Differences between Ortholux, Dialux, Labolux etc.

[Joe Hope]

Hi,

I'm currently looking to buy a transmitted light microscope to help me
in my studies of lichens and as a replacement for my old monocular
ex-university Meopta. Having read various discussions from the
archives of this newsgroup (which have generally been excellent and
most helpful), I have decided to try to obtain a second hand Zeiss or
Leitz. However, I am somewhat bewildered by the number of different
models on offer; unsurprisingly, there are no brochures on the web for
the older instruments.

In particular, I would like to understand the differences between the
various -lux models of the Leitz brand, such as the Ortholux, Dialux
and Labolux. Also, some of these models seem to have gone through
various 'incarnations', with the newer versions looking completely
different to the older ones. Are there important differences in
capabilities or build quality between these various instruments? Any
information that could be provided would be most welcome.


Many thanks,

Joe

[Kevin Cunningham]

Post by Joe Hope
Hi,
I'm currently looking to buy a transmitted light microscope to help me
in my studies of lichens and as a replacement for my old monocular
ex-university Meopta. Having read various discussions from the
archives of this newsgroup (which have generally been excellent and
most helpful), I have decided to try to obtain a second hand Zeiss or
Leitz. However, I am somewhat bewildered by the number of different
models on offer; unsurprisingly, there are no brochures on the web for
the older instruments.
In particular, I would like to understand the differences between the
various -lux models of the Leitz brand, such as the Ortholux, Dialux
and Labolux. Also, some of these models seem to have gone through
various 'incarnations', with the newer versions looking completely
different to the older ones. Are there important differences in
capabilities or build quality between these various instruments? Any
information that could be provided would be most welcome.
Many thanks,
Joe

The Ortholux II was a research type frame with a superb focus mechanism and
excellent illumination. The Dialux was another superb midsized instrument
with a coarse-fine mechanism very much like the Zeiss but a bit better in
construction. The Laborlux came in both single and dual knob focusing. The
single knob ones were really crappy but the dual knob ones actually worked.
The frame was smaller and designed for hospital and college student use.

These can be difficult to fix, get and experienced tech to do any work.

Kevin

[jacques jedwab]

Ortholux was designed to accept the widest range of accessories,
illuminations, stages....One important use was in mineralogy/petrology,
with simultaneous transm. AND reflected light illuminations + rotating
stage + polarization. The range of photographic accessories to be fit on
the third tube was also remarkable.

The Zeiss Photomicroscop was superb for 24x36 mm photographs. Its Zernicke
phase constrast accessories and objectives were also outstanding.

J.J.

[GTO]

Check out http://www.science-info.org/micro/docs/

Happy reading.

Gregor

PS: Get a Leitz, the good Zeiss lenses sell for too much, even on eBay.

Post by Joe Hope
Hi,
I'm currently looking to buy a transmitted light microscope to help me
in my studies of lichens and as a replacement for my old monocular
ex-university Meopta. Having read various discussions from the
archives of this newsgroup (which have generally been excellent and
most helpful), I have decided to try to obtain a second hand Zeiss or
Leitz. However, I am somewhat bewildered by the number of different
models on offer; unsurprisingly, there are no brochures on the web for
the older instruments.
In particular, I would like to understand the differences between the
various -lux models of the Leitz brand, such as the Ortholux, Dialux
and Labolux. Also, some of these models seem to have gone through
various 'incarnations', with the newer versions looking completely
different to the older ones. Are there important differences in
capabilities or build quality between these various instruments? Any
information that could be provided would be most welcome.
Many thanks,
Joe

[Aaron]

Hi Joe.

Please contact me offline at ***@yahoo.com
I have a nice very complete, very versitile Zeiss Standard microscope
for sale.

Aaron

Post by Joe Hope
Hi,
I'm currently looking to buy a transmitted light microscope to help me
in my studies of lichens and as a replacement for my old monocular
ex-university Meopta. Having read various discussions from the
archives of this newsgroup (which have generally been excellent and
most helpful), I have decided to try to obtain a second hand Zeiss or
Leitz. However, I am somewhat bewildered by the number of different
models on offer; unsurprisingly, there are no brochures on the web for
the older instruments.
In particular, I would like to understand the differences between the
various -lux models of the Leitz brand, such as the Ortholux, Dialux
and Labolux. Also, some of these models seem to have gone through
various 'incarnations', with the newer versions looking completely
different to the older ones. Are there important differences in
capabilities or build quality between these various instruments? Any
information that could be provided would be most welcome.
Many thanks,
Joe

[Joe Hope]

All,

thank you for the many extremely helpful replies to my original post. You've
all given me plenty to think about.

Another Leitz microscope name that seems to crop up a fair bit is the Orthoplan -
can anyone tell me how this microscope would differ from, for example, an
Ortholux?

Also, I wonder if anyone can explain what the scheme of differentiation
between the various '-lux' models was? It doesn't seem to be an ordered
or hierarchical scheme (such as: Ortholux > SM lux > Laborlux ; where '>'
would relate to some index of goodness probably strongly correlated with
price) - were they designed for different applications? Why so many models?

Cheers,

Joe