Leica Fan here

What equipment do you use? Post pictures and descriptions of your microscope(s) here!
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absolute fan
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Leica Fan here

#1 Post by absolute fan » Fri May 06, 2022 10:17 pm

My recently acquired new Leica DM 2500 LED microscope is pictured here, superlative buying experience from Microscope Central, very patient with my many questions and personal learning curve.
Actual purchase included a new barebone microscope, head, condenser with installed prisms. The mechanics of the microscope and actual usage are a pleasure, solid and confident.
All of my objectives, some new, some used, were bought second hand, otherwise total cost would've been truly prohibitive.
Some highlights of the components in this microscope:
- objectives 1.25X/0.04 Fluotar, 5X/0.15 Fluotar, 10X/0.30 Fluotar, 20X/0.80 APO, 40X/0.85 CORR APO, 50X/0.80 Fluotar (optimized for no coverglass), eyepieces are 10X/25
- Condenser prisms K2 and K3 mounted, I also have the D1 and C DIC prisms, therefore I have DIC capability for the 10X, 20X and 40X objectives.
- I have brightfield, darkfield, DIC via K2 (10X with prism D1, 20X with prism C) and K3 (40X with prism C) and POL (I have a Quartz Wedge) capabilities.

Life and work can really get in the way of enjoying hobbies, case in point a move from OH to Wisconsin plus work required me to keep my microscope boxed up for the entire 2021 ( I bought it at the end of 2020).
It's a beautiful instrument that re-opens a whole world that's out there, waiting to be explored.
I've bought a few prepared permanent slides of diatomes off eBay, incredible detail with the 20X and 40X objectives, especially in DIC. The 40X objective corrects for the thickness of the coverglass and mounting media that may or may not be present between the object and the inner side of the coverglass.
I've a pond in my backyard that'll soon be coming back to life. My 20X and 40X objectives optimized for looking through coverglass will be shining there.
I also enjoy looking at opaque things or semi-opaque in darkfield with oblique light from a Dolan-Jenner light source. That is why I prefer lower power objectives, 1.25X being the lowest and this is why I don't have high powered objectives such as 100X that would also require immersion. Various surfaces, crystals and small objects or insects can be looked at in Darkfield without a coverglass via oblique illumination via the 1.25X, 5X and 10X objectives that also enjoy a nice WD (working distance) and, for a really tight closeup, with the 50X.
Therefore, my microscope can be advertised as 12.5X - 500X capable. Compare that with the plethora of microscopes from Amazon advertising 2,500X capability and realize that I'm here not to brag, rather to impart humility.
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zzffnn
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Re: Leica Fan here

#2 Post by zzffnn » Fri May 06, 2022 10:23 pm

Welcome to the forum. Very nice instrument.

You may want a 2x objective; simply swap it in and out with another objective, such as your 50x. I use 100x a lot for pound water too.

absolute fan
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Re: Leica Fan here

#3 Post by absolute fan » Fri May 06, 2022 10:45 pm

Hi!

I haven't seen anywhere a 2X objective in the Fluotar range and parfocal. I believe that the nearest Fluor Leica objective is 2.5X and it is not an HC or HCX type.
I can easily swap them and I just might, however I believe right now that they would be too close to properly differentiate between them and justify the added expense, especially since the 1.25X is very, very high quality AND costly.
But you're otherwise right, I'm doubling the focal distance at 5, 10, 20, so lack of doubling from 1.25X seems a bit of a discontinuity.
Similarly, beyond 40X would either be 63X APO (water immersion) or 100X APO (oil), the other possible choices would not be as good. I've been good so far at resisting the urge to go there, so we'll see for how long I'll be able to keep resisting.

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zzffnn
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Re: Leica Fan here

#4 Post by zzffnn » Fri May 06, 2022 11:16 pm

:twisted: Since you already spend that much for DIC, you might as well add a higher NA close to 1.1-1.3 . Why hold back your instrument at NA 0.85.

Immersion objectives tend to provide much better contrast and image quality, along with less haze / SA /CA, at the same NA (over 0.65 is where it matters).

2x usually doesn’t require that much optical correction. If you forgo parfocality requirements, you can sort of mix and match between brands, with trial and error.

Very serious macrophotographers use specialized macro lens and focus stacking rigs. More cans of worms ……..

PeteM
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Re: Leica Fan here

#5 Post by PeteM » Fri May 06, 2022 11:44 pm

Beautiful scope, nicely equipped.

Can you give us a rough idea of the cost?

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Re: Leica Fan here

#6 Post by BramHuntingNematodes » Sat May 07, 2022 3:19 am

I'm gonna guess a ton of cash like two briefcases full
1942 Bausch and Lomb Series T Dynoptic, Custom Illumination

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Wes
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Re: Leica Fan here

#7 Post by Wes » Sat May 07, 2022 6:28 am

absolute fan wrote:
Fri May 06, 2022 10:17 pm
Life and work can really get in the way of enjoying hobbies
I know that feeling all too well
absolute fan wrote:
Fri May 06, 2022 10:17 pm
Therefore, my microscope can be advertised as 12.5X - 500X capable.
I rarely go above 500x. Really looking forward to see some of the shots you produce with this fine looking scope
PeteM wrote:
Fri May 06, 2022 11:44 pm
Can you give us a rough idea of the cost?
About tree fiddy
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Re: Leica Fan here

#8 Post by Phill Brown » Sat May 07, 2022 6:59 am

Oh yes, future classic ∞.
For live observations as a hobby/special interest with living micro critters the higher mag are often less effective and rewarding.
It's a shame 3D lost out to 4k in the electronics retailer showrooms and portable devices.
Sharing 2D on RGB isn't the same sport as being there.
Trophy objective hunting is a special interest of it's own?
LED is better for not imparting so much IR into the living subjects.
The weakest link for the electronics is still likely to be from a far east mass manufacturer,no light,no joy.

absolute fan
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Re: Leica Fan here

#9 Post by absolute fan » Sat May 07, 2022 7:37 pm

Hi zzffnn!

Thanks and noted. I realize that I'm limiting the ultimate capabilities of the microscope by using < 1 NA objectives and no high power immersion objective.
My 40X choice was based on a compromise between performance and convenience. There was on eBay recently a 40X APO oil immersion with a numeric aperture of 1.30 new in box for low $1k+ (that would be 4-5X less than retail), clearly the best there is but, at that 40X magnification, I really want to stay dry. My "dream" is that, someday, I will own this Leica 40X/0.95, a looker and a tour de force for Leica https://www.leica-microsystems.com/obje ... ve/506414/.
For the 100X oil, I might explore that avenue in the future. But do note that, in order to have the best working environment for that objective, you'd have to also replace the dry condenser with an oil condenser. Then I'd want DIC for that, too, that would require a K4 condenser prism and a DIC prism type D. I might buy another microscope just for that, this time a used one, perhaps assembled from parts off eBay. If I truly go crazy about it I might just do it. But, so far, I've stayed fairly sane on this subject since this would be of limited scope and narrow return for this hobbyist.

I'm into macrophotography as well, a newbie in that field. I do have a specialized macro lens, a Canon 180mm 3.5 prime L (1X) and know about the lenses that go up to 5X. A Canon R5, which I don't own but I'm considering against several Sony's, can stack photos.
But if I can capture on camera via stacked pics what the eye sees through my microscope via the 1.25X, 5X and 10X (12.5X, 50X and 100X magnifications) looking at objects with oblique illumination the result would be breathtaking.

Microscopy_is_fun
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Re: Leica Fan here

#10 Post by Microscopy_is_fun » Sat May 07, 2022 7:55 pm

absolute fan wrote:
Sat May 07, 2022 7:37 pm
For the 100X oil, I might explore that avenue in the future. But do note that, in order to have the best working environment for that objective, you'd have to also replace the dry condenser with an oil condenser. Then I'd want DIC for that, too, that would require a K4 condenser prism and a DIC prism type D.
Very nice microscope with an impressive set of objectives! Seems to be the ideal setup for looking into the micro-life of your pond.

The Leica optics are a real joy to use, the combination of the bright LED illumination and the contrast-rich objectives gives amazingly crisp pictures. Hopefully you show us plenty of images originating from this setup.

absolute fan
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Re: Leica Fan here

#11 Post by absolute fan » Sat May 07, 2022 9:14 pm

Hi PeteM!

Cost was $$$.

To me I feel the extra $ spent by going through the dealer for the barebone components: Leica DM 2500 LED (made in Germany), POL head, POL condenser, condenser, eyepieces, prisms and then have the dealer verify the objectives purchased elsewhere was worth it at the time based solely on my complete lack of experience with the Leica hardware, on dealer's patient guidance and continuous availability for answering my many questions, plus the manual included with the new gear. I developed knowledge and confidence in assembling and disassembling these parts and in knowing what's needed to make the system work. That's worth $. The irony is that now I could easily go on eBay and hunt for the parts needed to assemble a system that would cost me a quarter of my original cost, something that would have been unthinkable before.
A few days ago a Leica DM 2000 in "functional state" sold on eBay for mid 2K. It did have the wrong head for DIC and low end objectives. A POL head was on eBay a couple of months ago, a condenser with a couple of prism was also on eBay a couple of months ago and so forth.
Therefore, what applied to me may not apply to someone else.
Some deeper pockets out there may buy the whole thing retail, cost would be high 30K's, some may buy the parts off eBay and put them together, that would be $5-10K depending on the parts and their condition and anywhere in between.

Some other places I had excellent experience buying from: https://www.artisantg.com/Scientific/95 ... -Objective, https://www.spachoptics.com/leica-quart ... -wedge.htm , https://wie-tec.de/?k=315&lang=eng
I did choose, as a matter of personal preference, to pay extra for new or as new objectives as opposed to bottom fishing but even so, my cost for these was in the ballpark of 3X - 4X cheaper than retail.


BramHuntingNematodes

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I'm gonna guess a ton of cash like two briefcases full
Hi and LOL. I paid via checks, light as a feather but heavy with ink!

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Re: Leica Fan here

#12 Post by Scarodactyl » Sat May 07, 2022 10:38 pm

That's quite a setup! Congrats!

absolute fan
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Re: Leica Fan here

#13 Post by absolute fan » Sun May 08, 2022 1:41 am

Hi Wes !

Life and work get in the way of hobbies but, at the same time, work produces the necessary $$ to feed into the hobbies which are pretty much a collection of money pits.
Life that happens and keeps us busy with itself arguably makes hobbies that much more desirable because of the scarcity of time available to them, otherwise they, the hobbies, would be hollow and boring. At least that's the lie I keep telling myself for as long as I can believe it.
I rarely go above 500x. Really looking forward to see some of the shots you produce with this fine looking scope
That's good feedback, thank you! I'm humbly looking forward to mastering microphotography and will be trying to capture through the phototube what my eyes see through the eyepieces and produce comparable quality, that'd be breathtaking. I'm still deciding if Canon R5 is the right tool for it.

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Re: Leica Fan here

#14 Post by absolute fan » Sun May 08, 2022 2:37 am

Hi Phill Brown!

I do believe that the Leica DM 2500 LED is a future classic!
While it took me a brief time to get used to its looks since, arguably, it looks different from the typical Nikon, Zeiss, Olympus, it has this arched body with the head seemingly floating above detached from the body (necessarily so, since I didn't get the fluorescence part that would go between the head and the body). It does balance out from an esthetic perspective once you attach the phototube and the mirrorless camera.
Well, it grew on me tremendously since I got it because it's all form following function and the build is impeccable.
It has the right ingredients for a classic: most affordable model still made in Germany, entirely manual as opposed to having automatization built in, like the DM3000 (good for productive work but not for hobbyists, since it's something that will eventually break down the road), all of the moving parts that touch against each other are brass, in fact, the entire microscope is made out of metal except for the plastic/ceramic stage and some minor exceptions, it's entirely modular and customizable, very easy to work with, Leica optics are great.
The "knob feeling" (in high-end audio components are scored, besides sound and looks, on the feeling the operator has when turning knobs, whether it feels heavy and secure vs plasticky and light) is great with a nice and satisfactory clunk when rotating the nosepiece or the condenser.
For live observations as a hobby/special interest with living micro critters the higher mag are often less effective and rewarding.
Thank you, that's good feedback, I've felt the same up to at least this point.
LED is better for not imparting so much IR into the living subjects.
I do feel that the newer dimmable LED light is better for the microscope for several reasons, including the one you specified (heat). Also lack of UV spectrum light waves that are a byproduct of halogen. Lifespan. But to me the most important is the eye fatigue from halogen lighting due to UV light waves with potential long term consequences.
Trophy objective hunting is a special interest of its own?
Absolutely, you nailed it!!! A hobby within a hobby. That's my next: https://www.leica-microsystems.com/obje ... ve/506414/ But not for the list price, that's part of the trophy hunting experience, getting it for a good price.
It's a shame 3D lost out to 4k in the electronics retailer showrooms and portable devices.
Sharing 2D on RGB isn't the same sport as being there.
I happen to have an opinion here, I don't think the tech was ready, it caused headaches and nausea in some people and it ended up being seen as a mere gimmick.
I think 4K was needed more.
I do think that proper 3D is the future, so it'll come back at some point. I don't think that 8K or 12K or 16K are the near future, they're gimmicks.
So 3D in 4K at 120Hz is something.
However, in a true future virtual 3D environment where you'd be able to also zoom in on details, once bandwidth and tech get better, then, why not, 8k or 16K may be a thing. IMHO

absolute fan
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Re: Leica Fan here

#15 Post by absolute fan » Sun May 08, 2022 2:47 am

Hi Microscopy_is_fun !
Very nice microscope with an impressive set of objectives! Seems to be the ideal setup for looking into the micro-life of your pond.

The Leica optics are a real joy to use, the combination of the bright LED illumination and the contrast-rich objectives gives amazingly crisp pictures. Hopefully you show us plenty of images originating from this setup.
Thank you, totally in agreement with the Leica optics being a joy to use! I'm truly hoping to, someday, be able to produce images that are as spectacular as what the eyes see when looking through the eyepieces.

Hi Scarodactyl!

Thank you! To me, the biggest benefit was the journey and what I learned from it.

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Re: Leica Fan here

#16 Post by Phill Brown » Sun May 08, 2022 7:29 am

I built the pre patent stage prototype electronics for 3D using switching LCD, pre CPL.
The intended application was endoscopy to share over the then new WWW so specialists could get a proper view during medical ops.
There was CRT which was ok, plasma which is better and LCD which is just nasty in too many ways for comfort.
The difference centered on fatigue relates to the quantity rather than the quality that gets watched.
Avatar on a 55" plasma is one thing, Monopolizing attention and over consumption of content on a portable device is a bigger market.
Enjoy it while we can,some not new tech is an absolute a steal at the moment.

Microscopy_is_fun
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Re: Leica Fan here

#17 Post by Microscopy_is_fun » Sun May 08, 2022 8:01 am

absolute fan wrote:
Sun May 08, 2022 2:37 am
Absolutely, you nailed it!!! A hobby within a hobby. That's my next: https://www.leica-microsystems.com/obje ... ve/506414/ But not for the list price, that's part of the trophy hunting experience, getting it for a good price.
You have already a very professional line-up of objectives. For watching the micro-life in your pond, you want to have well prepared slides, which in my view requires a stereomicroscope for preparing these slides. Do you have that already? If not, a good stereomicroscope will give you probably more benefit than additional optics for the Leica 2500.

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