Buying a PZO DIC kit.

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WaterGoblin
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Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#1 Post by WaterGoblin » Tue Feb 28, 2023 10:09 am

I'm planning to buy this pzo DIC kit soon.
https://m.avito.ru/moskva/fototehnika/p ... YQYihxAAAA

I wanted to ask, apart from the actual microscope, is it missing any parts?

And also, I've seen people install that DIC kit on Olympus BH2s. Is it a good idea to do it or will the image quality not be affected?

apochronaut
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Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#2 Post by apochronaut » Tue Feb 28, 2023 4:06 pm

This one has come up before. If you are planning on fitting it to a BH2, it is possible. You might want to contact someone that has a successful system and find out about objectives etc. There is also a difference in the dovetail of I think, 1mm.
But first you would want to clarify some details about the system.
1) The entire system requires a rotating polarizer that is transferred from the slit condenser to the interference condenser as needed. It has no allotted niche in the case. It just resides on one of the condensers. It isn't on the interference condenser because the bare akehurst slide is visible. If it is there, it must be on the slit condenser. The height of the slit condenser sitting in it's well is about right if the 10mm deep polarizer is on it but just to be sure, I would ask the seller to send you a picture of the bottom of the slit condenser.
2) There are some problems with the polarizers in general. The one in the interference head needs to be verified too.
3) Those look like older Lomo objectives. Not the best.
4) There were dedicated PZO planachro interference objectives for the system, which are missing. They are necessary for certain interference methods. It will do other methods with standard objectives but they may need to have a relatively precise back focal plane. Check with users as mentioned above. I'm sure other objectives will work well.
5) There are tube correction lenses on the interference head. The coatings on those can be a problem sometimes.
6) As with any 35+ year old optical equipment, the integrity of the parts, cement joints in prisms, coatings should have some verification.

JWW
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Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#3 Post by JWW » Tue Feb 28, 2023 5:06 pm

WaterGoblin wrote:
Tue Feb 28, 2023 10:09 am
I wanted to ask, apart from the actual microscope, is it missing any parts?
My PZO throws up some very nice images considering its age. I have a complete PZO, with all accessories. The biggest problem with a PZO is delamination (like some Zeiss stuff). I think it would be rare to find one that doesn't have some sort of delamination, mine doesn't. Also, phase rings in their objectives (if you ever buy them). That goes for the PhA, PhZ, PhS etc. setups as well. As for this particular setup the dovetail polarizer seems to be missing. The centering wrenches are missing too and a few other things. If you look here, you can see a more complete PZO setup.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125755959766?h ... R9iQ7I7TYQ

Here's the polarizer I was talking about.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324726228927?h ... R9qQ7I7TYQ

Lastly here's a friends auction that has the PZO DIC setup on an old Zeiss, not that it's revelant.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224572635897?h ... R9yQ7I7TYQ

-JW:

WaterGoblin
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Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:59 pm

Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#4 Post by WaterGoblin » Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:18 pm

Hey, I just checked, it does have the polarizer. Look up left on the first photo. It's this part: https://www.avito.ru/moskva/fototehnika ... 2441642162

apochronaut
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Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#5 Post by apochronaut » Wed Mar 01, 2023 6:30 pm

No, that is the slit condenser. The polarizer slides into an akehurst slide under it and the interference condenser as well by choice.
However, as I previously thought the slit condenser was resting high in it's place inside the case, so the polarizer is attached to the bottom of the slit condenser. It is just barely visible.
You still need the seller to send you a picture of the polarizer separately because the polarizing filter may not be any good. They de-laminate over the years.
Get a picture with back light through the pol filter to verify it's condition.

JWW
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Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#6 Post by JWW » Thu Mar 02, 2023 7:52 pm

In my opinion, the biggest concern would be all of the prisms in the DIC condenser since delamination is quite common. That would be a deal breaker for me if they were really bad.

-JW:

WaterGoblin
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Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#7 Post by WaterGoblin » Fri Mar 03, 2023 11:40 pm

I'm a bit confused, the description says the codenser is a KPI2, but KIP2 is DIC. On the photos it looks like a K3Ph Phase condenser: (https://www.avito.ru/moskva/fototehnika ... ion=621540)

WaterGoblin
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Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#8 Post by WaterGoblin » Sat Mar 04, 2023 2:11 am

As far as I understand, the condenser (KPI2) is supposed to have a few DIC prisms, which you rotate depending on the magnification you are usuing.

apochronaut
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Re: Buying a PZO DIC kit.

#9 Post by apochronaut » Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:01 am

The interference condenser and the phase condenser use the same 5 hole carousel and look superficially very similar. The one pictured in the listing looks to be an interference condenser to me. The inserts look like prisms. That's why it is important to ask for more detailed pictures. Get a topside photo and verify the model #. of the unit.

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