Zeiss DIC 160 TL versions

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Choronzon
Posts: 384
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:14 am
Location: Chicago USA

Zeiss DIC 160 TL versions

Post by Choronzon »

From the excellent site by Spike Walker,
http://www.the-ultraphot-shop.org.uk/index.html
If you're trying to assemble, or sort out Zeiss DIC for Bio 160 tube length systems, this info is invaluable.


How many transmitted light Nomarski D.I.C. systems did Zeiss design for 'the 160mm tube' - and how do they differ?
There appear to have been three basic models:

This comprised:
A polarizer,
An N.A. 1.4 achromatic/aplanatic 'turret' condenser (46 52 79) with phase illuminating annuli 2 & 3, a brightfield ( 'J' (iris) position), and 3 Nomarski prisms numbered l, ll and lll.
Planachromatic objectives 16/0.32 (prism 1), 40/63 or the later 40/0.65 (prism ll) and 100/1.25 oil (prism lll), (However, the introductory account in Zeiss Information 65 states categorically that the X 16 and X 40 Neofluars may be substituted for the corresponding planachromats).
A single 'beam-combining' prism, with integral analyser, fitted into the analyser slot above the nosepiece. For use in U/P's, P/m's and Universals, the prism engraved 'll' must be used: # 'lll' is for fitting into an intermediate tube on a 'small' bench stand such as a GFL, WL, etc. They are not interchangeable!
Unfortunately, satisfactory images, with a field of uniform background tone or colour, are only to be obtained with plan objectives which have the following serial numbers (!):
16/0.32 plan: before 4 562 320
40/0.63 and 40/0.65: before 4 781 911
100/1.25: 4 407 651 onwards

No information seems to have been available regarding the serial numbers of suitable Neofluars.
Comprising:
Polarizer
An N.A. 1.4 achromatic/aplanatic 'turret' condenser (46 52 84) with positions for phase illuminating annuli 2 & 3 and Nomarski prisms numbered ll, lll, llll and l (sic). There is no brightfield position.
Planachromatic objectives 16/0.32 (from 4 562 320 onwards) - prism ll; 40/0.65 (from 4 781 911) - prism lll; 100/1.25 oil (from 4 407 651 onwards) - prism llll; 6.3/0.16 (with a serial no. above 4 402 200) - prism l and a condenser top lens of N.A. 0.63 substituted for the N.A 1.4.
Beam-combining prism/analyzer ll.
I can find no mention of Neofluars in the specification.

Polarizer
N.A. 1.4 achromatic/aplanatic 'turret' condenser (46 52 85) with positions for phase illuminating annuli 2 & 3, brightfield ('J') and Nomarski prisms 1 (objectives up to 16), ll (above 16, up to 40), lll (X63? X100). The turret incorporates facilities for the rotation of the prisms if the condenser, set up for a U/P, etc., has to be used on a small bench microscope, or vice versa. Access to the prisms is via a removable cover, underneath the turret. The upper surface of the turret cover has 'S/-/' and 'T/-/' printed on it, in white paint.
(An N.A. 0.63, long working distance version, (46 52 73) was also available).
Objectives: Plan 6.3/0.16, plan 16/0.16, multi-immersion Plan-Neofluar 16/0.50, multi-immersion Plan-Neofluar 25/0.80, LD-plan 40/0.65, plan 40/0.65, achromat 40/0.75 water imm., Neofluar 63/1.25 oil, planapochromat 63/1.40 oil and plan 100/1.25 oil - provided that the 'bespoke' beam combining prisms were available! The serial numbers of compatible plan objectives are as for # 2.
Small, individual beam-combining prism sliders, fitted into collars between the nosepiece and objectives.
Analyser in the analyser slot.
(Just I thought I had made sense of all this, along came a forth type of N.A. 1.4 D.I.C. condenser (part no.44 52 48 ). It has the same plastic turret cover as #3, with the same removable portion underneath, but the upper surface has no white printing on it and there are two notches in the circular dovetail fitting - at '5 o'clock' and '11 o'clock'. However, the word from John Chapman, of Zeiss, is that the part number and the form of the dovetail indicate that it belongs to an early 'Axio', and not to one of the '160mm' classics)
I am not young enough to know everything.

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