Re: New stereo microscope

I have now worked a few days with each of the candidates. The Leica
MZ16 has less details and less resolution compared to Olympus and
Zeiss. Zeiss has the best, but Olympus is close. Zeiss seems to be
slightly better corrected at the edges.

Also Lieca has shorter working distances. We used to believe that
Leica was top of the line, but Zeiss and Olympus must have done their
homework. We also tried Olympus SZX12, but I cannot recomend it to
anyone after having used SZX16.

The Zeiss Steree Discovery V12 is very heavy and seems very rugged,
but they are more expensive. We are discussing if the extra price is
worth the money. Leica is no longer an option. They really have to
deliver better performance.

The situation might be different for other users. We work with
microelectronics, compound semiconductors and thin film coatings.

We have tried the Zeiss Stereo Discovery V12 with 1.5 PlanApo
Leica MZ16 with 1x PlanApo
Olympus SZX16 with 1x PlanApo


Regards

Runar.

On 23 Apr, 14:49, "Kevin Cunningham" <sms...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<runa...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:1177323265.502269.98160@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi

Again Zeiss also has the SteREO discovery. I will check it later this
week. I believe Zeiss is known for durability also.

About Olympus. The SZX16 is really good. We tried it together with the
old SZX12. The zoom-factor itself is not that important for us, but we
were able to see many features on our samples in the SZX16 that was
difficult to spot on the SZX12.

-Runar

This might be me but when I was trained at a Zeiss dealer stereos were at
the bottom of the pile. Time hasn't changed that. I have some friends that
think the world of Zeiss stereos but they are not in the majority. Now the
Axioskop II and the inverted are at the top of their game.

I agree that Olympus makes some quality stereos.

Thanks,

Kevin Cunningham
SMS



On 20 Apr, 22:53, Gary G <see.signature@bottom> wrote:
On 17 Apr 2007 11:15:08 -0700, runa...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Hi

I am also in the process of buying a few stereo microscopes. We are
considering the Olympus SZX16 and Leica MZ16. Both with objective
revolver and two objectives. We will be using coaxial lightning most
of the time.

Does anyone have comments on these. The price is almost identical.

We have a few Wild stereo's. They are quite old, but very reliable. I
don't know if todays selections from Leica / Olympus are of the same
quality.

- Runar

That is a tough call. I replaced by Olympus SZH10 stereo with a new
SZX9. The SZX is more compact than the SZH. The main difference on
the outside is that the SZH is metal while the SZX is plastic. The
optics for the SZX are better than the SZH--but in use, I really do
not see the difference. For digital capture, I like the SZX better.

The SZH is a work horse and never had a problem for years. I see no
reason why the SZX would be any different. The SZH had an objective
turret but I used it so little that option was not ordered for the
SZX. Both scopes use(d) Fostec DCR lamp houses with ring light and
bifurcated polarizing goose necks. Objective diameters of the SZH are
the same as SZX.

I suspect that obtaining parts for either or any brand is problematic.
Since the systems are very reliable, the trick or challenge is to
order everything you want/need up front since ordering later on could
be a challenge. As long as the systems are in production, obtaining
optional components should not be a problem. In the future, you will
probably have problems getting components either from Germany or
Japan. If you are happy with Wild, you ought to be happy with the
Leica. Same for SZX.

Kiss French. Drink California.

gary at gaugler dot com


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