Are all 160mm Nikon Plan Apo objectives of the CF variety?

descall · Post by **descall** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:51 pm

Dear Forum,

Is it safe to assume that any 160mm Nikon Plan Apo objective is of the CF variety, even if CF is not marked on the objective? And is it also safe to assume that such objectives will work well with Nikon CF eyepieces and the Nikon CF PL 2x photo eyepiece? Many thanks for any help.

Best wishes,
Des

ChrisR · Post by **ChrisR** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 4:37 pm

I don't know. But there's a little room for doubt thown up by a lens currently on Ebay - a 4x APO NA 0.16.
It's black "all over". There was a 4x apo NA 0.20, which is silver with a black nose. So perhaps the 0.16 was earlier than the 0.20? Maybe not CF??

I also have a 2x apo NA0.08, which is also black all over,
and a 10 apo NA 0.45, which is silver all over.

All except the 4x 0.016 are in the CF brochure which is I believe on Charles' site.

More heat than light, sorry!

Edit - having looked again at said ebay lens:
300641156217, Vendor says

For optimal performance, they must be paired with a compatible eyepiece. For this one, you'll need the older K-type, such as a Nikon HKW compensating eyepiece (generally available on eBay).

It certainly looks like the Mplans (210) ( though black), which were CF, and curiously there was also a 10x NA 0.25 in 160 tube length, which a couple of us have. It's presumably older than the 210, but appears from its results, to be CF.

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:27 pm

The only biological objective brochure I have for Nikon CF objectives is from 1989, and was for an updated series of 160mm TL, CF objectives.... CF N.
This is what they looked like in this incarnation (the last before the infinity CFI objectives):

The Nikon CF type finite objectives started in about 1976, and at that time they had a different outward appearance from the ones shown in this 1989 brochure picture. (They looked much like the 2X apo in this picture but with a silver barrel. They did not have the two "fluted" rings as seen in the picture above). Unfortunately I do not have, and have never seen a brochure of the original CF objectives from the mid-70's. Prior to that, there were at least two Apo objectives (a 40X and 100X) for the older black "S" Nikon microscopes, but I do not believe they were marked as "plan". These used corrective eyepieces. I just don't know if there were any "Plan Apos" for the old "S" series that used the corrective eyepieces. I'll look through my PDF collection, but this is all I can recollect.

ChrisR... there definitely was a CF 4/0.16 Plan Apo prior to the 4/0.20 version.

descall · Post by **descall** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:32 pm

Thanks very much for the responses Chris and Charles. It is a pity that we do not have an identification guide to these wonderful little things! Do you think these are CF lenses (pre CF N):
Nikon Plan APO 100x/1.35 Ebay item No 200639135535
Nikon Plan APO 40x/0.95 Ebay item No 200639135320

Best wishes,
Des

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:22 pm

descall wrote:Do you think these are CF lenses

Yes, they are CF.

Craig

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:31 pm

Des,
I can't really say with absolute certainty. I'm pretty sure they are CF objectives prior to the revised (CF N) versions I posted above.

Here are a few links and pictures from old brochures that may be of some visual help. It would really be nice to have a brochure on the first CF versions... but I have not seen one.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Older Nikon non-CF

http://earth2geologists.net/Microscopes ... ctives.jpg

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Nikon CF, but older barrel styles (below)

http://earth2geologists.net/Microscopes ... ctives.JPG

descall · Post by **descall** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 2:11 pm

Thanks Craig and Charles, If I can barter a lower price maybe I'll give them a go. It would be nice to have an on-line guide to the complete Nikon/Olympus range of objectives one day. That would be very helpful for beginners such as myself. Best wishes, Des

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:44 am

what kind of CFN Plan Apo is this:

(I have no better image)

I found it once when I was searching for 160mm objectives. I have the CFN brochure and I have not seen that objective there. It differs from both plan apo 60/0,95 and the 60/1,4. It is a Plan Apo for sure but that is all I can read from this very small photo.

and yes, that would be great to put together some photos of popular objective series.

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:04 am

Are you sure that's a Nikon? The barrel style looks more like an Olympus dry x60 160mm Planapo with correction collar I have.

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 5:14 am

Cactusdave wrote:Are you sure that's a Nikon?

I'm not, but if I remember well that objective was titled 'Nikon' on that site which I don't remember now and a person who listed it was asking about details too...

nch29fr · Post by **nch29fr** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 7:35 am

Dear all,
I am new to the forum and just read the very interesting content.
Sorry to reply only now to this topic, but in my opinion, the PlanApo on the picture is the 60/1.20WI with correction collar. I am searching this one for a long time (but that's good to save money as it would likely be expensive!)
If someone has one for sale... dont't hesitate to tell me!

Regards,

Nicolas

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:01 am

WI objectives should a have white stripe on the barrel. I have nerver seen CF or CFN water imersion plan apo 60x. I don't want to say that I'm sure it doesn't exist, but if it is not listed on nikon's catalogue that I have I would dare to say it may be 'hard' to find.

there is a CFI WI 60x objective.

nch29fr · Post by **nch29fr** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:26 am

You are totally right and I agree with the white strip but the picture is rather small and if it may be difficult to see. I could be wrong as well.
However about its existence, I can assume that one has been produced (probably for confocal) and one of my good English friend has one... I have heard that it was listed at more than $9000 when produced. But just after they moved to infinity system...
Probably that I would find the Zeiss plan Neofluar 63/1.2wi more easily!
Anyway it's very nice to join this forum with many specialists of these excellent optics.
I will learn a lot from you !

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:08 am

I sometimes see objectves on ebay that are not on the CFN list I have (you may download it as a pdf file from Charles Krebs' home site). for example this one: CFN plan apo 60x dedicated for DIC - it is not mentioned on that list.

So that's why I say it IS possible that 60/1,2 WI was produced just before introducing the CFI system.

nch29fr · Post by **nch29fr** » Tue May 01, 2012 3:09 am

I think we have the answer here.
Very highly priced in 1994... Probably not sold much as the infinity system arrived at the same time or soon after.