Microscopy Forum

Somewhere pigs are flying… some of you may know that I'm not a big fan of photomicrography, I can appreciate it and I like looking at photomicrographs taken by others, but for myself it always just made things easier to look at and harder to see. Well I never told the wife that and this Christmas she got me some "microscope toys" she was sure I didn't have, namely a complete boxed B&L model N setup with everything for 35mm film and 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 plates. Which is awesome in an of itself because we happen to be just outside of Rochester, the home of B&L. She didn't stop there though, oh no, I also now have a nearly complete (no original shutter cables) boxed Leitz Mikas photomicrography setup. In an effort to keep me from leaving the lens cap on or wrecking everything she also managed to find a copy of Allens Photomicrography somewhere and I'm just over the moon about it. It looks like I might start taking pictures after all, and not just 'cause I still can't find my camera lucida.

I do wonder though is anyone still doing 35mm photomicrography? Is anyone still using plates/cut film? Has everyone run over to digital because it's so conveint? I can't imagine that's the case for everyone as 35mm film might have a megapixel equivalency of 10 or 15 and a large format plate as high as several hundered. Anyway it looks like I'll be making a trip to the local photofinisher some time soon!

I've had the B&L together and put it through a few "dry runs" as it were, testing the ground glass screen on the viewfinder and checking the shutter times. The Leitz as well, though I will need to dig out my old rangefinder to use it; while the B&L came with a stripped no-name 35mm camera the Leitz was only the viewfinder, shutter, and bellows tube. No matter, the Leitz uses the M39 or Leica Screw Thread and I've got a Russian Leica knock off around here somewhere that will fit to that nicely. The B&L uses this odd sort of bayonet mount that might be perfectly common but is quite unique to my experience.

Tragically, at the moment all I can do is fiddle with things, read my new book, and wait for the Kodak Ektar 100 film I ordered to get here-ETA Friday. I got stuck working all weekend, but Monday or Tuesday I should be able to get some pictures of the apparatus up for anyone who's curious. For the nonce I've been trying to get the hang of critical lighting and dusting off my Periplan oculars.

Got the condenser fitted and can finally use immersion objectives properly, turns out having one for the proper NA and oiling on the condenser (as well as the objective) is kinda important! I was able to find all the objectives I was missing as well… but they were attached to a microscope, so in obtaining my objectives I acquired a lovely 1960's era binocular research model. It's pretty but the vision in my right eye is so much worse than in my left that using it is uncomfortable even when the focusing tube is at it's limit, oh well. It provided me with a 43x a 97x and a high-dry 60x that I just love. The condenser on that scope is rather neat as well, it's two parts with the top lens of the condenser being made to screw off and effect a reduction in the NA for low powers, seems I'm going to need a book about B&L microscopes. Still waiting on my film so no micrographs yet, once I manage to take one I intend to make a nice little write up of the whole process even if I fail miserably!

For now here is the B&L Model N set up for 35mm photography:

That is the viewing screen. The B&L photomicrographic apparatus is unique in this respect. While other makers such as Leitz, Olympus, and Reichert use a small eyepiece like viewer of only an inch or two in length B&L uses a few styles of large ground glass screens. In most apparatus light passes from the eyepiece of the microscope into a prism which deflects a percentage of the light into a focusing tube that duplicates the image which will be projected onto the photographic film. As I said, these are generally small diameter eyepieces of only an inch or two in length with some variety of reticule.

The B&L apparatus works on the same principle but the viewing tube consists of two distinct parts: a ground glass screen and a large positive lens. When a specimen is placed upon the stage and brought into focus an image of what will be seen by the camera is projected onto the ground glass screen and magnified for viewing ease by the positive lens. Although the B&L apparatus is significantly larger and heavier than others I'm inclined to believe it will prove more comfortable in operation as it will require no bending or leaning. My current table is rather low and requires a very low chair if one intends to view a right angle eyepiece placed on the top of the microscope tube.

Alright so I got around to shooting a roll of film with the Model N last night. Took a few photos of the apparatus as I set it up and a bunch of notes in my logbook as well. Tried all manner of shutter speeds but didn't go above five seconds on any, maybe everything will be underexposed or solid black, who knows! Now I just need to get the film developed and see if anything comes out…

Quite a few options for processing; three drug stores with photo-labs within a five mile radius, a Target, Walmart, and Kmart as well. There's about a dozen process by mail places I could use but there's also a local Photo place (RowePhoto.com) and I love to support a local business even if it is a bit more pricey. It'll be worth it I think just to be remembered as that dude with the crazy pictures. Hah! They're closed today and I wont be able to go by there till Wednesday so yippie, more waiting!