Re: Zeiss ICM 405
steve_beats_at_hotmail.com
Date: 12/29/04
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Date: 29 Dec 2004 07:39:39 -0800
Folks, thanks for the pointers. I still haven't got a manual, but
using general info from the web as a guide (some based on your
pointers), I got to grips with the scope over Xmas. In summary, it's
a Zeiss ICM 405 kitted out with:
o Reflected illumination system (100W tungsten?)
o Transmitted illumination system (100W halogen)
o Camera and camera control box (Polaroid and/or 35mm)
o Nomarski DIC on both light paths (Inko/Phako condenser above)
o PlanAPO, EpiPlan and NeoFluar objectives (10x to 100x oil)
o Two DIC objective sliders (Wollaston prisms for 16x and 40x)
Only "niggle" is the stage doesn't have a slide holder, just an
open rectangular frame. I cobbled together a Heath-Robinson solution,
so it's not an obstacle (but I bet getting a proper one will cost
nearly half as much as I paid for the whole scope). I need more "parts"
to add the darkfield capability, but that's not really important...
At first I thought the DIC system was incomplete as I couldn't get
crossed polarisers to produce a truly dark (black) field. It went a
deep magenta instead. After a bit more research and disassembly I found
(what I now know as) a de Sénarmont compensator fitted on top of the
analyser, so it was really working "as it should" all along.
Overall, everything is in full working order (I even blew off a roll of
film to ensure the shutter, camera and control box worked; which they
did). I spent most of Xmas going over my slide collection and found new
details in every single one!
An example: the first slide I tried was one I've had ages labelled
"spores and elaters". I've spent hours with previous scopes
trying to discern the elaters as more than just an indistinct mass of
gelatinous rice noodles. Well, turn on the DIC at 400x and the
structure leapt out! Each elater showed as a tube of separate fibres
winding around in a spiral form. The ends of each elater are flattened
into a paddle shape with fraying (separation) of the component fibres
in some cases. Amazing! And so pretty with all the rainbow colours! And
so invisible in my previous scopes!
I have to admit, I didn't even know Nomarski DIC existed until I got
this scope. I thought phase contrast was state-of-the-art. I've never
really considered myself to be an amateur microscopist either, just
someone who likes looking at things through a microscope. But lucking
into this scope ahs boosted my enthusiasm immeasurably. I gained an
overwhelming urge to pursue "serious amateur" status now :-)
And let's talk about synchronicity! Another of my (MUCH) more active
hobbies is astro-photography. I've a pretty good 1.4 Megapixel cooled
CCD which appears to fit directly on the 35mm camera port of the Zeiss.
You can guess what I'll be doing of an evening now that cloudy skies
are forecast for a week or more!
You can label me "one very contented anorak" if you like :-) :-)
Cheers
Beats
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