This is description of this part:
LOMO (ЛОМО) microscope objective with 40x magnification, manufactured in the Soviet Union (CCCP / USSR) in 1973 (i.e. before the dissolution of the USSR).
Basic parameters of this objective:
Manufacturer: LOMO, (ЛОМО, former Soviet Union)
Magnification: 40x
Numerical aperture N.A.: 0.65
Serial number: starts with "73"
Year of manufacture: 1973
Tube length: 160 mm
Parfocal length: 33 mm - so-called short barrel objective
Cover glass: yes, 0.17 mm thick
Immersion: no - this is a dry objective
Specimen protection: yes, the objective has a spring-loaded front mount that prevents breaking the slide with the specimen
Thread: RMS
Why do I state the year of manufacture in the description of this objective? Older LOMO microscope parts (objectives, microscopes, heads) have the year of manufacture encoded in the serial number: the first two digits of the serial number are the year of manufacture. Many users want to complete their microscope with parts made in the same year as the microscope itself.
This is a so-called short barrel objective with a parfocal length of 33 mm. Very often this objective is mounted on a 12 mm extension, which allows it to be used in microscopes that require objectives with a 45 mm parfocal length. Professional adapters with protective optics, metal adapters and popular DIY 3D-printed adapters all work well here.
Fun fact: LOMO manufactured adapters from the RMS thread to M27. Thanks to them, this objective was used on LOMO Biolam I and LOMO Biolam M microscopes. Users of Carl Zeiss Axio series microscopes with the M27 thread took advantage of this as well and used these adapters too.
LOMO objectives are very popular among users of microscopes from other manufacturers. Because of the historical ties, owners of Carl Zeiss Jena microscopes regard them as a natural replacement for the German objectives.
This objective fits practically any microscope of any manufacturer, as long as it has an RMS thread and takes objectives with a 160 mm tube length and a 33 mm parfocal length (or 37 / 45 mm with a suitable adapter). Several example microscopes are listed in the "Compatibility" section, but this is not a complete list.
What is this part needed for?
- If you want to complete your LOMO microscope with original parts
- If you need a 40x objective for LOMO, Carl Zeiss Jena, PZO, Olympus or other compatible microscopes
- If you own a LOMO microscope from 1973 (serial number starting with "73") and want period-correct objectives in it
