Objectices for Olympus SZX12

[Globi]

Dear colleagues,
Does anyone have experience with the Olympus SZX12 stereo microscope objectives?
I have an SZX12 microscope with a DF PLAN 1x objective, but its magnification is not large enough for plankton foraminifera or for photographing them. I would like to know if it is worth investing in a DFPLAPO 1x PF or DFPLAPO 1.2x PF or DF DLFL 1.6x lens or should we buy a DFPLAPO 1x PF lens and an SZX-AL20 lens?
Thank you in advance for your advice!
Globi

[Scarodactyl]

I had a plfl 1.6x, it did seem to be better corrected than a typical stereo plan achromat in my testing. I have tried the szx-al20 on other cmo stereos, results were I'd say OK but not amazing. Maybe it would be better on the olympus though.

[ZodiacPhoto]

An excellent scope, perhaps, more than I needed, so I sold it about a year ago.
Yes, DF PLFL 1.6X PF is a great objective, I had it mounted on the revolving SZX-2RE nosepiece together with DF PLFL 0.5X PF - highly recommended!
This combination will cover magnification range from 3.5x to 144x without a need to unscrew the objective and screw back a different one.

01 copy.jpg (96.79 KiB) Viewed 949 times

I did not like the image from a DF PL 2x objective at all, too much color fringing and visible diffraction / empty magnification.
Another thing worth getting is an ergonomic tilting head, if you use the scope for longer than a few minutes.

[Globi]

Thank you for your quick answer!

[Globi]

I had a plfl 1.6x, it did seem to be better corrected than a typical stereo plan achromat in my testing. I have tried the szx-al20 on other cmo stereos, results were I'd say OK but not amazing. Maybe it would be better on the olympus though.

Dear Scarodactyl,

Please tell me what it means " OK but not amazing". Did you mean chromatic aberration or resolution?
I would like to make images of about 100 microns, globular forms (Jurassic planktonic forams). I would need images of the same specimen in different directions. I have to make a series of images in different depths and stack them digitally. These forms are too fragile to remove after gluing on the SEM holder.

Thank you for your answer in advance
Best Wishes
Globi

[Scarodactyl]

It had some aberrations as I recall, some smearing on the edges and not amazing chromatic aberration control. But you'd need to try it on the correct objective to be sure. Note it only works at the high end of the zoom range and vignettes badly lower down.