Nikon Clinical Microscope Review – Model: Eclipse 200 LED

Nikon Eclipse 200 LED Microscope  

 

 

Objectives: Nikon employs it’s CFi60 E Plan objective lenses (pictured below) to achieve excellent resolution and clarity on the E200. The E Plan objectives deliver long working distances, high numerical apertures and flat images over the entire field of view with virtually no curvature of field when used in conjunction with Nikon’s 10x/20mm field of view eyepieces.  The E200 can hold 4 objectives at once and comes standard with a 4x, 10x, 40x E Plan dry brightfield objective set. A 100x oil immersion is also included in the MSRP of $2,049.00 US Dollars. Nikon also offers phase objectives as well as a 2x, 20x, 60x and 50x oil immersion objectives that can be substituted at an additional cost. The 2x and Phase objectives will require a specialized condenser.  

Optics

Eyepieces: Nikon’s CFi 10x/22mm eyepieces employ diopters to make both eyepieces adjustable. They can be dialed in for phenomenal sharpness and parfocality, so that no coarse focus adjustment is needed when switching back and forth between the 10x and 40x objective lenses.  Each eyepiece has a built in reticle shelf which can accommodate an ocular micrometer, miller disc, or Howard mold count reticle. Nikon’s quality control team ensures that the same chromium free glass that is used in the objective lenses is used in their adjustable eyepieces. 15x eyepieces are available at an additional cost from an authorized Nikon microscope dealer. 

Condenser: The Nikon E200 comes with a 1.25 brightfield abbe condenser and auxiliary lens. The auxiliary lens allows for full field of view under the 4x objective lens without shadows. The condenser employs a leaf diaphragm which allows the microscopist to accurately set  the condenser to the corresponding objective each time.  The E200 condenser is centered and does not require Koehler illumination. Phase, darkfield (dry and oil immersion), and phase turret condensers are available from Nikon as an upgrade. A swing out condenser for a 2x objective can also be substituted for an additional cost for Pathology and Mohs Dermpathology microscopy.

Mechanics

Stage: Nikon uses a belt driven right handed scratch resistant mechanical stage to achieve optimum range of motion across the x and y axis. The left handed slide release allows for simple specimen switch out for high volume labs. The stage mechanism is equipped with a “push down” reset where the specimen can be changed out without the need to refocus. The wide platform and long fingered specimen holder can accommodate two slides for comparative viewing of specimens. 

Focus System:  Nikon’s coarse and fine focus employ ultra smooth mechanics for ease of use. The focus system comes with a torque ring which can be adjusted to specific user needs and preferences. The focus system also has an upper limit stop which protects slides and specimens. This is especially useful for teaching environments such as the college level biology labs where students are prone to breaking specimen slides which causes glass to get down in the gears and optical path.

Illumination  System 

LED: Nikon has engineered an eco friendly light emitting diode system in conjunction with a “fly eye lens” which illuminates the entire field of view with clean white light. The use of the LED illumination system eliminates the need for a color correcting blue filter found in halogen microscopes of years gone by. This makes for less eye strain on the microscopist.  The LED’s low power consumption and operating temperature extends the life of the electrical components which drive the microscopes light source. The intensity of the light can be varied. The light output is bright enough for a teaching head configuration. 

Warranty  

5 Years: Nikon offers a 5 year warranty on optics, mechanics, and even the electrical system (Most of Nikon’s competitors offer only 1 year on Electrical). This ensures that the microscope is free from manufacturer’s defects. In the event that your Nikon E200 is damaged from user error, microscope parts for the E200 can be purchased online. You may also use Nikon’s database to find an authorized Nikon microscope repair representative in your vicinity for on-site repairs and regularly scheduled preventative microscope maintenance.  

Where to Buy

Online:  The Nikon E200 LED Microscope can be bought online with immediate delivery from an authorized Nikon clinical microscope dealer. Bulk discounts are frequently offered for universities and hospitals.

Target Audience  

Best Fit: Nikon designed the Eclipse 200 LED microscope to fit a wide range of clinical applications. The E200 is modular which means components can always be added at a later date. The strong mechanical design and high quality optics make the E200 a favorite among laboratory managers, veterinarians, and universities. The Nikon E200 is truly a universal microscope which works well across the clinical spectrum. The brochure for the Nikon E200 can be downloaded at the following link: Nikon E200 Brochure

Overall Recommendation

Strong buy. The Nikon E200 is our favorite fixed head microscope for clinical microscopy. The high quality Nikon optics and super smooth mechanics make using the Nikon E200 a pleasure for everyday lab use. We would be hard priced to find a better microscope in the same price range. We prefer the Nikon Eclipse 200 over the Olympus CX series and the Leica DM series.  Nikon’s quality control team ensures that no E200 is sold without meeting Nikon’s renowned quality control standards.

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Microscope Eyepieces – Magnification, Field of View, and Fit.

Magnification: Eyepieces come in different magnifications. The most commonly used is the 10x magnification. The majority of pre-configured microscopes come with 10x eyepieces. The major manufacturers such as Nikon, Olympus, and Leica make eyepieces in 15x and 20x for increased magnification. The trade off is that the higher the magnification, a smaller the field of view, and the more costly the eyepiece.

When calculating total magnification, we multiply the power of the eyepiece by the power of the objective. (and any intermediate or auxiliary lenses.) In the Nikon CFI 10x/22 eyepiece pictured above, the magnification is 10x. To determine the total magnification used with a 40x objective, we simply multiply the 10x by the 40x to get a total magnification of 400 times under a 40x objective.  If you don’t specifically need an increase in magnification, then stick with 10x eyepieces and the wider field of view.

Field of View: Eyepieces use a “Field of View” number often given in millimeters to measure the complete field of view when used in conjunction with the different objectives on a microscope. Eyepieces typically come sized with 18mm, 20mm, and 22mm field of view numbers. The field of view should always be in concert with the field number of the objectives used.  If you us an eyepiece with a 22mm field of view and an objective with a 20mm outside field number you will get a halo effect when looking through the microscope at low power. It is highly recommended that you consult an authorized microscope representative to make sure the eyepieces you are buying are matched correctly to your corresponding objectives.  The bigger the field number, the larger the field of view. To calculate field of view you can visit the chart in the link.

Physical Fit: The eyepiece must physically fit into the eyepiece tube. Not all 10x/22mm eyepieces are the same. The eyepiece in the picture above fits a Nikon Ci-L microscope head. This eyepiece is proprietary to Nikon’s heads because there are little notches to keep the eyepiece from spinning when using the diopter.

Eyepiece Micrometer: Lastly, the other number that comes into play when looking at an eyepiece is the micrometer size. Most high quality eyepieces accept micrometers.  This micrometer size typically ranges between 18mm and 27mm. This size is typically only available from the manufacturer. The round glass eyepiece micrometer (sometimes referred to as a reticle) is installed through the bottom of the eyepiece and is held in place with a retaining ring. Micrometers are available in a wide variety of types and sizes for counting and measuring.

Closing Recommendation: My advice would be to size your eyepieces according to the manufacturer’s recommendation per the particular model microscope you are using. Interchanging eyepieces can reduce optical quality. Consult a reputable microscope dealer for guidance, now that you have a basic overview of what to look for in an eyepiece.

Microscope for College and University Labs (On a Budget)

Q: College Lab Manager:  Which binocular microscope would you recommend for the multi-user environment of the college laboratory setting?

A: Microscope Consultant:  Taking three things into consideration, price, optical quality, and durability, I would recommend the Nikon Eclipse 200 LED.

The Olympus CX-31 would be a close second, but costs more than the Nikon E200.

With a list price of $2,038.00 USD, the Nikon Eclipse 200 LED does not fit into every colleges budget. So we then look at the second tier microscope companies such as Accu-scope, Labomed, and WP. The second tier microscope companies make solid microscopes that focus on economics before optical quality.

The newest model offered by WP is the 3008-L3 college level binocular microscope.

Bang for your Buck

Better Objective Package: This microscope comes complete with a 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x, and 100x, Oil Plan Objective package. This trumps the competition who offer four objective packages due to the limiting four hole nosepiece.

Wider Field of View: The WP 3008-L3 provides 10x objectives with a true 22mm field of view. This trumps the competition by providing a wider field of view for students. 22mm field of view is the typical field number you find in next level clinical microscopes used on the professional level.

Better Mechanical Stage: The WP 3008-L3 comes standard with a right handed graphite mechanical stage. The graphite makes this stage scratch resistant.

Better Illumination System: The WP 3008-L3 comes standard with a energy saving variable LED illumination system which is superior to the old halogen illumination system found in other brands of microscopes. Greener technology and no more “replacement lamp” costs = $ savings for bulk users.

Better Condenser: The WP 3008-L3 comes standard with a 1.25 Abbe condenser. The diaphragm control is marked with each magnification to ensure that students are obtaining the optimal image.

Storage Friendly: The WP 3008-L3 comes with a built in cord wrap and 360 degree rotatable head. This allows for the 3008-L3 to fit comfortably into storage cabinets.

Of course the 3008-L3 comes with all the standard options that your typical college microscope comes with. A 5 year limited warranty from the manufacturer allows for you to buy with confidence.

Conclusion

The 3008-L3 is a legitimate contender for “best low cost college level microscope of 2015” in our opinion.  As always, it’s best to cost shop all microscopes based on the microscope model so you know that you are getting an apples to apples comparison on price. As always, with educational institutions, make sure you request your educational discount. Most microscope companies will also include free shipping. The 3008-L3 is a simple assembly straight out of the box which does NOT require a qualified microscope service company to set up. Most microscope companies now provide written quotes via email from their websites.

Diopter – Why adjustable eyepieces are important when buying a microscope.

Your eyes are different from my eyes. In fact, my left eye sees differently than my right eye. This is typical in most human beings. So when you look through a microscope, your right eye is seeing your specimen with a different degree of sharpness than your left eye. By allowing the microscope user to adjust the eyepiece through the use of a diopter, the user can sharpen the focus of the specimen to a finer degree customized to their own eyes.

Adjustable eyepieces are essential to an image’s sharpness. When purchasing a microscope, you should insist upon a microscope where both eyepieces are adjustable.

The good news is that most of the high quality microscope manufacturers, like Nikon and Olympus, provide the option for adjustable eyepieces. In fact, Nikon’s current clinical line of microscopes only come with adjustable eyepieces. When buying microscopes for your lab, make sure that both eyepieces are adjustable.

How to make a 20mm Infinity Objective fit the Nikon 25mm thread pattern Eclipse Microscope Series.

The question arose the other day in a scan of the microscope forums on Yahoo. The user wanted to know if he could use his rather expensive Olympus 100x Oil Objective on a Nikon microscope.

The nosepiece thread pattern for Nikon Eclipse series microscopes is 25mm. (with the exception of the Nikon Eclipse 100 LED which is the standard RMS threading of 20mm)

The thread pattern for Olympus Infinity objectives is 20mm RMS. There in lies the problem.

SEO Enterprises, Inc Microscope Sales and Service is now making available a step down adapter that reduces the thread size of the 25mm Nikon to the 20mm thread pattern of most microscopes, including Olympus, Meiji, and Accuscope.

The Nikon Adapter is available on their website.

Microscope Buyer’s Guide Checklist

You can use the following checklist when buying a microscope for your laboratory. This is a basic list for an upright microscope which includes most of the things you should consider to make an informed decision when buying your microscope. You can print this form out for your own use.

How do I connect my Nikon DSLR camera to my Nikon Microscope?

How do I connect my Nikon DSLR camera to my Nikon Microscope?

Connecting a camera to a microscope requires a specialized set of adapters.

The adapters not only attach the camera to the trinocular microscope head, but they will often act as an auxiliary lens.

 

You will need:

– 1 Nikon DSLR Camera

– 1 Nikon Trinocular Microscope (E200, E400, E600, 50i, 55i, 80i, 90i)

– 1 Nikon F Mount

– 1 Nikon F Mount TV Tube 

The F Mount will mount to your Nikon DSLR Camera body in place of your lens. The F mount slides into the F Mount TV Tube and it is held in place by set screws so that your DSLR camera points down the tube. You will then mount the F Mount TV tube to the trinocular port of your microscope.

The F Mount uses nodules that will allow your Nikon DSLR camera to  meter the image correctly.

Once you have the proper adapters, the set up is simple and the images come out fantastic. If your DSLR camera comes with a USB cord, you can hook it directly to a computer to capture digital images and video of your specimen.