adapter for Carl Zeiss Jena phototube setup

Have questions about the equipment used for macro- or micro- photography? Post those questions in this forum.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

PeterArmitage
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:53 am
Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Post by PeterArmitage »

Okay. I think that's enough information now. I will start with these components, and modify if necessary. I would like to thank you once again - Pau, Ichty, and JohnyM - for your help with this. Much appreciated!

PeterArmitage
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:53 am
Location: Newfoundland, Canada

microphotography set-up for Zeiss Jena Ergaval microscope

Post by PeterArmitage »

The final piece of my microphotography setup arrived yesterday so I set to work quickly to get it all operational. Here’s some photos of the setup and a couple of photos of pollen, probably white clover and a golden rod (Solidago) species.

I continue to have some issues with the coarse/fine adjustment of the microscope due to difficulty in removing the “Russian tank grease” and applying a suitable replacement. Also, the condenser diaphragm and rotating phase contrast turret (with prisms) have some issues. Once these issues are resolved, I’ll be in a better position to play with the phase contrast, the different phototube eyepieces, etc. and improve the quality of this photos.

In any event, I would like to thank all of you - Ichty, JohnyM, Pau – and others for your assistance with this. Greatly appreciated!

1. Zeiss Jena phototube. Acquired on eBay.

2. CARL ZEISS JENA microscope eyepiece PK 8x (18) (d= 23,2). I also have a MF-Projektiv 4:1. Acquired on eBay.

3. Baader dovetail-to-T2. This is a 42 mm male thread. Baader would not ship direct. I had to purchase through a Canadian retailer, which took two months.
https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/b ... t-07).html

https://www.kwtelescope.com/baader-quic ... g-t-2.html

4. STELLARVUE 8 MM - 12 MM VARIABLE LENGTH M42 EXTENSION TUBE.
42 female thread one side, 42 mm male thread other end. M42X0.75 (T or T2 mount)
https://optcorp.com/products/stellarvue ... -sfe-m42-v

5. 49-42mm step down ring. Enables use of 42mm filters on lenses with 49mm" thread: M42X0.75 female to M49X075 male
http://camerapix.co.uk/index.php?id_pro ... er=product

6. Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f1.8 (MC or Auto-S versions) 49 mm female
Acquired on eBay.

7. OM to EOS adapter (for Olympus 50 mm lens connect to Canon EOS) chipped (AF confirm) Acquired on eBay.

8. PK eyepieces. Acquired on eBay.

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Last edited by PeterArmitage on Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

Pau
Site Admin
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Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:57 am
Location: Valencia, Spain

Post by Pau »

Glad it is working for you :D

I've added a link to your setup at my afocal thread
Last edited by Pau on Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Pau

Ichthyophthirius
Posts: 1152
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:24 am

Post by Ichthyophthirius »

Great! Nice to hear that it worked out for you. :D

PeterArmitage
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:53 am
Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Post by PeterArmitage »

Johnny M, Pau, Ichty and others.

I have come across an instrument shop in Central Canada that claims to have 12 Carl Zeiss Jena Ergaval microscopes in stock. If one were deliberating about the merits of purchasing one of these old microscopes compared to a new one, how would one rate the quality of the 1970s vintage Ergavals in terms of optics, etc. (apart from all the servicing issues)? What contemporary brand/model of microscope would be of equivalent quality to the Ergavals?

Thanks.

Ichthyophthirius
Posts: 1152
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:24 am

Post by Ichthyophthirius »

PeterArmitage wrote: I am using the above with a Carl Zeiss Jena Ergaval compound microscope that I purchased recently in an antique store and restored to proper working order.
Hi Peter,

I thought you had an Ergaval already. Do you want to get another one :wink:

Or do you want an Amplival?

Apart from the serviceing issues (cacked lubricant), the mechanical quality of these microscopes is very good (not quite as excellent als Leitz or Zeiss West from the same time but certainly better than the small microscopes you get nowadays). I would say the 1970s Jena optics are outdated but you can use other 160 mm optics on the same stand. With contemporary, you mean 2019?

There are only two small comparies I know that compare as they are still building the 1980s designs:
Hund https://www.hund.de/en/instruments/micr ... copes.html and
Askania https://www.askania.de/en/products/micr ... rma-5.html# (as you can see, the Laboval/Jenalab microscope is still in production!)

Which trinocular head do you have for your microscope? Getting a microcope with 1x tube factor would be a good step up for you, rather than getting an Ergaval.

Regards, Ichty

JohnyM
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 7:02 am

Post by JohnyM »

Ichthyophthirius wrote:
Apart from the serviceing issues (cacked lubricant), the mechanical quality of these microscopes is very good (not quite as excellent als Leitz or Zeiss West from the same time but certainly better than the small microscopes you get nowadays)
I would pick 1Q Jena Micoroscope every time, over sooner or later delaminated Zeiss West.

PeterArmitage
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:53 am
Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Post by PeterArmitage »

Yes, I currently own a phase contrast Ergaval that I paid 184 Euros ($275 cdn) for in an antique shop. I'm thinking about picking up another one for parts. However, seeing as the store in Central Canada says they have 12 for sale, I might recommend them to other people in my beekeeping community who may wish to get into microscopy.That's why I'm curious about comparative value & cost, were they to purchase a new microscope. MicroBob in the MicrobeHunter.com forum thinks the Ergavals may compare to the contemporary Carl Zeiss Primo Star microscope which Fisher Scientific sells in Canada starting at 1,900 Euros ($2,961 cdn). https://www.fishersci.ca/shop/products/ ... /p-4894171

Ichthyophthirius
Posts: 1152
Joined: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:24 am

Post by Ichthyophthirius »

Hi,

C$ 275 is a good price and with phase contrast it's a great deal.

IF the mechanics are OK and the optics are included, it's a very good small microcope. It can do any simple microscopy task, of course, but there was also a huge range of additional parts available, so you could do anything with it, even DIC (quite rare): https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/17212537 ... -l1000.jpg

Pro:
- interchangable nosepiece
- full Koehler illumination
- wide range of add-ons

Cont:
- the focus moves the entire microscope arm (not just the stage as in the Primo Star) which is a problem for very heavy camera adaptations (therefore you don't find this in contemporary microcopes)
- Primo probably has a larger field of view (FN 20)

The value in use of the Ergaval exceeds the relatively low commercial value of this microscope, I think.

PeterArmitage
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:53 am
Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Post by PeterArmitage »

{- the focus moves the entire microscope arm (not just the stage as in the Primo Star) which is a problem for very heavy camera adaptations (therefore you don't find this in contemporary microcopes) ]

My major unresolved problem with my Ergaval is related to this focus mechanism. Upon purchase the focus mechanism suffered from the “Russian tank grease” problem. However, I could not figure out how to completely dismantle the microscope arm so as to properly service the focus mechanism, and so I cleaned and re-greased what I could reach from the bottom of the arm. I re-greased with Nyogel 795A. I may have over-greased. It won’t stay in focus.

I need to figure out how to completely dismantle the arm in order to thoroughly clean and re-grease the mechanism. Also I’m not sure the Nyogel 795A is viscous enough to maintain focus.

By the way, I spoke with the owner of the Labequip.com company in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He says he has six Carl Zeiss Jena Ergavals for sale and that he had them serviced. He's selling them for $517 cdn (344 euros) + tax. Achromat objectives and no phase contrast. The quality of the servicing is unknown. Nonetheless, this may have some appeal for Canadian and American users of this BBS for whom shipping costs may be reasonable.

What I didn't know is that Zeiss Jena used to sell into North America. The Labequip owner said he had purchased these Ergavals dirt cheap from some high school sale of used lab equipment. They have power adapters for the North American grid.

He had a couple of Ergavals that he was using for parts, but he wouldn't sell me either of these for <$200. I can do better on eBay.

http://www.labequip.com/zeiss-jena-erga ... scope.html

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