Leitz infinity 20X works on Reichert 410

[DrPhoxinus]

Years ago I was able to pick up a Microstar IV Reichert 410 from University Surplus. It came with a Series 10 trinocular head. The nose piece is 5 holes, but only 4x, 10x, 40x and 100x were filled with the Reichert painted plan achros.

As every microscopist knows, Nature abhors an empty noise piece. Clearly the scope only came with 4 objectives, as there was a black plastic plug in the 5th hole.

Then I saw a Leitz 20x NPL infinity objective on ebay for $30. It was listed for sometime. So I said what the heck.

It cam yesterday. It seems centered and reasonable parfocal. Wow.

For some reason picture of Microstar is rotated

[PeteM]

It's a good find. Note that the 20x Leitz is meant for use without a cover slip. It will still work pretty well, but not quite to the standard of an objective marked .17 for cover slip use. 20x is around the tipping point where no cover objectives start to have degraded performance. With a 40x it would be clearly noticeable.

[DrPhoxinus]

Thanks Peter

20x is probably my favorite objective magnification.

It is great for pond protists, where 10x may be not quite enough, and 40x the field of view is a little to small.

Gerard

[PeteM]

I'm with you Gerard, about 20x. High enough to show detail in protists in and plant cells, and with sufficient depth of field to get a really nice image. It's a great shame the 20x is omitted in so many entry level microscopes.

[apochronaut]

The later Leitz no cover objectives were infinity corrected for 200mm I think, which might explain the apparent correction for the 180+mm Microstar tube. Probably the magnification is slightly low....10%?