Olympus OM system close-up and macro equipment

Epi-Illuminator PM-LSD 2

Introduction

The Epi-Illuminator was produced by the Microscope Division of Olympus, and was designed for use with a stereo microscope. The lamp housing is attached to a short horizontal arm that allows it be tilted around a horizontal axis. The short arm is attached to a longer arm that can be adjusted vertically on a column attached to a heavy metal base, and that can also be adjusted for angle and extension.

PM-LSD 2 Epi-Illuminator
Bulb TB-1, 6–8 Volt 6 Amp
Connecting plugs 4 mm “banana” plugs
Filter size 45 mm circular
Microscope ref. PM-LSD 2
US catalog no.  
Introduced 1972
Discontinued  
Olympus Epi-Illuminator PM-LSD 2 (photograph courtesy of Dirk van der Marel)

The Trans-Illuminator can be used for various types of lighting, including:

Incident lighting Coaxial lighting with Mirror Housing

Requires a transformer. A lead from the rear end of the lamp housing terminates in two 4 mm “banana” plugs that fit the 4 mm sockets on the rear of the transformer.

Versions

The version that was sold for use with the OM system is finished in a “hammered” medium grey, similar to the grey parts of the Auto Bellows and various other OM macro equipment.

There is a newer version finished in a smooth, semi-matt cream. There may be an older version finished in a smooth, glossy grey.

Accessories

Supplied with 3 bulbs. Requires one of the Olympus transformers. A range of filters was available.

Bulbs – Specification and Alternatives

Base SBC (Small Bayonet Cap)
BA15d (15 mm Double Contact Candelabra Bayonet)
Rating 6–8 Volts
5 Amps
30 Watts
Designations Hosobuchi OP2118
MicroscopeBulb.com MXA20315
Nikon 77904
Olympus TB-1
Olympus 8-C101
SM-8C101
Ushio 8C101
Ushio 8000241 SM-77904

Filters

Several circular filters, diameter 43 mm or 45 mm, were available for use with the Epi-Illuminator:

G-53 Color Balance Filter
Green, for increased contrast with some subjects and black-and-white film. Diameter 45 mm, no mount.

Y-48 Color Balance Filter
Yellow, for increased contrast with some subjects and black-and-white film. Diameter 45 mm, no mount.

LBD Colour Temperature Filter (43LBD-W45)
Diameter 43 mm, in 45 mm mount, interference filter.
Older Olympus literature says that this filter is purplish blue, mired shift −80, for use with artificial light colour transparency film balanced for 3200°K and transformer at 5 volts. This correction is approximately equivalent to a Kodak Wratten 80C filter, which gives a shift of −81 mireds.
More recent Olympus literature says that it has a mired shift of −131 and is equivalent to a Kodak Wratten 80A or Nikon NCB filter, for use with a 3200°K light source and daylight colour transparency film.

LBD-2 Colour Temperature Filter
Diameter 45 mm, no mount, not an interference filter, for use with daylight-balanced films and tungsten-halogen bulbs.

LBD-2N Colour Temperature Filter
Diameter 45 mm, no mount, not an interference filter, for use with daylight-balanced films and tungsten-halogen bulbs. There were two versions.
The first version consists of an LBD-2 filter cemented to a didymium filter (didymium filters are used in color photomicrography to enhance the intensities and hues of specimens that have been stained with eosin, fuchsin and methylene blue).
The second version does not include the didymium filter.

LB-45 Color Temperature Filter
Blue, mired shift −45, for use with artificial light colour transparency film balanced for 3200°K or 3400°K and transformer at 6 volts. Diameter 45 mm, no mount. This correction is equivalent to a Kodak Wratten 82C filter, which also gives a shift of −45 mireds.

LB-100 Color Temperature Filter
Blue, mired shift −100. Diameter 45 mm, no mount. This correction is approximately equivalent to a combination of Kodak Wratten 80C+82A filters, which gives a shift of −102 mireds.

LB-200 Color Temperature Filter
Blue, mired shift −200, for use with daylight colour transparency film balanced for 5500°K and transformer at 6 volts. Diameter 45 mm, no mount. This correction is approximately equivalent to a combination of Kodak Wratten 80C+80B+82 filters, which gives a shift of −203 mireds.

ND-6 Neutral Density Filter (43ND-6W45)
Light transmission 6%, exposure factor ×16, EV −4. Diameter 43 mm, in 45 mm mount, interference filter.

ND-12 Neutral Density Filter (43ND-12W45)
Light transmission 12%, exposure factor ×8, EV −3. Diameter 43 mm, in 45 mm mount, interference filter.

ND-25 Neutral Density Filter (43ND-25W45)

Neutral Density Filter ND-25

Light transmission 25%, exposure factor ×4, EV −2. Diameter 43 mm, in 45 mm mount, interference filter.

ND-50 Neutral Density Filter (43ND-50W45)
Light transmission 50%, exposure factor ×2, EV −1. Diameter 43 mm, in 45 mm mount, interference filter.

The LBD, ND-6, ND-12, ND-25 and ND-50 filters are constructed of 2 pieces of glass with a very small gap between them, and an interference coating on one of the internal surfaces. The interference coating is delicate, so do not press the two pieces of glass together when cleaning or holding these filters.

The rectangular 60×45 mm filters for the Trans-Illuminator do not fit the filter holder of the Epi-Illuminator.

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Created 18th May 2001   —   Updated 28th December 2006
Copyright © 2001–2006 Alan Wood

Olympus OM system close-up and macro equipment