Search found 338 matches

by McConkey
Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:21 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Latest image
Replies: 5
Views: 5060

Latest image

Over the last few days I've been paying more attention to camera settings instead of scope setup in an attempt to improve image quality. I found that having my ISO set to "auto" to achieve faster shutter speeds/correctly exposed images was decreasing the image quality and introducing a fair amount o...
by McConkey
Wed Jan 29, 2020 9:21 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Cleaning off the dust
Replies: 3
Views: 2994

Cleaning off the dust

Good afternoon everyone! Work has kept me away from home for the tail end of 2018 and the majority of 2019...but for now 2020 is looking pretty good and I've finally taken the time to re-setup the scope! Thankfully my better half has kept my indoor pond going while i was away so i had some fresh wat...
by McConkey
Sun Aug 19, 2018 5:45 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup
Replies: 13
Views: 9309

Re: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup

75RR - Thanks for the suggestion! I've adjusted the title of the ad and made some small changes to the description. Unfortunately ebay limits how long the title can be but your suggestion did not fall on deaf ears! Thanks! This is my first time selling on ebay so i'm still learning the ropes! Based ...
by McConkey
Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:54 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup
Replies: 13
Views: 9309

Re: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup

Still available if anyone is interested!
by McConkey
Wed Aug 01, 2018 7:55 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup
Replies: 13
Views: 9309

Re: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup

Hey Kurt! Appreciate the thoughts! I hope all is well with you on your end! Are you still travelling or have I been gone so long that you are already back?!
by McConkey
Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:56 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup
Replies: 13
Views: 9309

Re: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup

Hobbyst - Really glad to hear you were able to move forward with your white balance!! Apologies if i disappeared from the conversation without a trace but i'll be backtracking through the forum posts over the last year and catching up!! Really looking forward to seeing your work! John - Thank you fo...
by McConkey
Mon Jul 30, 2018 7:10 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup
Replies: 13
Views: 9309

AO20 Phase contrast/Darkfield setup

Hello everyone! I have been away for the better part of the last year, as always work keeps me very busy and away from home/this amazing hobby! I had intended to sell this scope earlier in the year but being so busy i ended up forgetting about it! Anyway! With my recent (lastyear) upgrade to a DIC s...
by McConkey
Sat Mar 17, 2018 3:40 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Grow my own algae?
Replies: 2
Views: 2653

Re: Grow my own algae?

I recently had a very similar question in regards to setting up an “indoor stream” http://www.microbehunter.com/microscopy-forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=5482 You can find the topic here. I purchased some aquarium plant food off amazon found down below which I drop into the aquarium about 2x a week. I a...
by McConkey
Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:59 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Australian enthusiast
Replies: 15
Views: 9376

Re: Australian enthusiast

Welcome! Do not be put off from posting your images or videos! There are few on here who shoot through their smartphones and produce beyond excellent images! We'd love to see what you've been viewing especially coming from the other side of the planet. You cant make us wait till next year!! There ar...
by McConkey
Tue Mar 13, 2018 12:33 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Pantone pdf colour charts
Replies: 4
Views: 3734

Re: Pantone pdf colour charts

Excellent resource!! Thank you for sharing!! If i may add to the topic, replicating accurate colour is something i've always had an "OCD" issue with, to the point of spending obscene amounts of money on ridiculous "accurate" monitors and colour calibration devices...i'm nowhere near as bad as i used...
by McConkey
Sat Mar 10, 2018 6:50 am
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: LOOKING TO BUY PREPARED MICROSCOPE SLIDES.
Replies: 8
Views: 4685

Re: LOOKING TO BUY PREPARED MICROSCOPE SLIDES.

I highly recommend JohnB (mrsonchus) too, exceptional quality from a very skilled man. You will not be disappointed!
by McConkey
Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:21 pm
Forum: Digital processing
Topic: Stacking Software
Replies: 47
Views: 48263

Re: Stacking Software

Hi Karl Do you shoot RAW files, transfer to the computer with the Canon utility, convert to tiff with a Canon software, then manipulate and stack the tiffs in Zerene? I shoot raw but i just take out my memory card and throw it into my desktop to grab the files. I then open them in camera RAW within...
by McConkey
Thu Mar 08, 2018 5:08 am
Forum: Digital processing
Topic: Stacking Software
Replies: 47
Views: 48263

Re: Stacking Software

While I don't have the comparison data anymore to show you, I did some decent testing between Photoshop, Zerene and Helicon and opted for Zerene Stacker. Helicon does have a really nice look to it and ended up being the fastest stacking program but i found the final image output to be less sharp and...
by McConkey
Thu Mar 08, 2018 4:25 am
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Hello from the frozen Northwest!
Replies: 15
Views: 9842

Re: Hello from the frozen Northwest!

Welcome! I came over from Cloudy Nights too!! Got tired of not being able to use the observatory and opted for exploration indoors!! You will find a wealth of information here, incredible helpful and friendly people!! You know nothing of the cold and snow though! Anything south of 55° latitude is co...
by McConkey
Sat Feb 24, 2018 11:57 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: First attempt at stacking
Replies: 3
Views: 2322

Re: First attempt at stacking

Nice stacks! Zerene stacker is a great program and can do some pretty impressive things! Do you remember if you used PMAx or DMap for stacking? I find for the most part PMax gives the better results, it depends on what you are stacking but from my experience I stick to PMax! Thanks for sharing! Keep...
by McConkey
Sat Feb 24, 2018 11:53 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: I'm thinking this is a Halteria
Replies: 7
Views: 3616

Re: I'm thinking this is a Halteria

Thanks for the link! I managed to find the original post where the other links were! Just had to look back a little further! I will agree with you that it is far more entertaining to view a live specimen under the scope than what hollywood is producing! It's always fascinating how much life can be c...
by McConkey
Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:59 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: I'm thinking this is a Halteria
Replies: 7
Views: 3616

Re: I'm thinking this is a Halteria

I'm really loving all of your discoveries! You have a really diverse sample site and it's great to see you finding all these and getting them identified! I think Francisco has been hitting the nail on the head for all of these really quickly! You mentioned "Josh's page"...Do you mind sharing the lin...
by McConkey
Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:54 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: organism with really long tether
Replies: 7
Views: 3487

Re: organism with really long tether

Awesome pictures!! Those guys are always fun to watch!! I love seeing them retract back at lightening speed and slowly open up again!!

I believe they are vorticella!
by McConkey
Sat Feb 24, 2018 9:53 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: The extendo-rod organisms
Replies: 8
Views: 4365

Re: The extendo-rod organisms

I've always seen these before but never moving like that! I had no idea they were a collective and moved that way!! Fascinating!
by McConkey
Wed Feb 21, 2018 12:43 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: A simple planachro comparison.
Replies: 6
Views: 3266

Re: A simple planachro comparison.

Thanks for posting this!! They do all look strikingly similar! Do you happen to know why the 1311 has such an intense red area near the top compared to the others? It looks like the 1129 and 1311 also have better colours and less of a tint. It's a hard press between the 1129 and the 1311...The 1311 ...
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 6:50 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Photography related questions for beginner.
Replies: 7
Views: 4295

Re: Photography related questions for beginner.

Welcome Shelby! I think the first question most people will be asking is what is your budget? That will usually play a big part in what you are able to buy. Does your budget include potentially getting a new DSLR? The k-50 is a fine camera and will produce great images as 16mp is still a good amount...
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:42 pm
Forum: Digital processing
Topic: Zerene Synthetic Stereo
Replies: 23
Views: 21090

Re: Zerene Synthetic Stereo

...still looking for my steroscope Kurt! Now that i see more people with one it's making me really wonder where the heck mine disappeared too! I used to have a nice collection of the cards you speak! Alot of very sturn looking Victorians and early 1900 gardens! I find it fascinating that sometimes t...
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:31 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: 2 headed or just injured?
Replies: 14
Views: 5765

Re: 2 headed or just injured?

Another incredible reference image! Thanks Bruce for the continued education!
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:28 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: A couple very annoying insects.
Replies: 13
Views: 5136

Re: A couple very annoying insects.

Avoid motels in Ohio! aha good to know! Never heard of the rotting raspberry tactic before thats really good to know! Thanks!
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 1:00 pm
Forum: Digital processing
Topic: Zerene Synthetic Stereo
Replies: 23
Views: 21090

Re: Zerene Synthetic Stereo

Hobbyst46 - Exactly what I had in mind!!! Thankyou for posting and sharing your dimensions! As old as this technology is they really can’t be beaten! I remember making them in high school and creating our own 3D images. It’s a really neat project for anyone with kids!! I’m still searching the depths...
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:26 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Polarized Painkillers
Replies: 5
Views: 3080

Re: Polarized Painkillers

Really funky colours! I love it! It almost looks like feathers! What program are you using to resize your images? and what size are the images coming out of your camera? I use photoshop but heres what i do to get the biggest and highest quality image possible... I resize the image so that either the...
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:17 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: As usual...no idea what it is!
Replies: 11
Views: 4726

Re: As usual...no idea what it is!

Rather than flood the forum with multiple posts I think i'll just keep adding images to this thread as more than likely i will have no idea what it is i'm posting pictures of!! Found this as the slide was drying up so i had to be quick. Still playing around with processing and getting used to DIC, h...
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:12 am
Forum: Digital processing
Topic: Zerene Synthetic Stereo
Replies: 23
Views: 21090

Re: Zerene Synthetic Stereo

Oooh now you mention some people can't do it! After i spent half the night trying! :lol: at this point I'll just have to live vicariously through everyone else!
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:10 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: As usual...no idea what it is!
Replies: 11
Views: 4726

Re: As usual...no idea what it is!

Pat and Eddie - Your suggestions and input are greatly appreciated, thank you! Especially considering i have zero idea what i'm looking at 100% of the time! I thought it was a dragon eye! :? Bruce - Again, Thank you...If i could just transfer your knowledge to my own brain that would be really helpf...
by McConkey
Tue Feb 20, 2018 4:01 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: 2 headed or just injured?
Replies: 14
Views: 5765

Re: 2 headed or just injured?

Bruce - Thank you for the very detail reply! It will take me a few readings to fully understand everything but for the most part i followed what you were saying!! The diagram is incredibly helpful! I really appreciate you going into detail about it! Thank you :) I don't suppose you have diagrams lik...