and North America too but not many. This COIC is likely an example.
The influx of lower grade hobby microscopes into the western world is more recent, largely driven by mass marketers such as Amscope.
Interestingly, this scope seems to have been set up with a purpose in mind, not just a run of the mill 4 objective achromat model.. It sports a very interesting L.W.D. plan 25X objective, something I have not seen on a Chinese microscope before.
Perhaps used for hanging drop microscopy?

No sir, it was just some of my objectives lying around. I bought them for cheap with the intention to replace the achromats on my student monocular microscope, however I decided to push for a trinocular and saved those. I didnt know LPL was for LWD objective, otherwise I would get the LPL 40 instead of the Zeiss Jena Wide field plan 40. The microscope came without any objective.
Also, I think you just explained my research. Apparently, my microscope is a NOS from a defuncted company which imported microscope from China to Holland. My seller sent me a manual in English and it was printed the second time in 1995 so it must be around 1994-1995. MIC doesnt produce this anymore although it is still in their catalog. My seller said they stopped, merged and moved the factory so I guess it was stopped after that.
From the english manual it gives some more information, but the most important feature for me is the condenser. I want to get into microscopy photography and this scope has an achromatic condenser, so finger crossed. Not bad for a scope with the same price as Swift 350T.