Search found 128 matches

by JGardner
Wed Sep 07, 2022 9:10 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: What is this?
Replies: 6
Views: 1505

Re: What is this?

Greg Howald wrote:
Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:55 am
Wetzlar was a Nobel prize winner and the inventor of the electron microscope.
Say what?!? The electron microscope was invented by Ernst Ruska. Wetzlar is a city in Germany.
by JGardner
Mon Aug 29, 2022 5:39 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Olympus bh-2 price evaluation
Replies: 31
Views: 5362

Re: Olympus bh-2 price evaluation

Nice looking scope. I wish I could find one in that condition, but, alas, most of the ones I encounter look like they’ve been heavily used by gorillas and then stored in a damp cellar for a few centuries.
by JGardner
Mon Aug 29, 2022 5:24 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon E400 stage has some wiggle in the y direction, anyone know how to fix?
Replies: 15
Views: 6488

Re: Nikon E400 stage has some wiggle in the y direction, anyone know how to fix?

For the non-mechanically inclined among us, can someone explain what a “gib” is?
by JGardner
Sat Jul 30, 2022 7:55 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: What to with Specimens after observing.
Replies: 11
Views: 2405

Re: What to with Specimens after observing.

Come on, guys, why so much anthropomorphizing Protista? These are single-celled organisms that are more like a biological automaton and not thinking, feeling beings.

Remember, every time you wash your hands you're killing millions of microorganisms.
by JGardner
Fri Jul 29, 2022 5:21 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon labophot fair price
Replies: 6
Views: 1916

Re: Nikon labophot fair price

Labophot 2 stands with failed transistor PSU are common and giveaway price. Failed PSU for 6v 30w means getting another Labophot 2 that works or rig an external DC Do these PSUs use any proprietary parts? If not, another option is to troubleshoot the PSU down to the component level and replace any ...
by JGardner
Wed Jul 27, 2022 10:31 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: What to with Specimens after observing.
Replies: 11
Views: 2405

Re: What to with Specimens after observing.

I toss the slide and coverslip into a bucket of isopropyl alcohol. When enough accumulate I pour off the alcohol and throw the glass in the trash.
by JGardner
Sun Jul 24, 2022 5:32 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: What to do with Nikon Fluor 10x in poor condition?
Replies: 26
Views: 3682

Re: What to do with Nikon Fluor 10x in poor condition?

This may be a rhetorical question, but I have to ask it: How does so much of this high-end professional equipment get into such bad shape? Do professional and university labs typically treat their equipment so roughly and store it so poorly that it ends up in this state?
by JGardner
Fri Jul 22, 2022 10:34 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Olympus and Leica
Replies: 7
Views: 1612

Re: Olympus and Leica

You might want to consider a Nikon e800 as well. There are a couple promising ones on eBay right now. It's ultra heavy and big but a pretty nice piece of kit, and nikon 20x plan apos are still priced a bit lower thanks to the past influx of 100 dollar ones. I took a look on eBay and all of the list...
by JGardner
Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:31 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Olympus and Leica
Replies: 7
Views: 1612

Re: Olympus and Leica

Scarodactyl wrote:
Fri Jul 22, 2022 6:56 pm
What's your budget range, and where are you located?
$5000 California
by JGardner
Fri Jul 22, 2022 6:47 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Olympus and Leica
Replies: 7
Views: 1612

Olympus and Leica

I posted another thread a few days ago asking whether to update the objectives on my Universal or Orthoplan. At the time, I thought that was the best approach to getting higher quality objectives and PC. After looking at the offerings on eBay over the last two days, I'm starting to rethink that, pri...
by JGardner
Wed Jul 20, 2022 11:51 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Zeiss Universal versus Leitz Orthoplan
Replies: 6
Views: 1140

Re: Zeiss Universal versus Leitz Orthoplan

imkap wrote:
Wed Jul 20, 2022 11:01 pm
From the aesthetic point of view the Zeiss is a clear winner... :mrgreen:
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The Universal is like brutalist architecture...ugly in the extreme.
by JGardner
Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:47 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Zeiss Universal versus Leitz Orthoplan
Replies: 6
Views: 1140

Zeiss Universal versus Leitz Orthoplan

I've been busy with other things for the last two years, but now have free time again and would like to get back into microscopy. I want to upgrade my objectives to better quality ones, and also get the parts needed for phase contrast and darkfield. I have two microscopes, from different manufacture...
by JGardner
Wed Jul 20, 2022 5:48 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Why is DIC so Expensive?
Replies: 13
Views: 2215

Why is DIC so Expensive?

Is it because the prisms are difficult to make? Or perhaps because the market is small, hence the need to set the price high to recoup development and production costs?
by JGardner
Tue Jul 19, 2022 11:03 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Assembling iris
Replies: 18
Views: 2691

Re: Assembling iris

I'm sure it was an "iris gal". Dudes are useless with the fine motor skills. I can attest to this. I took apart the iris in one of my Orthoplan stands to clean and lube it, and spent hours unsuccessfully trying to put it back together. I handed it to my wife and she had it back together and working...
by JGardner
Mon Aug 09, 2021 9:36 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Beginner shopping list (aside from scopes)
Replies: 7
Views: 3189

Re: Beginner shopping list (aside from scopes)

I'd suggest reading this series of articles by Richard Howey on equipping a home laboratory: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjul00/rhlab1.html http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artsep00/rhlab2.html http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artnov00/rhlab3.html http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/...
by JGardner
Mon Jul 26, 2021 5:27 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: What magnifications do pathologists typically work with?
Replies: 10
Views: 4604

Re: What magnifications do pathologists typically work with?

When my wife had one of these removed from her forehead, the doctor described the technique as "MOHS". I often see microscopes on sites like eBay and various dealers described as MOHS 'scopes, so this must be a fairly common thing.
by JGardner
Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:46 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Which staining?
Replies: 13
Views: 5666

Re: Which staining?

mrsonchus wrote:
Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:32 am
(95% isopropanol is as pure as you ever need, and are able to buy!)
Here in the States 99.9% isopropanol is readily available.
by JGardner
Thu Jul 22, 2021 7:19 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Washing Microscope Slides and Cover Glasses
Replies: 10
Views: 4569

Re: Washing Microscope Slides and Cover Glasses

I can perfectly understand why some wash and reuse slides and cover slips. For me, however, I have more money than time, so I never reuse slides and cover slips purely because I can better use the time spent doing it for something else.
by JGardner
Wed Jun 02, 2021 5:47 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: This looks interesting
Replies: 3
Views: 1320

This looks interesting

Headline from the article: Light-shrinking material lets ordinary microscope see in super resolution

https://phys.org/news/2021-06-light-shr ... super.html
by JGardner
Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:18 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Microscopy - live!
Replies: 2
Views: 1335

Re: Microscopy - live!

It looks like a BX5x of some sort. DIC too! That's quite an upgrade from his CH40.
by JGardner
Fri Feb 05, 2021 3:08 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy
Replies: 49
Views: 12533

Re: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy

Dark sky is a MUST! Yellowstone :) I've been to Yellowstone several times in the last few years and the night sky there is amazing! It's one of the darkest places in America. It's so dark there city dwellers have a hard time recognizing familiar constellations because there are so many stars visibl...
by JGardner
Thu Feb 04, 2021 6:34 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy
Replies: 49
Views: 12533

Re: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy

In addition to the Messier list of 110 objects, there's the New General Catalog (NGC), which contains 7,840 objects, most of which are visible in moderately sized amateur telescopes. There are many other lists of objects as well, including Herschel's list, the IC, etc.
by JGardner
Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:25 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Microscope vs. Telescope Optics
Replies: 7
Views: 2507

Re: Microscope vs. Telescope Optics

Another difference between astro and micro optics is depth of field. DOF isn't really an issue in astro optics because most objects are effectively at infinity, but it's a big issue with microscopes. Depth of field is usually very shallow, and gets smaller as magnification increases. Even in a drop ...
by JGardner
Tue Feb 02, 2021 6:35 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy
Replies: 49
Views: 12533

Re: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy

I think astronomy is more likely to stick as a hobby since astronomy is often in the news (2017 solar eclipse, comet NEOWISE, etc.), which has no parallel in the microscopy hobby. The general public is also much more likely to be exposed to astronomical images from Hubble and other sources than they...
by JGardner
Tue Feb 02, 2021 4:32 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy
Replies: 49
Views: 12533

Re: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy

I was specifically referring to hobby microscopy, hence the word "amateur" in the title of the thread. Based on my own personal observations, the amateur telescope market is much much larger than the hobby microscope market. By far. We have two stores in my area catering to amateur astronomers. Ditt...
by JGardner
Sun Jan 31, 2021 9:18 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy
Replies: 49
Views: 12533

Re: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy

I wasn’t thinking about the low end of the market (refractor from Sears), but the medium to high end of the amateur market. Lots of guys have $5000-$20000 invested in big scopes with elaborate imaging and guiding setups. You mentioned that no preparation is needed vs slide preparation, but for the t...
by JGardner
Sun Jan 31, 2021 7:12 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy
Replies: 49
Views: 12533

Amateur Microscopy vs Astronomy

This is somewhat of a philosophical question: why is amateur astronomy so much more popular than microscopy? Here in my area, there are dozens of astronomy clubs and several stores selling telescopes and equipment. There’s practically nothing for microscopy—no clubs, no stores, no popular magazines,...
by JGardner
Sun Jan 31, 2021 3:37 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Clear nail polish
Replies: 31
Views: 12876

Re: Clear nail polish

If mountants are really not legally available this would be quite an unfortunate situation as is would block a sector of citizen science activities. This is getting to be a significant problem in the US, where it can sometimes be impossible for amateur scientists to acquire chemicals. The two state...
by JGardner
Thu Jan 14, 2021 6:24 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Reichert received and a question
Replies: 39
Views: 12272

Re: Reichert received and a question

apochronaut wrote:
Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:20 pm
I just bought a pack of 10 sealed 693ZZ bearings from China for 3.17 + free shipping.
Wow, that's $0.31 per bearing. What are the quality of these things? The old saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind here.
by JGardner
Tue Jan 12, 2021 7:50 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Amoebas dangerous ?
Replies: 13
Views: 5655

Re: Amoebas dangerous ?

Working with amoebas is a minor risk that can easily be mitigated by common sense precautions like washing hands after handling materials, wearing gloves (particularly if you have any open cuts on your hands), refraining from eating and drinking while working with amoeba-containing materials, etc. T...