Hello Microscope People

What is your microscopy history? What are your interests? What equipment do you use?
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halfleft1977
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Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2021 7:51 pm

Hello Microscope People

#1 Post by halfleft1977 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:11 pm

Hi everyone. My name is Dawn... I am here looking for advice. I recently caught an obsession to own a microscope. It came mostly from a desire to see the microorganisms in my many aquariums. I am also an avid gardener, and I've read a little about microscopy to analyze my soil.
I haven't used a microscope since my freshman year of college, so I remember the basics of operation... and I do remember how enjoyable it was.

So... about 2 months ago, I decided, I must have a microscope!! Much to my dismay... I soon discovered my very limited budget wasn't going to take me far.

I decided to have a look around on eBay, and something caught my eye. I don't know for sure what (besides the fact that it was well within my budget)... but long story (kind of) short, I have acquired what seems to be a very nice microscope. The seller didn't know anything about it. It doesn't have any directions or anything.
I've done quite a bit of research, and it SEEMS like maybe I got something really outstanding. Im actually even more excited than ever to start exploring!

But I need some direction. I cannot find this exact microscope anywhere online. So I don't have any instructions. The microscope is very dirty, and I don't know how to clean it without causing any harm. It's supposed to have 5 objectives, but it only has 3... So I'm wondering if I will need the other 2 - and if so, where can I buy them... etc., etc.

I apologize for my lack of knowledge to begin with... I am very willing to learn. I just need some help.

Can someone please tell me what kind of microscope I have? The closest thing I could find on the internet is a "Standard 14" but again, I could be entirely on the wrong track.

I appreciate any advice yall be willing to give. Thank you for your time.

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Wes
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#2 Post by Wes » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:22 pm

Hi Dawn,

Congratulations on your new scope. We might be able to tell you what scope you got if you post pictures here.

BR
Wes
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
Youtube channel

halfleft1977
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Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2021 7:51 pm

Re: Hello Microscope People

#3 Post by halfleft1977 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:27 pm

Hi Wes.
Any idea how small the pictures need to be? I keep getting an error here in the forum "too large"
So I just compressed them all with something called Tiny JPG and the forum still says they're too big!

halfleft1977
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Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2021 7:51 pm

Re: Hello Microscope People

#4 Post by halfleft1977 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:31 pm

Oh! Here's ONE that fits!
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Hobbyst46
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#5 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:32 pm

It will help to see close up photos of the microscope, objectives, eyepieces, condenser, illuminator etc. Or at least of the microscope as a whole, for a start.
Best initial cleaning is to brush off all dust and external dirt with a dry soft brush, all parts EXCEPT glass surfaces. Stain and stubborn dirt should be removed by GENTLE wiping with a damp soft cotton cloth or damp KimWipes.
Oil and grease stains that resist the above should be cleaned with alcohol (70-95% ethanol is fine), or heptane or petrol ether. Do not use acetone or nail polish remover.
Standard 14 is likely a Zeiss microscope.

Hobbyst46
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#6 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:36 pm

OK, the photo was posted during my typing...

This is a great Standard Zeiss microscope, trinocular. There are several models of Standard.
On yours (congratulations!), carefully check the various mechanical movements: objective turret, focusing mechanism, field aperture, trinocular selection push-rod, they should all move smoothly.
Documentation is available from the Zeiss Archives. Must see if they still exist.

http://www.science-info.net/docs/zeiss/ ... ystems.pdf

as a start:https://roslistonastronomy.uk/zeiss-sta ... pe-manuals. The "standard microscope manual".

And here is a table of documents, previously posted by forum member Charles
https://www.microbehunter.com/microscop ... .php?t=773
Several of them are relevant to the standard.
Last edited by Hobbyst46 on Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

MichaelG.
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#7 Post by MichaelG. » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:41 pm

Welcome aboard, Dawn

Downloadable manual, here: http://roslistonastronomy.uk/wp-content ... Manual.pdf

MichaelG.
Too many 'projects'

halfleft1977
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#8 Post by halfleft1977 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:52 pm

Ok... I downloaded a picture compressor. I am SO sorry... Here being a pain in the butt!
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mrsonchus
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#9 Post by mrsonchus » Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:03 pm

Lovely-looking 'scope, congratulations.
This forum is full of folk with all the knowledge you'll need, and expert help will surely come to you quickly here!

Good luck with this beauty, looking forward to following this thread to see how this 'scope develops.
John B

Hobbyst46
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#10 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:04 pm

Very nice removable objective turret (nosepiece).
Difficult to identify the objectives because the marks are blurred. Guess: The first on left is the 10X0.22 achromat, the one in the middle - another 10X ? the one on the right a 16X (or 25X ?).
It is illuminated by an external halogen lamp, connected via the tail connector.
Did you receive eyepieces and a condenser ?
I cannot tell what is the thick black disk.

MicroBob
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#11 Post by MicroBob » Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:14 pm

Hi Dawn,
you got yourself a very good microscope there, one of the best actually. Some of these are in need of a maintenance job after all the time, but the basis of these Zeiss Standards is absolutely bullet proof. With the removable nosepiece it is a Standard 18. The trinocular head is probably a bit older than the microscope but this is no disadvantage. Zeiss trinocular heads are not that frequent and command quite a price, good to have it already. At the back the socket for a lamp is visible - is a lamp included in your kit?

Aquariums offer a lot of observation possibilities. Perhaps you may get rid of the fish, they eat a lot of interesting specimen. 8-)
Soil testing probably involves more chemistry than microscopy, but you could have a look at the life in your soil by extracting it with a berlese funnel.

Bob

halfleft1977
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#12 Post by halfleft1977 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:35 pm

Wow. Thank you so much! I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning it up. I'll be sure to post pics afterward. (Thank you for the cleaning tips)

The black disc seems to be a "collar" type piece that was around the trinocular part.

I promise I took great pics, but I can't upload them. Most are around 8Mb. So... The text on the objectives is as follows:
Carl Zeiss 4470329 Plan 100/1.25 Oel | 160/-

Carl Zeiss 4494816 Ph2 Neofluar 40/0.75 | 160/0.17

ZEISS 46 06 20-9902 Neofluar 25/0.60 | 160/0.17

Like I said, I didn't have much money. I was starting to worry I wouldn't find anything even worth my time.
I think I was probably lucky to get this. The starting bid was $50 and I sent an offer for $95. My husband said there was no way I'd get it with 20+ people "watching" it. But the seller accepted.

It didn't come with the box for the back. Yesterday I saw lots of those on eBay too. Any advice as to what kind I should look at?

Thanks to all for reading/replies! I appreciate you all so much right now!

Hobbyst46
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#13 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:48 pm

This is a TERRIFIC STEAL at this price, even if there are mechanical faults (hopefully none).

The two neofluars are very useful for everyday use. The 100X is less frequently used. It is an oil immersion lens.

It will be very convenient to add at least one or two low magnification objectives, for example 10X and 6.3X or 10X and 2.5X; the 10X is always important and the others depend on the specimens you want to inspect. They often appear on eBay; there is a sell/buy section at the forum.

If you find a phase contrast condenser you can run phase contrast microscopy. Otherwise, use the 40X together with the two other objectives for brightfield microscopy.

For dust or spider webs inside the photo tube and eyepieces tubes - best, start by blowing it out with a hand brush/blower (a camera accessory).
never clean glass surfaces with a dry tissue/cloth/whatever.

For more detailed cleaning instructions, see the Zeiss pamphlet "The Clean Microscope" on the web. Or equivalent literature from Olympus, Nikon etc. Some tiny variations of procedures and cleaning materials are in order, since those instructions are aimed at laboratories and institutes.

MicroBob
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#14 Post by MicroBob » Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:27 pm

Upload limit for photos is 1024 pixel on the longer side and max. 500kB per image.
On a Windows PC I would recommend Irfan View, on an Android smartphone Snapseed to size down the images.

Hobbyst46
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#15 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:57 pm

MicroBob wrote:
Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:27 pm
Upload limit for photos is 1024 pixel on the longer side and max. 500kB per image.
On a Windows PC I would recommend Irfan View, on an Android smartphone Snapseed to size down the images.
Microsoft Office Picture Manager can also do it: Edit, then Resize on the right-side panel.

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75RR
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Re: Hello Microscope People

#16 Post by 75RR » Sun Mar 07, 2021 9:55 am

Congratulations

Must read brochure before you start cleaning: https://www.zeiss.com/content/dam/Micro ... -zeiss.pdf
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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