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At ABRF 2013, the Lumen Dynamics manager (Mic C.) told me that the 
liquid light guides have about a 3 year shelf life (all the LLG's are 
from one manufacturer: Lumatec). That is, they will "go bad" even in a 
drawer. So, congratulations on getting five years (though you may have a 
bubble without knowing it). His tips included:

* when storing, humid environment is much better than dry (it is liquid 
inside).
* kinks are bad.
* if the output (aimed at a white, uniform surface) is not a clean, 
completely uniform disk, you have a bubble (or the LLG into the lamp is 
not in correctly).

I have recommendations for labs and suppliers:

* a right angle turn adapter for the LLG to MICROSCOPE ... a lot of 
microscopes have a back wall very close - current "bend the LLG" is a 
good way to damage it.
* "label" the LLG with tape (or paint?) to make it obvious that this is 
not a power cord.
* if the microscope configuration allows, use a ONE METER LLG instead of 
the more common 2 meter.
* Lumatec manufactures several modesl, with different transmission 
spectra. Last time I checked (a couple of years ago), the LLG-380 (1 
meter) was the most sensible choice.

***

As for the Colibri vs HXP ... The Zeiss Colibri was expensive when it 
was introduced in 2007. Zeiss is likely to lower prices only if their 
competitors are successful selling at lower prices.  If you want a 
Colibri, find out if they offer new (brighter, more available colors) 
LED's7: the LED field has progressed a lot since 2007.

HXP: we are in 2013: don't waste your money on metal halide, Hg, or Xe 
lamps when "solid state" lighting is now available.

In Houston, I will have a Lumencor SOLA on "my" Leica AM6000 microscope 
(DMI 6000 stand with 2 Eppendork micromanipulators). If I have an 
opportunity to upgrade soon, it would probably be to the Lumencor 
Spectra X (6 or 7 independent wavelengths, though pricey ... I have 
access to an almost identical product, InsightSSI, on the GE/API OMX 
upstairs for deconvolution and interference reflection contrast 
microscopy) or Lumen's 4 wavelength X-LED product (and possibly by an 
alternative LED or two for special needs ... of course if someone wants 
to donate some money to the lab, I'll be happy to put two X-LED's (8 
wavelengths) on the AM6000 scope.

Sincerely,


George


On 3/4/2013 12:07 PM, Julio Vazquez wrote:
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> One more thing to mention about metal halide: light is typically delivered via a light guide, which may cost around $ 500. Sometimes they go bad and need to be replaced, so this is also a factor to consider. Our light guides typically last a good five years if we are careful (they don't like to be bent, and they don't like to get hot).
> --
> Julio Vazquez
> Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
> Seattle, USA
>
> http://www.fhcrc.org/
>
>
>
> On Mar 1, 2013, at 8:05 AM, Claudia Florindo wrote:
>
>    
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
>> *****
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear all
>>
>>
>>
>> I was considering buying a zeiss colibri system instead of a HXP system, any
>> comments in comparing both systems?
>>
>> Any suggestion would be very helpful,
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks a lot,
>>
>>
>>
>> Claudia.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Claudia Florindo, PhD, Microscopy Unit Manager
>>
>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  [log in to unmask] |00351 289244 495
>> ext: 7495; 7489; 7484 (mic lab)
>>
>> Dept. de Ciências Biomedicas e Medicina
>>
>> Uni. Algarve, Campus de Gambelas Ed 8, lab 1.18
>>
>> 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
>>
>>
>>      
>