Natural Science Forum / Physics / Optics / March 2008

You bring up one huge thing to discuss.  The Otholux and the Orthoplan
varied in their field size, the real difference was in the trinocular
head.  The real difference between the Zeiss Photomicroscope, the
Universal, the Ultraphot and the Orthos has to do with who could make
what, who was the bigger company and how did they see photomicroscopy
developing.

Zeiss was the big dog on the block and Leitz was much smaller.  Zeiss
positively reveled in their giant size and if you didn't like it,
well, tough luck.  Zeiss has always had a problem with its corporate
attitude, they really don't think that they have any competitors.  The
other Zeiss problem is the head of the microscopy division has a job
for life, he can either quit of die.  That makes for some darn good
microscopes and some darn weird ones too.

What was the core difference is Leitz thought they could get customers
into the barn by selling them a microscope that could be expanded, the
Ortho series.  Zeiss thought you picked the microscope you needed, a
Zeiss, and it would be perfect.  If you ever wanted to do photography,
you bought a Photo or an Ultraphot, depending on the film size you
would use.  Then you would be happy for ever, it would always work.
If your work changed while you could expand the Zeiss, it would be
better to buy another one.

One Zeiss thought would be that each dept. in every school would have
at least one Zeiss photo scope.  When you need to take a picture you
would gain access to the photo scope and the photographer would take
the picture.   Yeah, right....

When I was hired by a Zeiss dealer I had to come up with a fix for the
primeval add on camera Zeiss built.  They really didn't like it so it
was poorly designed.  It was simple to them, if you wanted to take
photos you bought a microscope with the camera built in.  And they
sold tons.

When cytogenetics really got started every cytogenetist used at least
one photomicroscope.  Zeiss was the big dog and most people followed
along behind.  I, and a lot of customers, thought that a Universal
with an Olympus PM10 on top worked better and was cheaper.  We were
right.

Just to let you know how insular Zeiss could be I had to take the head
of Zeiss's office in our sales district around to meet customers, I
choose University of Georgia - Athens.  This was after a year of this
idiot sitting at his desk and only meeting his pen.  If you had a
Zeiss, he would say that if you needed another microscope call on him,
this was after he clicked his heels.  If you had 16 other microscopes
he wouldn't even notice them.  He would tell them that when you needed
a microscope call him.  Heel click and out.

That one sales trip cost me taking out every scientist we visited for
lunch along with his lab.  Then I got to hear from one and all how
angry they were at Zeiss.  Geez, another fun month in the business.

Turns out that Leitz was right.

Thanks!

Kevin Cunningham
SMS