The OM-Mount Photomicro Adapter L was designed to attach an Olympus OM or SC 35 Type 12 camera body to an Olympus compound microscope or stereo microscope, either directly or via one or more additional adapters. Any OM body can be attached, but for photomicrography the 1-12 focusing screen is almost essential, and so the fixed-screen bodies are not suitable. With a simple adapter, a Canon EOS digital SLR can be used instead of an OM body. The top of the Adapter has the same fitting as the rear of a lens, and attaches to the camera body in the normal way. Some of the Olympus microscope literature refers to this item as the Photomicro adapter MOM-L.
Base of the Olympus OM Photomicro Adapter L | Photomicro Adapter L with OM-2 on an Olympus BH2-TR30 trinocular head |
The bottom of the Adapter is intended to clamp on to the standard Olympus circular dovetail fitting for attaching cameras to microscopes. This dovetail fitting is found on some Olympus microscopes, on some Olympus trinocular heads and photo tubes, and on the eyepiece adapters. The photo eyepieces fit inside the circular dovetail.
Microscope | Adapter |
---|---|
Olympus IMT-2 (inverted) or BH-2 (with BH2-TR30, BH2-SWTR30 or BH2-TTR trinocular head) |
direct |
Olympus CK2 (inverted) or CH-2 (with BH-TR45-W trinocular head) |
Eyepiece Adapter PM-ADF |
Olympus CK40 & CK40M (inverted) or CH40 (with CH3-TR45 trinocular head) |
Eyepiece Adapter PM-ADF |
Olympus IM (inverted) or BH (with BH-TR45 trinocular head) |
Eyepiece Adapter PM-ADF |
Olympus IMT-2 (inverted) or Olympus VANOX | direct |
Olympus BX45 (with U-ETR3 or U-TR30-2 trinocular head) |
U-SPT single port tube or U-DPT double port tube |
Olympus BX41, BX51 or BX61 (with U-ETR3, U-SWETR, U-TR30-2 or U-SWTR-2 trinocular head) |
U-SPT single port tube or U-DPT double port tube |
Olympus CX41 (with U-CTR30-2 trinocular head) |
U-SPT single port tube or U-DPT double port tube |
Olympus SZH | SZH-PT photo tube |
Olympus SZ4045 TRPT, SZ6045 TRPT or SZ1145 TRPT (most trinocular models have the SZ-CTV C-mount adapter, which is interchangeable with the SZ-PT) |
SZ-PT photo tube |
Olympus SZX7, SZX9 or SZX12 (with SZX-TR30 trinocular head) |
U-SPT single port tube |
Olympus SZ-III-Tr (vertical monocular tube) |
Eyepiece Adapter PM-ADF |
Olympus JM-Tr or X-Tr (vertical monocular tube) |
Eyepiece Adapter PM-ADP |
Standard monocular tube | Eyepiece Adapter PM-ADF or PM-ADP |
Standard binocular tube | Eyepiece Adapter PM-ADG or PM-ADG-3 |
Base of Adapter L to film/sensor plane | 151.2 mm |
---|---|
Base of Adapter L to OM body mount | 105.2 mm |
Base of NFK top section to film/sensor plane | 150.0 mm |
Base of NFK top section to OM body mount | 104.0 mm |
Weight (cream version) | 240 gm |
Weight (grey version) | 241 gm |
Microscope ref. | MOM-L |
Olympus no. | 7-C545 |
US catalog no. | 105-036 |
Introduced | 1972 |
Discontinued | 2003 |
Olympus has made at least 4 ranges of photographic eyepieces, each suited to different types of objective.
The following table provides a guide for matching the eyepieces and objectives for compound microscopes.
Eyepieces | Objectives | Adapter |
---|---|---|
PE range | UIS/UIS2 infinity corrected (standard on BX, CX and IX) | U-SPT or U-DPT |
NFK range | LB long barrel, 45 mm parfocal (standard on BH-2, CH-2, CH40, CK2, CK40 and IMT-2) | PM-ADF |
FK range | older, 36.65 mm parfocal (standard on BH, E & F, K, G & H, MF & N, CK, IM, FLM, and POM & POS) | PM-ADF |
P range | other | PM-ADP |
The following table provides a guide for matching the eyepieces with stereo microscopes.
Eyepieces | Microscope | Adapter |
---|---|---|
PE range | Olympus SZX7, SZX9 or SZX12 (with SZX-TR30 trinocular head) | U-SPT |
NFK range | Olympus SZ4045 TRPT, SZ6045 TRPT or SZ1145 TRPT | SZ-PT |
Olympus SZH | SZH-PT | |
FK range | Olympus SZ-III-Tr | PM-ADF |
P range | Olympus X-Tr or JM-Tr | PM-ADP |
Two versions are known, differing only in their colour. The more recent version has the main part of the adapter finished in a smooth, semi-matt cream, similar to the BH-2, CH-2, CK40 and IMT-2 microscopes. The earlier version is finished in a “hammered” medium grey, similar to the BH and CH microscopes and the grey parts of the Auto Bellows and various other OM macro equipment.
Some of the Olympus microscope literature refers to this item as the Photomicro adapter MOM-L.
CAUTION: Olympus did NOT make a version of the Adapter L with a T-mount. Modified versions of the Adapter L with a T-mount sometimes appear on eBay, but the modification increases the height of the adapter by 10 mm or more, and so the image seen by the camera will not be parfocal with the image seen through the eyepieces.
Richard J. Kinch makes an (Olympus 38mm Dovetail to T-mount Adapter) that maintains the proper 150.0 mm distance from the lip on which the top section of an NFK eyepiece rests to the plane of the sensor. The T-2 mount allows it to be used with many film and digital DLRs and with digital system cameras.
The PA1-10A 35mm SLR Camera Adapter from Diagnostics Instruments fits the circular dovetail on an Olympus trinocular microscope, and takes a T-2 mount at the other end; it can therefore be used with many other SLR cameras, not just Olympus.
There are no moving or electronic connections between the Photomicro Adapter L and the Olympus OM camera body, so it is easy to adapt digital camera bodies that are less deep than the OM, and Canon EOS digital SLRs are often used. The most suitable are the EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 6D, because they have a sensor the same size as 35mm film.
Olympus OM camera bodies and the SC 35 Type 12 scientific camera have a register distance of 46 mm from the film plane to the front surface of the mount for lenses. Canon EOS digital SLRs have a corresponding distance of 44 mm, and so they need an adapter 2.0 mm thick when they are used to replace an Olympus body. It is not possible to make an adapter for Nikon F camera bodies that maintains parfocality, but replacement rear lens mounts are available.
The register distances for many other cameras can be found in Camera Mounts Sorted by Register.
Reproduced with permission from the copyright owner, Olympus Optical Co., Ltd
HOW TO USE THE PHOTOMICRO ADAPTERS L & H
As previously mentioned, the connecting units employed in the Photomicro Group can be divided into two groups, according to the total magnification. One group centering on the Photomicro Adapter L is chiefly used for total magnifications of 250× and lower; the other group, centering on the Photomicro Adapter H, for magnifications higher than 250×.
Whatever the magnification, to master photomicrographic techniques you must first become familiar with every unit. The following pages describe how to use the Photomicro Adapters L, H, Eyepiece Adapters PM-ADF, PM-ADP, PM-ADG-3 and Photomicro Stand PM-PSS.
USE OF THE ADAPTER L
• Function of the Adapter L
For photomicrography with the OM body, this adapter is used to mount a photo eyepiece on the camera. The eyepieces available for this use are the NFK (FK), P and G. Each of them requires a specific eyepiece adapter PM-ADF, PD-ADP or PM-ADG-3. For 20× objectives, with total magnification up to 250×, the Adapter L directly connects to either of these three eyepiece adapters. Note, however, that the Adapter L can be directly applied to the Olympus Universal Research Microscope VANOX, BH2 series microscopes and the Photomicrographic Stand PM-PSS for photomicrography with the OM body through the whole range of magnification.
• Use the Adapter L
1. Replace the standard Focusing Screen 1-13 with the Screen 1-12.
2. Mount the the Photomicro Adapter L to the OM body. The Adapter L is attached to the camera in the same manner as a normal interchangable lens.
3. Determine the magnification.
Picture magnification is determined by the following formula.
Eyepiece | Picture magnification |
---|---|
NFK (FK) | NFK (FK) eyepiece power × objective power |
P & G | P or G eyepiece power × objective power × approx. 0.5 |
Photo eyepiece | Compatible microscope |
---|---|
NFK FK G P |
VANOX (AHB-LB), BH2 VANOX (AH) & BH Stereoscopic Microscopes Others |
4. In photomicrography, microscopes require special eyepieces FK, P or G for use with the OM body and Adapter L for low power magnification
5. Select an eyepiece adapter suitable for the eyepiece in use.
NOTE:
The VANOX (AH and BH series including AHB-LB), BH2 and PM-PSS do not require any eyepiece adapter.
6. Mount the Adapter L with camera onto the microscope.
After selection of the Eyepiece/Eyepiece Adapter combination, mount the entire camera assembly on the microscope as follows:
a. For Photo Eyepiece NFK (or FK)
b. For Eyepiece P
c. For Eyepiece G10×
d. For Eyepieces G15× and G20×
e. For Eyepieces GWH10×
7. Adjust the camera position.
If it is necessary to adjust the camera position, loosen the clamping screw provided on the Adapter L, rotate the camera to the desired position, and reclamp.
8. Focus.
Focusing with the OM System Focusing Screen 1-12.
9. Determine the exposure.
USE OF PHOTOMICROGRAPHIC STAND PM-PSS
To set up the microscope on the PM-PSS, as illustrated above, please read the instructions provided with the stand, and then proceed as follows:
1. Set the Focusing Screen 1-12 to the OM body.
2. Place the microscope on the base of the PM-PSS, so that the photo tube comes directly under the camera supporting arm.
3. Insert the eyepiece into the photo tube.
4. Looking through the camera mounting hole in the arm, let down the arm until the Eyepiece enters the hole (if necessary, adjust the microscope position so as to accurately center the Eyepiece in the hole).
5. Loosening the clamping screw provided on the Adapter L, put the Adapter L over the camera mounting hole, and clamp.
6. Lower the arm slowly until it stops (at this height, the diaphragm inside the Adapter L touches the top of the eyepiece).
Then raise the arm by about 1mm so that the Adapter L floats off to the Eyepiece. Take care not to allow the periphery of the Eyepiece or light shield tube to come into contact with the edge of the camera mounting hole. Then raise the collar to support the arm.
7. Mount the OM body on the Adapter L.
8. Focus and expose.
OLYMPUS
OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
43-2 Hatagaya 2-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Created 18th May 2001 – Updated 18th October 2019
Copyright © 2001–2019 Alan Wood