Magnification

I am looking for a 2X magnifier for the objective on a Zeiss Stemi 2000C microscope. Does anyone know a source, besides Zeiss of course ?
Bill

Bill

Edmund Optics part# M55-597 $551.00 from their summer 2011 catalog, page 391.

Doug

Thanks Doug, that's cheaper than Zeiss, but still quite costly. Any even cheaper ones out there ?
Bill

Bill,

You may want to consider getting 20X eyepieces rather than a 2X auxiliary lens. The benefits of using 20X eyepieces are that you maintain your working distance, as auxiliary lenses will greatly reduce it. Also, the depth of field, with 20X eyepieces, will be better. This is because the numerical aperture of the objective is effectively changed by adding the auxiliary lens. If you go to a 2X auxiliary lens, the depth of field will be reduced by a factor of ~4.

Where auxiliary lenses are best utilized is when increased working distance is required, then a lens of magnification less than 1X is used. They are also generally less expensive than a pair of eyepieces.

Gene

I should also mention that any other auxiliary lens than a Zeiss, which is designed to work with your objective, may not work well or at all.

There are plenty of 20X eyepieces on eBay that will work with your scope and are in the $100 range. Using "foreign" eyepieces is much more forgiving than using a "foreign" aux. lens.

Gene

Gene,

The item I referenced from Edmund is found in the section of the catalog where they offer the Zeiss Stemi 2000C and its accessories. Doesn't say if it ia Zeiss part though.

Doug

Thanks Gene and Doug for the information. I did consider 20X eyepieces, but I really want the 2X multiplier for photomicrography and the 20X eyepieces would not help me there. I think I might have to bite the bullet and spend the money. In my innocence I would have though the cost to be about $200, after all it is just a single piece of ground glass - silly me.
Bill

Doug,

I checked Edmund's online listing and it does say Zeiss there.

Zeiss makes a nice scope and at a fairly reasonable price. What I don't like are the prices that they charge for accessories, like the ball stage for $608! Or, how about a pair of 25X eyepieces for $1195, which is 33% of the cost of the microscope! I'm going to stick with Nikon. I still get screwed, but not as bad. :)

Cheers,
Gene

This is not an advertisement for Zeiss, but when I first looked through a Stemi, I was amazed. Perhaps it was just so much better than what I had been using, but even though I looked at other brands before I purchased my Zeiss, I still went back to it. I don't really think of it as being screwed since quality does not come cheaply no matter what you buy. If you pay lots for crap, that's being screwed. I still hesitate to spend close to $800 for a Zeiss 2X multiplier.
Bill

Bill,

No doubt that the Zeiss is a very good scope. My point was that after paying what I consider a reasonable price for the scope, you are then faced with unreasonable prices for the accessories. How could anyone justify that ball stage for $608?

BTW, I thought that I would purchase a second set of zoom knobs for my Nikon SMZU. They're just plastic with rubber coating, but I believe that the cost was around $100.

It reminds me of my friend that purchased a Mercedes; expensive, but not unreasonable for what it was. A couple of years later, he had a brake job done at the dealer and received a bill for just around $2000. I guess I have been around too long, remembering my first new car that was only $2200.

Cheers,
Gene

Hi Bill
Help
I have a zeiss Jena citoval 2 triscopic microscope
I am looking for a 2x objective also
If you have come across one
Please let me know
Thx
Walter

Bill gives the main disadvantages in upping the power of the objective (reduced working distance and reduced depth of field). Working mainly with cut gems and micromount/thumbnail specimens, the reduced working distance does not worry me - but the reduced depth of field has to be contended with successfully and there are ways of doing this.

What has yet to be mentioned is the great advantage of an auxillary objective over x20 eyepieces and that is that resolution is improved along with the additional magnification. The difference in the amount of detail you can see when using a x2 objective can be remarkable. Stepping up from x10 to x20 eyepieces, you will get the same x2 additional magnification (i.e. an x40 view becomes an x 80 view) but there is no increase in the detail you can see. I.e. you see bigger but no better.This is often referred to as 'empty magnification'.

FWIW, I have both an x2 auxillary objective and x20 eyepieces in addition to my standard x10 ones which I use all the time. I fit the auxillary for perhaps 10% of my studying. The x20 were tested out when I got them and I don't think they've been used since. I would not miss them if they were to leave home.

Also, for photomicrography, as you say, you must go the x2 auxillary route. However, it's worth remembering Cropping the image from (say) an 18MP camera can give you up to an additional x3 *empty magnification* and still leave you with an image that's quite good enough for the web or for small print sizes.

Auxillaries are not complex. They're either are a screw on fitting (like mine) or else swing in/out of the optic path. For the former, you can (like me) save a lot of money by doing direct personal import from China. For a screw in, you will need to know, exactly, the diameter of the female fitting you need to attach to and the thread pitch. Cost is likely to be about USD 50.00 plus shipping, bought directly from the Chinese manufacturer.

The idea of a swing-in 2x adapter is appealing. My scope has the "standard" threaded adapter. Does anyone know whether there is such a thing as a swing-in adapter in which the 2x lens can be more-or-less permanently mounted?

There is (at least) one manufacturer, Donald, that offers this - but I can't remember which one Perhaps Gene can help? The disadvantage, I imagine, is how to keep scrupulously clean the auxilliary lens (no lens caps) if it left affixed to the shell of optical pod. However, it would be a boon to those of us with arthritic finger joints.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/2012 05:26PM by Owen Lewis (2).

Owen, I have those arthritic fingers! [aagh!] I had not thought of the dust collecting problem. Still . . . . .

Apparently, it's an option that Wild Heerbrugg of Switzerland used to offer with some of its models. They were absorbed into the Leica Group in 1989. They made among the best stereo microscopes ever produces that are still sought after and trade for good money.

Hi Walter,

I bit the bullet and bought a 2X Zeiss multiplier - not cheap, but works great. There is no substitute for good optics. The advantage is obvious. The disadvantage is that the working distance is only about a quarter of what it is without, but if I'm careful I won't scratch the lens.

If you are looking to buy a 2X multiplier, I suggest you check out the Zeiss website. If you still can't find out what is right for you, you can email or phone Zeiss for advice. Good luck.

Bill

Hi Bill
Thanks for your advice
I was quoted
Askania Mikroskop Technik Rathenow GmbH" <sales@askania.de>
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:29:19
To: <veldsmw@aol.com>
Subject: AW: Your inquiry manual Citoval 2 microscope
Dear Mr. Veldsman,
thanks a lot for your inquiry. We can offer the attachment lens 2x for the
Citoval 2
microscope to the following conditions:
Attachment lens 2x for Citoval 2; order number: 304715:063.24 price:
435,- Euro
add. VAT + forwarding expenses
delivery time: app. 2 weeks
Is this reasonable
I have old 1990's scope Jena citoval 2 zeiss
is it worth buying?
Walter

Hi Walter,

Yes, they are helpful at Zeiss, but expensive also. My scope is just a bit younger than yours, a good scope is always a good scope, treated well they don't wear out. As for whether the cost is worth it, you may want to get the optical quality of your scope checked out locally before spending the money. My 2X multiplier cost about that much and I'm happy with it. It took me a while to talk myself into buying it however, much the way you're wrestling with the decision. Good luck, let me know what you decide.
Bill

Hi Bill
I have seen the resolution slides and will attempt to have the resolution determined first before I make a decision to buy a new scope
Thanks
Walter
My son has a canon EOS 5D mark 3 with 23 megapixel capability
I thought I should buy the canon camera adapter varimag system also over 300 USD coupled with the 2x objective. Then do stacking photos with stackshot which I have already and Zyrene stacking software. The 2x will give me 200x mag capability for the small vugs and 100 micro crystals I am looking at.
I know the microscope resolution is the week link
That's why I think I may need to invest in a new microscope
But will run resolution test first
Then try 2x objective with canoc adaptor
Then make my mind up