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Modular Underwater Magnifier
NightSea's new Modular Underwater Magnifier is two magnifiers in one, giving you both versatility and increased
magnification. We discovered that stacking two magnifying elements - each in itself consisting of two
magnifying lenses - one above the other (see below, left) provides much better magnification and is still easy to use. The assemblies are mounted on a slotted bar and sliding them closer together (below, right) gives a zoom effect. Or for a simple workhorse magnifier you can use one magnifier alone with the handle for a compact, convenient tool (see below, bottom). The lenses are 50 mm (2 in.) in diameter to provide a good viewing area.
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MUM
Double magnfier assembly
for increased magnification |
MUM
Lenses closer together
for zoom effect |
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MUM1
Single lens assembly with handle
for convenient portable magnification |
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Pricing
-- MUM - Modular Underwater Magnifier - $160.00 - Complete system, two magnifying lens assemblies with handle and alignment bar
-- MUM1 - $85.00 - One lens assembly with handle
-- MUM2 - $85.00 - lens assembly plus alignment bar to convert MUM1 to complete system
-- Coming - Light bracket and compact white and blue light sources
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Fluorescence is proving to be the best way to locate juvenile corals either in the field or in the
laboratory (see page on finding coral recruits). Along with the ability to find these really small (as small as 1 mm or even less) glowing spots on natural surfaces comes the new challenge of making a preliminary identification of what you have found. With funding support from NOAA we developed the new NightSea Modular Underwater Magnifier (MUM). Modular because it can be used in single- or double-element mode, with different levels of magnification resulting.
In the single-lens-assembly mode (MUM1) the magnifier can be used either underwater or on land. In the full assembly we recommend it for in-water use only. When we were experimenting with this new approach to underwater magnification we discovered something very interesting. Out of the water, the full assembly is difficult to work with because: (1) the focus distance is far from the lower lens; (2) the depth of field is very small (so combined with (1) it can be difficult to bring an object into focus); and (3) there is a left-right image reversal, so it can be confusing to move the magnifier in the right direction to center the subject. Surprisingly, underwater all three of these problems go away - the bottom lens of the MUM can be positioned relatively close to the subject, it is easy to bring targets into focus, and there is no left-right image reversal.
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