Support for older microscopes

Do you have any microscopy questions, which you are afraid to ask? This is your place.
Post Reply
Message
Author
Harold
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2021 6:45 pm

Support for older microscopes

#1 Post by Harold » Thu Dec 02, 2021 6:40 pm

I have found the third party documentation for the Olympus BH2 very, very helpful. Priceless, actually. Between the offerings by Alan Wood and Carl Hunsinger, I've successfully overhauled my existing scope, made it a viable platform for photo-microscopy, and resurrected a number of accessories purchased on Ebay in less than operational condition back to smooth operation. Now we all know that Olympus isn't the only maker of fine microscopes and Zeiss, Leica, and Nikon commanded a significant share of the market. So why don't those brands have a similar resources available. It might be that I'm just ignorant of such things, but with all the hunting I've done, I don't think so.

User avatar
josmann
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2021 1:23 am
Location: San Jose, CA

Re: Support for older microscopes

#2 Post by josmann » Fri Dec 03, 2021 1:32 am

Amen, Harold!

I've been wishing for the same: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14255

I think there's a fair amount of support out there for the Nikons (not to the BH2 level), but the German scope info is MIA or only in German :(
The highest quality live-streamed microscopy in the world.
Sundays around 8PST: https://www.youtube.com/@diettoms/streams
Occasionally (for now): https://www.twitch.tv/diettoms

Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/FgpUUnJaSE

apochronaut
Posts: 6272
Joined: Fri May 15, 2015 12:15 am

Re: Support for older microscopes

#3 Post by apochronaut » Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:28 pm

There is an excellent site for AO and Reichert as well.

https://user.xmission.com/~psneeley/Per ... oscope.htm

Scarodactyl
Posts: 2775
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:09 pm

Re: Support for older microscopes

#4 Post by Scarodactyl » Sat Dec 04, 2021 1:50 am

It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to not only acquire this expertise but then to put it into a readable form. For some additional speculation, a large portion of the people who have this kind of knowledge probably do repairs and maintenance professionally, and particularly wouldn't have much incentive to share--even if they don't mind making it easier for potential customers or competitors it'd be a lot of time spent doing their job except for no pay.

PeteM
Posts: 2982
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 6:22 am
Location: N. California

Re: Support for older microscopes

#5 Post by PeteM » Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:03 am

There are a couple sites dedicated to Nikon ("Microscope Mike" for example), though no one to my knowledge has duplicated the effort of Carl and Alan. I suspect Zeiss has a strong following in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Phil has already pointed out the excellent PS Neely site for American Optical (Spencer, Reichert, etc.). Leitz-Leica and the various bits of Reichert, American Optical, B&L, Wild, Cambride, etc. incorporated along the way bore the brunt of merger and conglomerate mania and the product evolution is a bit harder to follow. But even there one can often find good sources of information.

microb
Posts: 729
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2019 6:39 am

Re: Support for older microscopes

#6 Post by microb » Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:21 am


Post Reply