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My Olympus SZ30 Binocular microscope has a problem!

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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 01-20-2012, 04:33 PM
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Default My Olympus SZ30 Binocular microscope has a problem!

Can anyone tell me what to do - the 2 images (left ocular, right ocular) do not exactly overlap? Is this a problem within the ocular(s) or with one of the lower lenses?
Thanks
Bob
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Old 01-20-2012, 08:33 PM
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I don't know anything about this micrscope.I assume,by the SZ,that this is a stereo zoom 'scope? - if so :
Does the interpupillary distance adjustment work? - Or,you could have a problem with the prisms or objectives alignment.
Does this problem only happen with one paired objective,or all paired objectives?

If it's a binocular compound 'scope then it's likely to be a problem with the interpupillary adjustment or the prism alignment

Or, one or both of the eyepieces may have a badly mounted lens.

These suggestions are only my opinions,other members may have other suggestions.

Good luck
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Old 01-20-2012, 10:47 PM
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The SZ30 is a well-known binoc microscope of Olympus, which I bought in the 1990's.
Yes, the interpupillary distance adjustment works.
When I swop oculars, there is no change in the bad overlaps, and they remain as before (don't swap positions), ie the oculars are not the problem, but there must be something wrong with the prisms in the body of the mike, ie the prism alignment.
Anyone know how to correct? There is of course no service manual available for "ordinary mortal" clients.
Bob
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Old 01-21-2012, 12:32 AM
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Sounds to me like it's been dropped or knocked and a prism has lost alignment. Not sure if it would be economical to get it fixed, as used stereo scopes are very cheap on E-bay now.
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Old 01-21-2012, 12:50 AM
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I've just done a Google search for an Olympus SZ30 ,scope(which I should have done before my first reply) and it returns the SZ30 as a Stereo microscope.(Stereo is not the same as binocular)
I don't know if it is a Greenough type or a Common Main Objective(CMO) type of stereo perhaps you or someone else can enlighten me.
The only way that I know of for realignment of the prisms is by careful trial and error adjustments and careful marking of the positions of the prisms before making the adjustments
You could do a search on the Micscape-UK site,or a Google search, for the collimation of binocular/stereo microscopes,there are articles by Paul James, describing the proceedures for collimation on the Micscape-UK site

Buying another 'scope off eBay could result in another 'scope with even more problems

Last edited by microgreen; 01-21-2012 at 12:54 AM.
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Old 01-21-2012, 02:29 AM
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Double images can be caused by mis-alignment of the objective tubes or the prism groups or both. The problem may be on one side or both. Generally, because the prism groups rotate to achieve the IPD settings there is more to alignment than just trial and error. Problems can be as simple as a prism being slightly out of place or as serious as a bent prism mount. In any case, this is probably not a repair for someone without the proper jigs and targets. I would look for a good qualified technician but would not be to surprised if there is no one around who can service the scope.
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Old 01-22-2012, 11:52 AM
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Many thanks for all your suggestions, and I now know what to do. On the ‘net I found what I think is the only REPAIR manual which Olympus allowed to slip through, the Repair Manual for the Olympus SZ III (http://www.alanwood.net/downloads/ol...air-manual.pdf ).
Although not my model, it gives a good idea of all the problems which can be encountered, and what to do.
Now, when I think about it, my poor Olympus has experienced so many house removals/changes, that it has obviously suffered. I seem to remember that in the not too distant past, it crashed to the floor. Not only are the images not quite concentric, but the centre of rotation is quite far from the optical centre; also, zooming changes the focus. Also, when I rotate it, I hear something (screw? Hopefully not a chink of prism glass!) moving around inside.
So I will undo 1 screw after another, until I panic, re-assemble, and later when I regain courage, repeat, each time proceeding a bit further.
Thanks again.
Bob
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