Monthly Newsletter

A landmark in stereomicroscope evolution

The all new Nikon SMZ25 and SMZ18 stereomicroscopes have evolved to meet the increasing needs for imaging systems that range from single cells to whole organisms. Featuring a large zoom ratio of 25:1 for the SMZ25, superior resolution and exceptional fluorescence transmission capability, the ergonomic, easy-to-use, fully motorised SMZ25 and manual SMZ18 are ideal for all bioscience applications.

The innovative Nikon Perfect Zoom optical system on the SMZ25 provides the world’s first zoom ratio of 25:1. The Auto Link Zoom feature automatically adjusts the zoom factor to maintain the same field of view when switching objective lenses, supporting seamless viewing at different magnifications.  A new optically based ergonomic design enables these features to be housed in a more compact zoom body. The new series are the first stereomicroscopes to use a fly eye lens on an epi-fluorescence attachment. This ensures bright and uniform illumination even at low magnifications, resulting in uncompromised uniformity in brightness across a large field of view. Breakthroughs in optical design result in significantly improved signal to noise ratio and crystal clear fluorescent images.  

Traditionally, researchers have had to switch to a higher magnification microscope to view microscopic details after using a stereomicroscope to view or manipulate macroscopic structures. The SMZ25 and SMZ18 eliminate this need by providing both macroscopic and microscopic imaging capabilities. This, combined with Nikon’s newly developed objective lens, the SHR Plan Apo series, offers a superior resolution never before seen on a stereomicroscope. The SHR Plan Apo 2x objective, for example, enables visualisation of structures as small as a few microns in size, which was once considered to be impossible on a stereomicroscope. Apochromatic correction is maintained in both the objective lens and the optical zoom system, virtually eliminating colour aberrations.

Even at low magnification, the SMZ25 series captures the entire 35mm dish with equal brightness over the whole field of view, simultaneously delivering microscopic details. This is ideal for live screening of developmental biology models such asC. elegans, drosophila, zebrafish and mice to identify and select mutants. Brilliant images can be captured even with low excitation light levels, minimising photo-bleaching and photo-toxicity which is harmful to live cells and organisms.

The user-friendly SMZ25 remote control provides easy access to zoom and focus controls.  Nikon’s cross-platform NIS-Elements imaging and analysis software can be used to capture multi-channel time-lapse images, z-stacks and EDF images easily from a PC. A slimmer diascopic illumination base helps increase the efficiency and ergonomics of sample manipulation. The new base also features a built-in Oblique Coherent Contrast illuminator that produces high-contrast images of transparent samples such as ITO film and zebrafish.

A wide range of accessories and illuminators accommodate a wide variety of observation methods.

more about the SMZ18 stereomicroscope

more about the SMZ25 stereomicroscope

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