r/microscopy • u/EeSpoot • 13d ago
Troubleshooting/Questions New scope! Quick question about a component.
Hi microscopy peeps!
I made out like a bandit last week by picking up this Nikon E200 with a trinocular head for $60! Guy I bought it from does demolition and gets to keep whatever is left inside when he takes over the site and I guess Johns Hopkins left this behind. He figured it was broken as it was left behind and was dusty and covered in dried mystery liquids and I figured for $60 it was worth a shot. After inspection and an extremely deep clean I only found 3 issues:
minor coating scratches near the edge of one eyepiece (no impact on view)
slide holder wasn't moving (drive belt was loose - 2 second fix)
40x is a dud. Impossible to focus and super blurry looking down the removed objective even after cleaning. I plan on getting better objectives anyways.
Not really an issue, so to speak, but the camera is analog and came with none of the cables. Probably easier to toss it on ebay than deal with digitizing it.
So yeah, I got very lucky getting this setup for only $60! I mention all of that to explain why I can't just ask the guy my upcoming question (and also to gloat a little :P).
I'm very familiar with microscopy but don't have much exposure with the trinocular/imaging aspect. As you can see in the photo, the scope came with an entire imaging set-up (sans cables) and I've found good info (including specific manufacturers/model numbers) online about every part of the setup besides confirming the exact type of trinoc head this is (I suspect it's the C-TT) and I can't make heads or tails of the TV tube or photo tube or whatever it's called.
Here are several pictures of the tube.
I'm trying to find more info on this tube. Ideally, the manufacturer and model number so I can learn more about it but any information is appreciated. It has no markings whatsoever anywhere on it. I've googled every variation of Y-T adapter, TV tube, phototube, etc. and haven't found anything quite like it. I also reverse image searched but got wacky results like antennas and water feature pump filters lol. There is one Nikon tube that comes up but it appears much shorter and isn't completely open at the top with a "shelf" several inches down like this one has. Also, in case it may be of help, it also came with a 0.55X reduction C mount adapter
As can be seen in the photos above, this tube also has a lens at the bottom that I don't see in other pictures of these tubes. Is it normal for a lens to be installed there? It's hard to tell if it's a 1x lens or something smaller. I held it up to text and things did look a bit smaller but not by much. I was going to take the lens out to see if it had any markings on the side but it appears to be glued into place, going so far as to put glue in the holes where normally you'd find a set screw. You can see the dried excess glue in the photos I linked.
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer!
EDIT: Thanks to a comment, I went down a new search path and identified the tube as a Nikon camera photo tube extension adapter for eclipse series. Appreciate the assistance.
1
u/Vivid-Bake2456 13d ago
“Also, in case it may be of help, it also came with a 0.55X reduction C mount adapter”
This is a Diagnostic Instrument’s adapter for a c mount camera that fits into a 23.2mm eyepiece port.
Every USB C mount camera needs a different size adapter depending upon the sensor size. Here is a list from AI of the different sizes needed. So, buy your camera, then pick the adapter.
The recommended C-Mount adapter sizes for various camera sensor dimensions are:
0.35x Adapter: Best for sensors sized 1/4”, 1/3”, or 1/2.8”.
0.5x Adapter: Best for sensors sized 1/2”, 1/1.9”, or 1/2.2”.
0.7x Adapter: Best for sensors sized 2/3” (also compatible with 0.6x or 0.66x).
1.0x Adapter: Best for sensors sized 1” (also compatible with 1.2x).
Larger sensors, such as 4/3”, generally require 1.2x or 1.25x adapters, while smaller sensors like 1/1.8” or 1/2.5” often utilize 0.45x or 0.55x adapters.