Re binocular parts stereo

[P3D Peter Homer <P.J.Homer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In reply to Elliots enquiry about binocular microscope parts for stereo I
have had similar thoughts myself since discovering that binocular
microscopes cna give stereo images with one objective. Elliots microscope
sounds a little unusual though, I have not heard of a microscope before
with a mechanical/mirror system .Usualy they use moving prisms, front
surface mirrors could certainly do the same job and would be a lot lighter
which is important if you want to attach it to a camera. But if the
microscope is of the beamsplitter type does that mean it uses semisilvered
mirrors for the job rather than a Swan prism.? If so the images would be
identical whereas in a a Swan cube the reflected component has to be beyond
the critical angle to undergo "Total Internal Reflection" the transmited
within it so a difference in angle is introduced between the two images.
The only way that a Microscope with mirrors would work that I can see is if
it was a "True" stereo microscope with two objectives.
                                                            P.J.Homer



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