Zeiss Model AxioVert 200M
Fully Motorized
HBO 100W
Phase Contrast Microscopy
Inverted Cell Culture
Research Grade
Fluorescence Microscope

Main Features:

• Fully Motorized Functionality including motorized: fine and coarse focusing, reflector turret rotation, objective nosepiece rotation, switching camera ports, and internal light shutters.
• Stand Alone Capability. This equipment does not need a computer connected to it during usage. That is optional. But the computer is needed to properly configure it for the user’s application.
• Tilt back upper light carrier. Ability to tilt out of the way to access large culture vessels or optional micromanipulation equipment.
• Stage has XY slider with a vessel mounting plate. Plate has opening about 60mm diameter plus has ability to hold a 25x75mm standard glass specimen slide.
• Binocular Viewing Head.
• Eyepiece pair is W-Pl 10x/23 guaranteed for usage with eyeglasses or without. The 23mm is a great field of view. Both eyepieces have focusing diopters.
• Shutter with ability to block light from entering eyepieces when taking photos. This prevents inadvertent ambient light exposure on camera.
• Six Place Objective Nosepiece. With DIC slots in each position.
• Two lifting handles to make it easier to move this large and heavy duty instrument. Often times these are missing.
• Large physical size gives excellent thermal and mechanical stability.
• Frame has a built-in straight 1x Optovar lens. It does not have any other magnification selections on the Optovar. There is a button on the side for “1x Optovar”.
• Includes blank slider (in analyzer slot) and DIC blanks for protection against dust.
• All required power cords.
• Does not include camera, camera c-mount adapter, or laptop. Camera is shown in images to demonstrate that one can be connected.
• Left Side and Right Side camera photography ports. Most frames only have a single camera port. This has three settings. (1) Take 100 percent light to the left port. (2) Take 80 percent of light to right port and 20 percent to eyepieces. (3) Take 100 percent to eyepieces.

Transmitted Light – Brightfield and Phase Contrast Microscopy:

• HAL 100 lamp housing. With 100W halogen bulb.
• Rotary Light Condenser. (manually operated).
• Numerical Aperture 0.35 N.A. 70mm Working Distance.
• Settings for: Ph0, Ph1, Ph2, DIC, DIC, H. The “H” is brightfield.
• Has two Differential Interference Contrast settings but no prisms installed.
• Capablity for Upgrade to DIC. Has Empty DIC slots, ready to accept prisms.
• Condenser centering screws.
• Electronic variable light intensity button.
• This complete rotary light condenser with 100W illuminator should be compared to the cheaper and simpler version that has only a phase slider bar and 30W illuminator. When comparing prices, review what type of transmitted illumination system is included.

EpiFluorescence Reflected Light System:

• HBO 100. Lamp housing and power supply. With 100W Mercury bulb.
• Five positions for dichroic cubes (reflector modules) in the motorized reflector turret.
• Filter holder with three empty slots for optional filters. Use this as a shutter when pushed all the way to one side.
• Aperature Diaphragm and Field Diaphragm sliders.
• Mercury Arc adjusting/centering aid included.

Objectives: (NOT ALL ARE INCLUDED)

• Included Objectives
  • A-Plan 2.5x/0.06, Infinity/-. Part#1113-114. Not phase.
  • A-Plan 5x/0.12 Infinity/-. Ph0. Part#1018-589. Phase.
  • Achrostigmat 10x/0.25, Infinity/-. Ph1. Part#440131. Phase.
• Optional Objectives – (not included)
  • LD AchroPlan 20x / 0.40 Korr. Ph2. Infinity/0-1.5. Correction collar with adjustment for 0 to 1.5mm thick cell culture vessel bottom. Phase. Part# 440845.
  • LD AchroPlan 40x / 0.60 Korr. Ph2. Infinity/0-2. Correction collar with adjustment for 0 to 2mm thick cell culture vessel bottom. Phase. Part#440865.

Filters – Dichroic Cubes:

• Two Filters Included:
• FITC. This gave marginal to poor quality and should be replaced. It appeared to have some wear but the performance was not good. We tested this with a brand new FITC cube and imaging was great. The new cube is not included but was only used for testing to ensure there were no internal problems with the lenses. Often times, other problems such as defective internal lenses/mirrors exist that prevent good imaging.
• DAPI, no visible wear. This performed fine.

Comments:

• This microscope is in great condition.

Research Grade Applications:

• This industry-standard optical instrument is used for observing intracellular processes in living cell cultures, motility and growth, cell to cell interaction, and drug detection. With optional hardware equipment and software, it can also do micromanipulation and microinjection, IVF in-vitro fertilization, patch-clamp technique, toxicity examinations, time lapse examinations, and ion measurements. It can also be useful for z-sectioning, Fura (Ca measurement), deconvolution, GFP, and single molecule detection. This is a high grade research model and is capable of being adapted to all of the above, given the right optional equipment.

Quality:

• This is a high quality Zeiss (Made in Germany) optical instrument.
• We also sell Chinese made fluorescence microscopes but the quality is substantially lower.
• We highly discourage buying the Chinese microscopes due to the problems that incur after the sale.

Testing Results:

• This microscope was fully tested. Results are as follows:
• All functions were found to be in proper working order.
• Brightfield – Koehler illumination was set properly, with all adjustments and centering being properly achieved.
• Phase Contrast – All objectives performed well under phase. Images achieved were good.
• Incident Reflected Fluorescence – HBO Bulb was properly centered obtaining bright, clear, and uniform illumination distribution across the complete field of view.
• Fluorescing Achieved with both included dichroic cubes: DAPI and FITC. Notes about the FITC are discussed separately. Excellent results were obtained from a new FITC cube that is not being included.

Motorization and Internal Configuration Tested:

• This is a motorized microscope that has to be configured for the user’s application. It is configured for the installed objectives, dichroic cubes, and light intensity needs.
• As a part of our service to our customers, we do this configuration. Please contact us about your special needs.
• We fully tested all motorized components as well as checked the computer connectivity.
• The RS232 serial port is confirmed to be in good operational condition and a computer was used to communicate and control the microscope functions.
• Custom configuration was reset internally to default user standards as well as to the specific configuration the microscope has now.
• Light manager settings were adjusted to conform to the current objective configuration.
• One point to note: As a safety precaution, the microscope is configured to switch on the halogen transmitted light if the fluorescence reflector turret is rotated to a different cube. You simply press the FL button to switch back to fluorescent imaging once the new cube is in place.

Optional Accessories:

• We have a wide variety of optional scientific cameras, both monochrome and color, with and without Peltier cooling.
• Other stage mounting plates are available for use with other sizes of petri dishes and cell culture vessels.
• DIC differential interference contrast is possible on this frame. Contact us for details about how to add this technique.
• Other objectives can be configured.
• Brand new Chroma hard coated filter cubes with lifetime warranty may be added. Cost is USD $750/set for the dichroic filter (emission filter, dichroic mirror, barrier filter) and includes the blank cube.

Good Economic Value:

• This equipment is priced to sell.
• When comparing other prices, be sure to see if they are simply dumping an item they got really cheaply, or if they are fully testing and refurbishing it. Check if it is complete. Even small parts can be very costly to acquire, and they are often not available. We keep a large inventory of replacement parts and accessories for this model.
• Most sellers simply obtain the equipment then turn around and offer it for sale, doing nothing more than dusting it off and taking some photos. They have no idea if the internal parts are working properly. They can press some buttons and watch the movement of some parts, and say it works fine. Does it really get good imaging? What about the computer connectivity? Is the RS232 port damaged from static electricity? Can the internal configuration be changed to what is required by the new user? If this was originally designed for a laser scanning confocal system, can that configuration be reset to basic usage? We take care of all that for you and ensure it is in good working order. You are paying us for the hardware, refurbishing, repairing as needed, adding missing components, testing, configuring, technical support to see the equipment meets your needs, warranty, and guarantee. If you simply want a unit, straight from a lab’s salvage dock, then the price can be much lower.
• In addition, we are including a one year warranty, money back guarantee, and free shipping that are value added additions not given by most resellers and should be added to the value.

User Manual and Instructions:

Click this link:  Zeiss Axiovert 200 Brochure.pdf

Click this link: Zeiss Axiovert 200 and 200M Operating Manual.pdf