Russian Microscopes

[fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Dr. George A. Themelis)]

A few people expressed interest, so I might as well post this in photo-3d:
 
>What is this about Russian stereo microscopes? Do you have any catalogs
>or sources to Russian optics?
 
No.  I got this one through our microscope repairman at work.  Apparently,
the Russians are making good quality optical microscopes which are now
imported in the west.  Unlike cameras, these microscopes do not suffer from
quality control problems, perhaps because the mechanical construction is
simple.  The optics are excellent as far as I can tell (I compared my
microscope with all the name-brand stereo microscopes at work).
 
It was not cheap.  I paid $700, down from $850 (after hard bargaining), but
the microscope comes complete with 5 eyepieces, power supply, trans-
illuminated base and more.  It is a professional instrument, not a toy.
 
I have seen a regular binocular microscope (not stereo) for $500 and 
I am tempted to buy that one too (assuming that sales from my Jan. 30th 
huge sale go well ;))  A stereo microsope will magnify from 5x to 100x 
(mine will, typical range is 10x to 40x) and the image is truly stereo.  
A binocular microscope will typically mangify from 100x to 1000x but the 
image is flat.  You can use both eyes but you see no depth.  There is an 
entire chaper in the "Realist Manual" book devoted on taking 3-d pictures 
through microscopes.  It shows pictures with a Realist attached to a 
stereo microsope and discusses how to take stereo pictures in a binocular 
microscope.  It is illustrated with stereo pairs too.  This subject was 
also discussed in photo-3d a few months ago.  William Carter has done a 
lot of work in this area and P. Homer offered extensive information.
 
It appears that these Russian microsopes are getting into the USA through
enterprising importers and are offered for sale at different places, mainly
clearance houses and microscope technicians.
 
Hope that this helps.  -- George


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