Finite-to-Infinity!

This is the long-awaited release of the Finite-to-Infinity discussion and data. If you ever plan on using Finite objectives on an Infinity scope, or have ever wondered if it can be done, this document is a Must Read!

While still in preliminary form, it was judged sufficiently complete for release at this time. Additional information and specific examples should be forthcoming over the next few weeks.

It's only four text pages (plus two charts) so it should be a fast download and an easy read!

I hope you find it useful -- here it is:

[ File removed -- see Updated Release, Sept, 21, above. ]

Now, many users seem confused or even mystified by this subject although, in reality, it is rather simple.

It has been known and recognized for decades that the objective-to-eyepiece distance on a regular ('finite') microscope should be maintained within rather strict limits. For an ordinary 40x/0.65 objective, for example, the tolerance is less than 10mm. Given this fact, why would anyone suppose that you could stretch this distance by mare than 100 times that and yet not suffer some consequences in the image quality?

The attached document discusses this matter, explains these consequences, and offers options in terms of how to deal with, or even avoid them.

The final page of the document lists various Infinity systems prevalent today, along with their primary optical characteristics. The next step will be to add discussions of how to best use this data in choosing both finite objectives for Infinity use and Infinity objectives to switch between Infinity systems.

Future releases will cover specific examples and examine application considerations in some detail.

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