Monocular compound microscope - SM-LUX - 1900-2000 - Germany - Leitz, Ernst Leitz

Leica SM-LUX High-Quality Microscope.

Description: Surplus from my lab. Made in Germany. Being sold to finance other projects. This is a LEICA SM-LUX from Germany with full Köhler illumination (two diaphragms: field diaphragm at the bottom and then the pre-stage diaphragm, each with a condenser). The pre-stage diaphragm and the condenser also include a NA 1.25 condenser (very useful for objectives of 20x or higher), which can be activated at any time with a tilting lever. For adjusting the upper condenser you have centering (two knobs) and Z-axis height movement (designed to allow some margin with the NA 1.25 condenser activated, only a few millimeters of travel). Everything here is in excellent condition. The diaphragms move so smoothly they feel brand new. The monocular is perfect and the eyepiece is also in excellent condition. The power button works correctly. The focusing system works like new, with all-metal aluminum controls, no defocusing or other mechanical issues like those often found in vintage equipment’s Z-axis movable stages. The fine focus is very precise and surprisingly easy.

The drawbacks are that it is monocular (instead of binocular, although a Leica binocular can be purchased to adapt it) and the lack of an X-Y stage for fine motion of the specimen (I recommend buying the XY stage separately). The dovetail is Leica-type (large Ø 43 mm dovetail, small Ø 40 mm). The distance between the mounting holes of the stage (x4) is 112.50 × 80.50 mm, all with standard M4 metric threads. There are two additional threaded holes in a central position and four more untapped holes for metal clamps (includes two clamps, as shown in the photos).

Uses a halogen bulb (working, appears new), very easy to change without touching any screws (see photo 8). The bulb can literally be replaced in seconds. It runs directly on 220 V (the transformer is behind the lower cover). I have been able to use objectives up to 50x with no more than 25% of total power. Normally, with objectives from 4x to 25x, I used it at no more than 10% of total power. Therefore, this halogen illumination is more than enough for any project.

You can see photos taken through it with different objectives (unmodified images; the camera used was a Samsung NX1100 with the standard Samsung 20-50 mm lens, taken through this microscope exactly as shown).

IN SUMMARY: A very clean and functioning microscope, lacking objectives and an XY stage. Although it shows normal signs of use on the body, the optical system is very clean, with no “hidden defects.” I recommend it as a base to build your dream system from here.