Nikon SMZ1000 Zoom Stereomicroscope

Nikon Updated: 2007-06-19
Nikon SMZ1000 Zoom Stereomicroscope

Combining optical performance, expandability and ergonomy.

The SMZ1000, one of Nikon's most advanced stereomicroscopes, incorporates a powerful combination of advanced optical and ergonomic capabilities. With high NA objectives and exclusive Nikon illumination system, the SMZ1000 can handle some of the same advanced imaging techniques that compound instrument users have long enjoyed.

10:1 Zoom Ratio
The SMZ1000 features a large 10x zoom ratio, extending from 0.8x to 8x. This gives you a total magnification from 4x to 480x, depending on the combination of eyepiece and objective used. The zooming knob features clickstops, eliminating the need to remove your eyes from the eyepiece while changing magnification.

High N.A. Objectives
In pursuit of sharper and brighter images, Nikon has developed a series of objectives featuring high NA's and high resolving power. One objective, the Plan Apo 1x, boasts NA of 0.1 and a resolving power of 300 lines/mm to produce images that are tack-sharp and display optimum contrast with a minimum of flare,right out to the periphery.

Distortion Reduction
We tackled the problems usually associated with stereoscopic microscopes, namely chromatic aberration and distortion in the lens that cause surface irregularities in the image, and solved both to a high degree. Now you can view stereoscopic images that appear undistorted in all their brilliant, true-to-life colors.

Eyepiece Tube Inclination
The standard binocular eyepiece tube is inclined 20°, allowing you to observe samples without having to lean forward. This reduces fatigue during long hours of operation by reducing strain on your neck, shoulders, and back.

Eyepiece Tube Options
In addition to the standard type, you have the option of using a low eye-level or tilting binocular eyepiece tube. The low eye-level binocular eyepiece tube enables comfortable observation even when using a diascopic stand or when an intermediate tube is inserted. The tilting binocular eyepiece tube allows adjustment of the eyepiece inclination between 0° and 30° and the eye level can be adjusted 157mm (6.2") by swinging the eyepieces up 180° as well as tilting them. You can even add eye-level risers to customize your microscope to your height — up to three risers for a total of 75mm.

Focusing Unit
The C-FMC Focusing Mount C comes with a coaxial coarse/fine-focusing unit that travels smoothly along the optical axis. Its anti-backlash mechanism makes fine adjustment of focus easier and more accurate.

Diascopic Stands
The Diascopic Stands, models C-DSD, C-DSS, and C-BD, each have a built-in power supply in a space-saving design. These stands also feature their own fine focus knob at the front of the streamlined base — in addition to the one at the focusing mount — to easily make critical adjustments of focus, especially during micromanipulation. Furthermore, their stage glass diameter is a generous 180mm (7.1"), making it possible to view samples in large Petri dishes all the way out to the periphery.

C-DSD Diascopic Stand
The C-BD Diascopic Bright/Darkfield Stand uses a seven-sided toroidal mirror to substantially reduce stray light. The stray light would ordinarily decrease contrast when using short working distance objectives under darkfield diascopic illumination. But with the C-BD stand, the resulting images have a sufficiently high S/B (signal to background) ratio.

C-BD Diascopic Bright/Darkfield Stand
The C-BD Diascopic Bright/Darkfield Stand uses a seven-sided toroidal mirror
to reduce stray light substantially. This stray light would ordinarily cause a decrease in contrast when using short working distance objectives under darkfield diascopic illumination. But with the C-BD stand, the resulting images have a sufficiently high S/B (signal to background) ratio.

OCC Illumination System
Nikon's exclusive Oblique Coherent Constrast (OCC) Illumination System delivers colorless and transparent samples to be observed in high relief. Refractive index differences can be observed to 1/30 of the wavelength of light (λ30).

Episcopic Illuminator
The SMZ's coaxial episcopic illuminator uses a 12V/100W fiber-optics light source — the same light source used in fiber illuminators — to deliver bright illumination over the entire sample surface. The thickness of the 1/4-lambda plate has been reduced, minimizing spherical aberrations in high NA objectives.

Photographic Capability
A beam splitter makes the SMZ1000 compatible with a variety of photographic systems: digital, 35mm, or Polaroid, as well as analog or digital video systems.

Epi-Fluorescence Attachment
Nikon developed an epi-fluorescence attachment, model P-FLA2, for stereoscopic microscopes that allows easy observation of living cells under the fluorescence method such as GFP. Switching between the fluorescence method and brightfield method is quick and easy. Four filter blocks can be switched using a slide lever. If you add an optional photo port to this attachment, you can mount a photomicrographic system or a CCTV camera without using a beam splitter. Because 100% of the light is delivered to the photo port, bright images are guaranteed.