Gathering parts for phase contrast

Everything relating to microscopy hardware: Objectives, eyepieces, lamps and more.
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dtrinh
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Gathering parts for phase contrast

#1 Post by dtrinh » Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:15 pm

Hello,
I am looking for parts to have phase contrast on my Nikon Labophot.
- A person is selling this condenser. Would it work with 160mm DIN objectives?
Image

- Another person is selling these two phase contrast objectives made by WILL WETZLAR. I wonder how old are they and if they are good.
and what does the -p in Ph-p mean?
Image

I don't know much about the prices so any experiences with prices are appreciated.
Thank you very much!

Dennis
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#2 Post by Dennis » Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:35 pm

I had a Nikon inverted microscope (OLD kind) with parts missing but it had a DLL 10 and a DLL 20 objective in the phase contrast turret.

When I got a Olympus phase contrast microscope it had so many places in the turret I shoved them in there also.
I don't use them as I get better results with the Olympus PL objectives for phase contrast.

Keep it in mind if you find you would want them.

Alexander
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#3 Post by Alexander » Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:58 pm

The -p stands for positive phase contrast.

The chance the Will objectives will properly match the Nikon condenser is quite low. I would go with objectives and condenser from the same brand.

dtrinh
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#4 Post by dtrinh » Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:35 pm

Alexander wrote:
Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:58 pm
The -p stands for positive phase contrast.

The chance the Will objectives will properly match the Nikon condenser is quite low. I would go with objectives and condenser from the same brand.
Thank you! I thought the system is also standardized and parts are interchangable between brands :(

Alexander
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#5 Post by Alexander » Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:47 pm

There is no standard. Each company designed their products individually.

apochronaut
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#6 Post by apochronaut » Wed Nov 30, 2022 2:25 am

Phase contrast requires a perfectly focused condenser that images each condenser diaphragm to exactly overlap the annular ring in the corresponding objective lens.
The diaphragm rings and objective annular rings from various manufacturers are of variable sizes, so need to be used in pairs.

Jose Antonio Mena
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#7 Post by Jose Antonio Mena » Wed Nov 30, 2022 2:33 pm

Hi:

You need a Phase Contrast condenser that match with objectives; As I know, and have, Nikon have 3 models of phase contrast turret condenser for labophot/optiphot 1&2 series (model with PHL, PH1, PH2, PH3; model with PH1,PH2, PH3, PH4), with a average price in second hand market of 200 Euros; I can send you pics of that models. There are condensers with slots for individual slides with the mask for PHn condenser.

160mm tube objectives, for lab/optiphot, Nikon has, at least, 3 series in phase contrast: old 160 CF PH, 160 CFN PH, and old and new 160 fluor objectives; their price are very variable, between 20 Euros, and 300 Euros in the fluor´s, per objective.

Best regards

JA

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blekenbleu
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#8 Post by blekenbleu » Wed Nov 30, 2022 4:59 pm

Be aware of 20/0.4 160/1.2 Ph2 DL;
it is a nice objective and quite common,
but intended for peering thru slide bottoms,
instead of cover glass.
Metaphot, Optiphot 1, 66; AO 10, 120, EPIStar, Cycloptic

dtrinh
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#9 Post by dtrinh » Thu Dec 01, 2022 5:49 pm

Jose Antonio Mena wrote:
Wed Nov 30, 2022 2:33 pm
Hi:

You need a Phase Contrast condenser that match with objectives; As I know, and have, Nikon have 3 models of phase contrast turret condenser for labophot/optiphot 1&2 series (model with PHL, PH1, PH2, PH3; model with PH1,PH2, PH3, PH4), with a average price in second hand market of 200 Euros; I can send you pics of that models. There are condensers with slots for individual slides with the mask for PHn condenser.

160mm tube objectives, for lab/optiphot, Nikon has, at least, 3 series in phase contrast: old 160 CF PH, 160 CFN PH, and old and new 160 fluor objectives; their price are very variable, between 20 Euros, and 300 Euros in the fluor´s, per objective.

Best regards

JA
Hi,
Thanks a lot for your reply. Yes a photo of the condenser would be nice!
Cheers,

dtrinh
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#10 Post by dtrinh » Thu Dec 01, 2022 5:50 pm

Thank you all for your replies.
The search continues :)

PeteM
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#11 Post by PeteM » Thu Dec 01, 2022 7:01 pm

It may be that buying an entire new (used!) phase scope will save you time and money over trying to add the pieces to your Labophot. Ideally, you'll want a complete phase condenser (perhaps $180 to $250) and three or four phase objectives ($80 to $180 or so each with the higher magnifications and CFN types being more expensive). If you buy them one at a time, you're paying seven or eight times to ship things, plus the tax. Bit by bit they could easily add up to $600 or more. That same money might get you a complete scope, perhaps with even less time invested trying to find a good deal? Worth keeping an eye out . . . and you'd then have your choice of the best parts and a second microscope to sell or pass on.

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blekenbleu
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#12 Post by blekenbleu » Thu Dec 01, 2022 8:46 pm

Metaphot, Optiphot 1, 66; AO 10, 120, EPIStar, Cycloptic

Scarodactyl
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#13 Post by Scarodactyl » Thu Dec 01, 2022 8:56 pm

Here is a set of four nikon plan phase objectives with a nosepiece: https://www.ebay.com/itm/194692653368
Thr above labophot has a phase condenser but doesn't look to have phase objectives. It looks kind of rough but you can often get mislabeled phase scopes for surprisingly good prices.

Dubious
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#14 Post by Dubious » Fri Dec 02, 2022 2:27 am

Scarodactyl wrote:
Thu Dec 01, 2022 8:56 pm
Here is a set of four nikon plan phase objectives with a nosepiece: https://www.ebay.com/itm/194692653368
Thr above labophot has a phase condenser but doesn't look to have phase objectives. It looks kind of rough but you can often get mislabeled phase scopes for surprisingly good prices.

Assuming in good shape, a great set of CFN phase objectives right there.

PeteM
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#15 Post by PeteM » Fri Dec 02, 2022 4:22 am

Lest someone push "buy" too fast, while those are nice Nikon CFN objectives, complete with a turret, the higher powers are meant for an inverted microscope. They could work well on an upright scope, but with some fiddling for cover glass thickness and some loss of numerical aperture.

Scarodactyl
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#16 Post by Scarodactyl » Fri Dec 02, 2022 9:01 am

Good spot, them being the extra-long working distance variant isn't ideal for looking at alides on an upright scooe. Iirc the 20x is still corrected for 0.17 and the 40x has a correction collar but it's been a while since I looked at the finite series and I can't read it from the photo.

viktor j nilsson
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#17 Post by viktor j nilsson » Fri Dec 02, 2022 11:54 am

The e seller actually kindly gives all the information in the description. And the 20x is the version corrected for 1.2mm slides, unfortunately, with no correction collar.

Scarodactyl
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#18 Post by Scarodactyl » Fri Dec 02, 2022 11:08 pm

Oh yeah, that's a bummer then.

dtrinh
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Re: Gathering parts for phase contrast

#19 Post by dtrinh » Mon Dec 05, 2022 9:48 pm

Hello,
I bought the WILL WETZLAR phase contrast set including 2 objectives 20x and 40x and their condenser for 80 euros (including shipping). The condenser can not fit to the condenser holder of Nikon Labophot, so I just place it there with a spacer. I don't have a phase telescope so I just align the condenser and the objectives by looking down the tube.
The condenser doesn't seem to provide enough light; I have to take photos with long exposure and high ISO.
Here are some images of cheek epithelial cells with the 40x objective. The 20x objective is in very bad condition but still show images, but I did not take photos with it because these cells are quite small.
What do you think about the performance of the set?
Thanks!
Phase contrast, 40x

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