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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yann E." data-source="post: 3295498" data-attributes="member: 134401">I might have been unclear there : I was commenting on the compatibility list only because although the TS-601/602 scopes also share the same bayonet as the TS610 , TSN-1/2/3/4, TSN600 and 82SV series the EPs interchangeability is not complete and trying to use a TS-600 series EP (which is also marked "Ø60") on the other "Ø60" series listed (and the old "Ø77" series) may lead to either a waste of money or worse a scope damage.I do not own the TE-9Z, I own what appears to be a version of the old 20x-60x specially designed for the TS-601/602 and marked "Ø60" (with a longer barrel than the typical old 20x-60x for TSN-1/2/3/4 wich is marked "Ø77"). I do not own the original TSN-1-4 20x-60x "Ø77" EP model but from all the pictures I have seen so far the 2 are identical save for one detail : the barrel of the "Ø60" model is a few mm longer after the flange, making it unsuitable for TSN scopes with a protective glass. This extra length is "dead length" as it serves absolutely no purpose (except maybe for baffling), just a longer tube than what is strictly needed to house and guide the optical groups. I suspect all this may have been either :1) a move by Kowa to reuse old stock of the 20x-60x designed before the TSN-1-4 models incorporated a protective glass by simply rebadging them "Ø60" to restrict their use to the non-sealed, buget scopes of the TS600 series. The shorter, "Ø77" marked 20x-60x with the lenses flush with the mount would then be a newer, modified mount design adopted to accomodate the sealed versions of the TSN-1-4 series2) or a deliberate move to have owners of TS-600 series scopes purchase a new 20x-60x ocular if they upgraded to TSN-1-4 scopes, but this would mean that the (non-sealed) TS-600 series and their "dedicated" 20x-60x were launched exactly at the time when TSN-1-4 scopes became sealed.Anyway, at the end of the day it boils down to this : the old 20x-60x EP with "Ø60" engraving and the lenses recessed into the mount (scope-side) at all magnifications is fully incompatible with late TSN-1/2/3/4 scopes with a protective glass and all later sealed models with the same flange to glass distance, whatever the Kowa site may say. Attempting to mount one could only result in breaking the protective glass and ruining the sealing of the scope...|8.|As for the performance of the 60x eyepiece, it is quite usable and on the TS-601 it is much better than the 20x-60x at 60. Still, I would not describe it as stellar... From what I read about the TE-9Z and what you and others wrote about the performance of the 20x-60x Opticron EP at 60, I think trying to get hold of an old 60x may be a waste of time and money for Opticron and TE-9Z owners. On the other hand, getting a secondhand sample around 60€ could be a wise move for owners of vintage scopes who need 60x but are on a limited budget and can't afford the Opticron or TE-9Z (I currently fit in this category, having just upgraded my microscopy equipment which as you probably know costs an arm, a leg + an eye !:C).</blockquote>

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