Search found 3200 matches

by zzffnn
Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:07 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Under the 1/24 ice , mesocosm collection.
Replies: 26
Views: 1224

Re: Under the 1/24 ice , mesocosm collection.

On my second scoop water sample from the stream mesocosm ( after 1/27-1/28/24 abrupt ice thaw in our region), I noted a rotifer rapidly circling a small gas bubble...this rapid circling of the gas buuble..with the rotifers corona always touching the gas bubble...went on for ten minutes. I fed huge ...
by zzffnn
Tue Mar 26, 2024 12:32 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Substituting LED bulb for incandescent bulb
Replies: 7
Views: 301

Re: Substituting LED bulb for incandescent bulb

A very wide controllable brightness range with high color accuracy (high CRI value) would be ideal. If you build only one light, you would want it to be powerful; if you would build two or more lights, then you can do whatever combination that suits you. My LED is 30w, because I once used it for a v...
by zzffnn
Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:27 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Do I need another objective?
Replies: 36
Views: 1123

Re: Do I need another objective?

Harry, you may ask Apochronaut about suitable WI objectives. I think the maker is BestScope (CFI60 standard?). It would obviously be a mismatch for your system, but if you can return it with minimal loss, then it may he appealing. Another way is to find an authentic Nikon WI from your local universi...
by zzffnn
Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:27 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Do I need another objective?
Replies: 36
Views: 1123

Re: Do I need another objective?

Harry, I cannot speak for you, but I would be quite satisfied with what you already have there. If I have to get one, I may get a water immersion 60x -100x objective, which I believe is made by BestScope for Nikon CFI series, member apochronaut may be able to tell you which one to get. Big brand mod...
by zzffnn
Tue Mar 19, 2024 6:11 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: Picked up a legacy Zeiss
Replies: 2
Views: 390

Re: Picked up a legacy Zeiss

Welcome to the forum. I used to live in Quincy and work in Cambridge. Was the head dovetail modified there? I didn’t know Zeiss dovetail is the same as Olympus (yours looks like a BH2 head?)? I am guessing the tube length (optical distance between eyepiece and objective shoulder) might be messed up ...
by zzffnn
Sat Mar 02, 2024 6:43 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Selling old Leitz Laborlux or SM?
Replies: 20
Views: 904

Re: Selling old Leitz Laborlux

It looks like your Heine is missing its (oil immersion) top lens.
by zzffnn
Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:40 am
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: COL with polarized filters
Replies: 15
Views: 1591

Re: COL with polarized filters

It may be beneficial in theory, to have a completely opaque mask blocking 3/4 view, and then split the rest 1/4 into two equal parts of 1/8 each: part #1 = 1/8 blocked by tunable pol filter, and the outside most part #2 = 1/8 completely open to light However, each objective would need a precisely ma...
by zzffnn
Tue Feb 27, 2024 4:42 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: COL with polarized filters
Replies: 15
Views: 1591

Re: COL with polarized filters

From the diatom overview photo, I am guessing your dark center stop is slightly too big than optimal (that is why center of the photo is much darker). Were your dark center mask about the same size as the pol center stop? If they were of the same size and both being slightly too big, then I agree th...
by zzffnn
Tue Feb 27, 2024 2:21 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Ciliate or a worm?
Replies: 6
Views: 411

Re: Ciliate or a worm?

Sometimes even gravity alone is enough to concentrate some ciliates. I would suggest maybe 200 rpm. In biology labs, we do no more than 800 rpm for eukaryotic cells.
by zzffnn
Tue Feb 27, 2024 2:39 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Ciliate or a worm?
Replies: 6
Views: 411

Re: Ciliate or a worm?

Nice video, Harry.

That look like a ciliate. I don’t know what that appendage is; I am guessing it may be an injury. Bruce Taylor would be the expert to ask; or your can ask David Seamer on Facebook.

Was that video recorded using DIC (what scope brand and model)? What magnification? 20x?
by zzffnn
Mon Feb 26, 2024 8:14 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: COL with polarized filters
Replies: 15
Views: 1591

Re: COL with polarized filters

Nice work. Have you compared: 1) COL with a totally opaque (totally black) central mask + polarized peripheral light outside of the central mask with 2) your COL with pol filter as central mask [of the same size as 1) ] and plain peripheral light? Do you have a clear preference between 1) and 2) ? 2...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 22, 2024 11:31 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: What tip size for micropipette
Replies: 7
Views: 685

Re: What tip size for micropipette

Yes, 200 ul. Exactly what Alexander said. About 30 ul of water is enough to spread under regular 22mm cover slips without being too thick, if I remember correctly. You can always cut the tip of 200 ul, if you consider the tip too sharp (sometimes pipetting too hard with sharp tips will generate too ...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 22, 2024 9:30 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: LOMO 40x 0.75 water immersion objective
Replies: 3
Views: 515

Re: LOMO 40x 0.75 water immersion objective

I use mechanical adapters and machine washers to raise the stage and the condenser of my Nikon Optiphot, to use with short LOMOs. The LOMO 40/0.75 can be used with or with cover slip, in either water immersion (with cover slip) or in water dipping (without cover slip). At NA of 0.75, cover slip does...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 09, 2024 6:43 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: Does Anybody Recognize this Inverted 'Scope?
Replies: 33
Views: 3426

Re: Does Anybody Recognize this Inverted 'Scope?

Gerry, I almost bought that one for DIY modifications :lol: if all parts work, then it is a good value (especially for its removable trinocular head, mechanical stage and DIY friendly condenser mount). It looks decent for the price you paid. Manufacturer (Jiangnan Yongxin / Novel) does not sell that...
by zzffnn
Wed Feb 07, 2024 6:25 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Lomo objective designations
Replies: 33
Views: 6938

Re: Lomo objective designations

Thank you, Apochronaut for the test! I bought a pair of W10x 15.5mm. I have many short LOMO achromats that will benefit from them. I dug into my old videos more carefully and found this darkfield recording (which reveals CA more than oblique and brightfield / phase), done with the LOMO 40x 0.75, afo...
by zzffnn
Sun Feb 04, 2024 2:45 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Switching out my ELWD condenser for a higher NA condenser
Replies: 8
Views: 700

Re: Switching out my ELWD condenser for a higher NA condenser

I would think even if factory solution does not exist (which is unlikely), it would not be difficult to adapt a high NA condenser and LED light source onto Diaphot. Does that condenser holder go low enough? With the hanging drop method (with upside-down cover slip - slide), you can have an 0.17mm s...
by zzffnn
Sun Feb 04, 2024 5:04 am
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Switching out my ELWD condenser for a higher NA condenser
Replies: 8
Views: 700

Re: Switching out my ELWD condenser for a higher NA condenser

I would think even if factory solution does not exist (which is unlikely), it would not be difficult to adapt a high NA condenser and LED light source onto Diaphot. Does that condenser holder go low enough? With the hanging drop method (with upside-down cover slip - slide), you can have an 0.17mm sp...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 02, 2024 7:00 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Lomo objective designations
Replies: 33
Views: 6938

Re: Lomo objective designations

Just for reference, the following are some of my old videos shot with LOMO K10x/18, using afocal connection (objective -> microscope turret + eye tube -> K10x/18 eyepiece-> 30mm lens (equivalent to 60mm in full frame) -> micro four thirds camera). All my microscopy videos were shot that way. I used ...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:07 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Lomo objective designations
Replies: 33
Views: 6938

Re: Lomo objective designations

I use LOMO K10x/18, which is not easy to find (they came together with my LOMO objectives from Russia). I think apochronaut said Olympus Tokyo (Bi) WF10x works well too (which is much cheaper and much easier to buy). I have not tested that combo myself, but I trust (and have been replying on) apochr...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 01, 2024 6:30 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Lomo objective designations
Replies: 33
Views: 6938

Re: Lomo objective designations

A related question…how “good” are Lomo objectives? I am considering adding to my objective collection. Thanks The 3.7x is weirdly great for macro shootin'. It is quite good and covers full frame sensors if I remember correctly, assuming one shoots focus stacks, because it is not plan. It was actual...
by zzffnn
Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:16 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Lomo objective designations
Replies: 33
Views: 6938

Re: Lomo objective designations

J_WISC wrote:
Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:15 pm
Hello.

Thank you for this thread. Can someone suggest the meaning of the following symbol on a LOMO water immersion objective?


IMG_5630.jpeg


Thanks.
Sorry, I do not know what that symbol means.
by zzffnn
Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:15 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Lomo objective designations
Replies: 33
Views: 6938

Re: Lomo objective designations

A related question…how “good” are Lomo objectives? I am considering adding to my objective collection. Thanks In general, the higher (> 10x) power ones are not very good; they lack contrast / field flatness, need eyepiece correction and are oftentimes not strain-free for polarizing microscopy. I us...
by zzffnn
Tue Jan 30, 2024 6:20 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: Leitz Plan 1.6X objective
Replies: 9
Views: 794

Re: Leitz Plan 1.6X objective

I have bought two short Nikon Plan 1.2x iris objectives at drastically different prices (keeping in mind that optical quality of the Nikon is likely not as good as the [long barrel ] Leitz, so this may not be good reference; and I don’t know if the Leitz 1.6x has iris): The first one I waited for a ...
by zzffnn
Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:35 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Lily pollen
Replies: 9
Views: 694

Re: Lily pollen

Amazing photos, thank you for sharing!
by zzffnn
Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:30 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Some arcellinid amoebae in SEM
Replies: 21
Views: 1548

Re: Some arcellinid amoebae in SEM

Stunning and fascinating images, thank you for sharing, Bruce!
by zzffnn
Sun Jan 21, 2024 4:49 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Where is Rafcamera?
Replies: 5
Views: 816

Re: Where is Rafcamera?

Rafcamera is great to work with. I have bought from him many times.
by zzffnn
Tue Jan 16, 2024 7:11 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: PZO DIC
Replies: 20
Views: 6341

Re: PZO DIC

Thank you very much, Phil. Ah, that pretty much rules out almost all water immersion objectives that cost less than $400 USD each. How bad was the strain or background gradient (your “poor performance” is rated based on background gradient? The short LOMOs are not good at contrast, if you are also d...
by zzffnn
Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:21 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: A stupid question: any good practice in cover slip cleaning?
Replies: 7
Views: 1197

Re: A stupid question: any good practice in cover slip cleaning?

When I worked as a microbiologist, our lab did use acids to wash cover slips. But now at home without a lab, I simply use a cotton or silk cloth to gently wipe them clean then rinse off with water. Most of the times, they work well enough for darkfield (after my wiping).
by zzffnn
Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:11 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: PZO DIC
Replies: 20
Views: 6341

Re: PZO DIC

Phil or anyone who has tried LOMO short water immersion objectives (apo or not) on PZO DIC: please kindly let me know if they work reasonably well for DIC (if background gradient is reasonably even to eyes / can be adjusted in software). I have not done it, but it is on my to-do list for microscopy....
by zzffnn
Mon Dec 25, 2023 2:43 am
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Does phase contrast make sense for its price?
Replies: 49
Views: 32379

Re: Does phase contrast make sense for its price?

How much to block away depends on how much contrast you want for different subjects.

I usually have my condenser immersed and touching slide bottom.