This is description of this part:
Achromatic Meopta microscope objective with 10x magnification, for brightfield and phase contrast work.
Manufacturer: Meopta (Prague, former Czechoslovakia)
Marking on the objective: Ph10 0.30
Magnification: 10x
Colour correction: achromatic
Numerical aperture N.A.: 0.30
Cover glass: does not matter - an objective of this magnification can work both without and with a cover glass
Thread: RMS
Tube length: 170 mm
Parfocal length: 37 mm (so-called short barrel objective)
Immersion: no
Phase contrast: yes - the objective has a phase ring inside
A 10x objective does not need a cover glass to work, but it is worth mentioning that Meopta microscope objectives were designed for cover glasses 0.18 mm thick - while the vast majority of manufacturers corrected their objectives for 0.17 mm. This matters with selected cover glasses that keep to the standard. With cheap Chinese cover glasses, whose thickness can vary considerably within a single pack, it practically stops mattering.
For this objective to work in phase contrast, a Meopta phase contrast condenser with matching annulus sizes is required.
Can this objective, despite the "Ph" marking, work without phase contrast, that is in "normal" brightfield? Yes - and this is the rule for all phase objectives, from any manufacturer: such an objective can be used in brightfield, but with slightly worse contrast. From my experience I would say the difference is not noticeable "to the eye".
What is this part needed for?
- if you own a Meopta microscope with a phase contrast condenser but without the 10x objective and you want to complete it with original parts
- if you already have such an objective, but it is in very poor condition and you want to replace it with a working one
- if you want to keep such an objective as a spare
- if you want to use the complete Meopta phase contrast set with a microscope from another manufacturer
