MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Dear microbe hunters, I’m devouring every book and resource I find on protists, Protozoa, algae etc living in fresh water, since I astoundingly spend hours on the eyepiece observing them. I use mostly the atlas from Heinz Streble and Dieter Krauter for identification, but I find it somewhat limited....

Hi guys, seems that the focus with a sample slide, with no water, can be achieved. Whether the contrast and sharpness matches my desires is different story. From what I see around on this forum and also on other channels, seems that much better results in terms of sharpness and contrast can be achie...

Thanks and yes, definitely no clouds and no rain!
Those little water ponds friends are always available!!

The optics of all microscopes work within the specifications of that particular optical system, which is quite explicitly stamped on the equipment. For instance, an Olympus microscope outfitted with a 40X .65 N.A. planachromat objective and 18mm f.o.v. eyepieces matched to that objective, will prod...

Phase contrast introduces better contrast with certain specimens but the technology requires a more exacting set up. You correctly identified one of the problems associated with the technique and that is that it causes a halo. The halo is a characteristic of phase and could be mistaken for an out o...

The Laborlux S comes with a POL analyzer. This is a polarizing filter that slides into a slot beneath the head and above the objective. It looks like a looks like black horizontal bar. If this filter is damaged it certainly won't help your image. Brad Hi Brad, I didn’t know this. I looked in the bo...

I found out that, after I leave the slide on the microscope and all the micro organisms have died, and the cover glass is sticking completely to the slide, I can have much better sharpness and focus even with the 40x, I would say acceptable. So maybe the thickness of the water layer plays its role h...

Thanks all valid points. I’m having issues also with the condenser. It seems not aligned properly. I also found that moving the condenser actually affects the focus of the image when I look into the 40x. I think perhaps it would be a good idea to get back together with your microscopist friend and ...

Brad_ wrote:Have you tried removing the POL analyzer?

Brad

What do you mean? I have the condenser with several positions, one is the H (bright field) with aperture diafragm, and is the one I use for non-phase observation.

Hi, Thanks all valid points. I’m having issues also with the condenser. It seems not aligned properly. I also found that moving the condenser actually affects the focus of the image when I look into the 40x. It is so sad, since I love this microscope for its wonderful mechanics. Would like to try to...

Guys, thanks for your replies. I had a session with a friend. We used my 40x fluotar head to head with his 40x PL (chinese). They were performing quite the same. I tried both objectives on his microscope and on mine. Not a big difference. Then yesterday I armed a slide and started a protist session ...

Max, Welcome! Like you, I share both avocations. Cloudy nights = Microscope and Clear Nights = Telescope Sunday night was exceptionally clear ... I was fine focusing on M37, the stunning open cluster in Auriga which, slightly defocused, was strikingly similar in the eyepiece to a colony of Pediastr...

Dear microbe hunters, I'm a newcomer in this fantastic world of microscopy. I live in Rome, Italy. I'm a veteran deep sky watcher, and I decided to buy an used Leitz Laborlux S to fuel my former childhood microscopy passion. I watch the sky since I was 13 years old. As a gift my father at that times...

Dear microbe hunters, I'm a newcomer in this fantastic world of the microscopy. I'm a veteran deep sky watcher, and I decided to buy an used Leitz Laborlux S to fuel my childhood microscopy passion. More on the upcoming introductory message! Now, I've been playing with my Leitz for a while now. I ha...