Olympus microscopes and photomicrographic equipment

Compound microscopes

During the time that the OM system was in production (1972–2003), Olympus produced 4 different ranges of compound microscopes.

E and F microscopes

The first range included the E and F research microscopes, introduced in 1958 and 1960 respectively, which used objectives designed for a parfocal distance of 36.65 mm and a tube length of 160 mm, and for which the FK photo eyepieces are matched. The biological models included:

EHT – separate coarse and fine focusing knobs, fine focusing graduated at 2μm intervals, right-hand vertical controls for the mechanical stage, 6V 30W lamp (8-C101, TB-1)
FHT – coaxial coarse and fine focusing knobs, fine focusing graduated at 1μm intervals, left- and right-hand horizontal controls for the mechanical stage, 6V 30W lamp (8-C101, TB-1)

Olympus information on the E and F microscopes

AH (Vanox) and BH microscopes

The second range included the AH (Vanox) research microscope (introduced 1972), BH clinical microscope (introduced 1974) and CH student microscopes (introduced 1976), which used objectives designed for a parfocal distance of 36.65 mm and a tube length of 160 mm, and for which the FK photo eyepieces are matched. The biological models included:

BHA – interchangeable nosepiece, 6V 30W lamp (8-C102, LS 30)
BHB – fixed nosepiece, 6V 30W lamp (8-C102, LS 30)
BHC – fixed nosepiece, 6V 15W lamp (8-C103, LS 15)
IMT – inverted microscope, 6V 30W lamp (8-C102, LS 30)

AH-2 (Vanox) and BH-2 microscopes

The third range included the AH-2 (Vanox) research microscope (introduced 1983), BH-2 clinical microscope (introduced 1980) and CH-2 student microscope, which used objectives with a parfocal distance of 45 mm and a tube length of 160 mm, and for which the NFK photo eyepieces are matched. The biological models included:

BHS – wide base, interchangeable nosepiece, 12V 100W lamp (8-C406)
BHT – standard base, interchangeable nosepiece, 6V 20W lamp (8-C405)
BHTU – standard base, fixed nosepiece, 6V 20W lamp (8-C405)
CK2 – inverted microscope, 6V 20W lamp (8-C405)
CK40 – inverted microscope, 6V 30W lamp (8-C410)
IMT-2 – inverted microscope, 12V 50W lamp (8-C407)

Cutaway diagram of an Olympus BH-2 BHS microscope – copyright Olympus America Inc.

Olympus BH-2 BHS Research Microscope Cutaway Diagram – copyright Olympus America Inc.

BX microscopes

The fourth range includes the current BX models, which use infinity-corrected objectives, and for which the PE photo eyepieces are matched.

Manuals and instructions

With all microscopes, it is essential to adjust the eyepieces to match your eyesight and eye separation, and to adjust the condenser and other parts of the lighting system for optimum illumination for a particular objective. Manuals for some older Olympus microscopes can be downloaded on this site:

Downloads of PDF versions of old Olympus microscope brochures, catalogues, instructions and manuals

Manuals for BX and other current Olympus microscopes and accessories can be downloaded from Olympus:

Olympus Manuals

Replacement bulbs and lamps

Searching Google or other search engines for the word “Olympus” and the bulb reference will find several suppliers, but they all seem to be in the USA.

The following companies in the United Kingdom can supply bulbs for old Olympus microscopes:

Screwdrivers

Some of the cross-head screws used in Olympus microscopes do not conform to the Phillips or Pozidriv standards that are common in Europe and North America, but to a Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). Using a Phillips screwdriver on a tight JIS screw is likely to damage the head. JIS screwdrivers are not easy to find in the UK, but a set of 4 (sizes 00, 0, 1 and 2) is available from Fast Lad Performance or Probuild Aircraft Store:

Allen screws are likely to be metric rather than Imperial.

Send comments or questions to Alan Wood

Olympus microscopes and photomicrographic equipment

Olympus OM system close-up and macro equipment