NIGHTSEA stereo microscope fluorescence viewing systems, dim base option

The NIGHTSEA Stereo microscope fluorescence adapter adapts just about any stereo microscope (dissecting microscope) for fluorescence with no modification to the microscope itself. The modular design lets you easily switch between several different excitation/emission combinations to work with a variety of fluorescent proteins and other fluorophores. There are now six different excitation/emission combinations available, plus white light.

Full system with one illumination colour consisting of:

• DIM Base - BNC connector that accepts a voltage signal for combined switch and dimmer control and international plug set
• Light Head - Ultraviolet, violet, royal blue, cyan, or green
• Microscope mounting adapter
• Barrier filter
• Viewing shield
• Padded travel case

Modular - Installs in seconds and just clicks into place. Interchangeable excitation/emission combinations that can move from microscope to microscope without modification needed to your microscope.

Economical - Stretch your lab budget with inexpensive enough for classroom use or buy just what you need now (up to 6 different wavelength sets) and add more as your needs expand.

Applications:

• Quick screening of your fluorescent genotypes - Drosophila, zebrafish, C. elegans
• Genotype sorting
• Fluorescence-aided dissection, injection, or micromanipulation
• Pre-screening sample preps for confocal or other high-resolution imaging
• Freeing up your research-grade fluorescence microscopes for more demanding work
• Coating and failure analysis, circuit board work, defect location, food safety, paper analysis, and more

The light head, barrier filter, and filter shield are interchangeable so that you can easily switch between excitation/emission light+filter combinations.

The microscope mounting adapter fits up to 67mm to work with the majority of stereo microscopes. An oversize adapter and an adapter for the Leica EZ4 series are also available separately.

Once you are set up for one excitation/emission wavelength combination, additional combinations can be added by purchasing a kit that consists of a light head, barrier filter, and viewing shield. These three elements can be removed and replaced in seconds, and colour coding ensures that you are using the right combination. The barrier filter clicks on to the ring adapter magnetically, so it is easy to remove it to switch back to white light viewing.

Wavelength Sets
For more in-depth information on excitations, see this technical data sheet

Specifications

Green-Only Barrier Filter

The Green-Only (GO) barrier filter isolates the green part of the spectrum and is for use with the royal blue excitation source. While our other barrier filters are longpass filters this filter is a bandpass, transmitting from approximately 500 to 560nm. The longpass filter has served well for most users who need to visualize green-fluorescent protein (GFP), and if you are exploring fluorescence in nature it is preferable. The primary motivation for adding the green-only filter to the line-up was for the benefit of researchers using GFP in plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, a common research model. Plants contain chlorophyll, which has a distinctive red fluorescence that can sometimes mask the GFP emission, making it harder to see and photograph.

GFP-tagged Drosophila larva. Photo: NIGHTSEA/Charles Mazel

NIGHTSEA adapter

NIGHTSEA microscope adapter

Tech Tip: Will the Stereo Microscope Fluorescence Adapter Fit my Microscope?

Lamp Base Light Control Options

The SFA lamp base is available in three versions: Standard, DIM, and PULSE. Only one control option is available per base. The DIM and PULSE options can be purchased as a part of a new system, or are available as retrofit to an existing base, or in a stand-alone lamp base purchased a la carte.

NIGHTSEA Standard Base - Provides a steady light when turned on, simple OFF/ON operation. 

NIGHTSEA DIM Base - BNC connector that accepts a voltage signal for combined switch and dimmer control. 

NIGHTSEA PULSE Base - BNC connector on the rear of the base that features an OFF/ON/DIM switch to change the intensity of the light. 

Base Specifications:

• Voltage input: 2.8-6.0 VDC for ON, <0.6VDC OFF
• Maximum operation frequency: 10kHz
• BNC cable not included