Nikon SC Objective

[Craig Gerard]

Nikon SC Objective

Can anyone tell me something about this objective. It has an RMS mount and a rugged, industrial style external barrel.

I haven't taken any images with it yet.




Craig

[ChrisLilley]

I assume you already saw this:
Nikon Microscope Objective Phase Lens PH1 DL 10 SC/0.25
and probably also this
Nikon SC Microscope w/4 Objectives and 2 Lens

Looks to be a biological microscope so I would guess 160mm tube length?

[Craig Gerard]

Thanks Chris,

Yes, I am familiar with the item in the first link.

Just trying to understand the 'SC' designation. There is no indication of optimum tube length.

The shoulder of this objective looks a bit like a galvanised plumbing fitting.

I'll put it on the camera and point it at something

One odd thing I noticed in the image I uploaded of the objective, is that there appears to be a 'dent' where the flash bounced off the brass thread; but there is no physical 'dent' evident on the objective.

Craig

[Craig Gerard]

I put this objective on the bellows and took an image of a micrometer slide. I went for a tube length of 160mm. Canon 50D.

This image would normally display black on white; but not when using this objective; also, the curvature-of-field is obvious.

hmmm....if this is any indication, then I can add my own definition for the SC designation when used for macro.

Interesting how the 'rainbow' effect becomes more apparent when I view the image from a distance, by moving further away from the monitor.





Craig

[Craig Gerard]

Here is the same shot; but this time using the Nikon CFN 10x .30 and Canon 50D.

hmmm....

I may have some problems with my stage (advise welcomed); but at least it is black on white (greyish).

It might be time to buy a small spirit level. Something in my vertical macro setup is not level...recommendations...please?




Craig

[enricosavazzi]

I have a very similar Nikon Ph3 DL 40 SC objective I purchased by mistake a couple of years ago. It performed rather poorly on a finite 160 mm Zeiss system, and eventually I found it is an infinity objective (but I don't remember how exactly I found out).

[Charles Krebs]

Craig,

Enricco may be correct (he usually is)... but If I had to guess (which is all I can do since since this is one I'm not familiar with at all )... I would think a "student level" 160mm tube length, and possible not CF.

A few reasons for this (pure) guess. The microscope pictured in the second link ChrisLilley provided has a four place turret, very basic stage and condenser carrier, and appears to be pre-infinity student level scope. If this is the scope they were actually marketed for then they would be a pretty basic objective.

A higher end 10X might have a higher NA than 0.25, and the "satin" metal finish is characteristic of the finish on many of Nikon's more basic, inexpensive offerings.

The lack of more markings is unusual for Nikon.

[Charles Krebs]

Something in my vertical macro setup is not level...recommendations...please?

It does appear that you are not squared away. I have one of these:
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatal ... uctid=1874

and one of these:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Master- ... -10-/H2682

This second one can drive you crazy since it is really overkill! The slightest adjustment sends the bubble flying off to one side!

Frankly a halfway decent smaller hardware store bubble level is usually adequate.

You need to check the subject plane, the lens-mount plane, and the camera mount plane. It's sometimes hard be hard to get a level positioned on the camera back, so I often remove the camera body and rest the level on the bayonet mount.

[ChrisLilley]

hmmm....if this is any indication, then I can add my own definition for the SC designation when used for macro.

Interesting how the 'rainbow' effect becomes more apparent when I view the image from a distance, by moving further away from the monitor.

This looks like straightforward lateral chromatic aberration, so can be mitigated in many raw converters by linear (or more complex) scaling of the r, g and b channels. (Aberration for the range of wavelengths captured by each type of photosite is of course not corrected, but a first order correction can be made).

[ChrisLilley]

I have a very similar Nikon Ph3 DL 40 SC objective I purchased by mistake a couple of years ago. It performed rather poorly on a finite 160 mm Zeiss system, and eventually I found it is an infinity objective (but I don't remember how exactly I found out).

The second link I posted above is for a complete microscope with several objectives including

Nikon PH1 DL10 SC 0.25

which sounds like the same model as the one you describe. Which implies that the microscope is an infinite and thus that Craig's objective is also infinite.

Time to experiment with a 200mm tube lens?

[Choronzon]

Guys, the Nikon SC has a field or multiple lens system just below the head, the design of which was supposedly to allow the 40X longer working distance for less oil contamination from students using the 100X oil. You can guess how well that worked out. I once found oil in the 4X objective.
I'm not sure this was a true infinity design, but it sure makes the SC objectives useless for anything other than use on that stand.

[Craig Gerard]

Thanks for the info

Charlie wrote:

You need to check the subject plane, the lens-mount plane, and the camera mount plane. It's sometimes hard to get a level positioned on the camera back, so I often remove the camera body and rest the level on the bayonet mount.

Yep, found the main offender via a level on the bayonet mount; easily corrected Now to check the subject plane.

I also purchased a 2 axis and a 3 axis hotshoe-mount spirit-level for the DSLR. They don't cost much, just a few dollars; but they are magical!

Craig

[kwrench]

I have a Nikon SC and have done a bit of research on it. It seems that it was built in the 1980's and was, indeed, a student scope. You'll probably note that you need an allen wrench to remove the eyepieces, objectives and condenser. This was to prevent pilfering. Nikon supplied me with a copy of the manual free of charge. Just go to their website and ask. Hope this helps, Ken

[Craig Gerard]

Thanks Ken

Information is always welcome.

I only have to the one 'orphan' objective and was curious about the 'industrial' or 'student-proof' barrel.

Craig

[rjlittlefield]

And welcome aboard, Ken!

--Rik