MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

To Charles: Your post did not mention your location, but in the USA ( where I live) you can purchase Xylene in large 3.8L (1 gallon) containers advertised as a "stronger than paint thinner" solvent from large hardware stores. As I stated in the video, Xylene is a known toxic solvent so I use an acti...

This is my second attempt at creating a "How to" video to demonstrate the proper technique for permanent slide preparation of whole mount insects. I created four ten minute videos. Technical difficulties with my IPhone prevented a smooth presentation but I think I got the important information acros...

This microscope was manufactured in Japan circa 1960. The Japanese microscope manufacturer, the name has escaped me at the moment, produced several inexpensive amateur models that were all standard, with little variation but branded to appear made by different manufactureres. An example of the above...

Since I exceeded the amount of pictures I could post I thought a second posting would do. The 1500x at twice the price was considered a semi-pro microscope, having better optics than either the 900x or 1200x The 900x only had three eyepieces (5x,10x and 15x) to the 1200x with four eyepieces (5x,10x,...

The microscope, for me, is more than just a tool for observation of small objects, it is a work of technological art and precision. The older microscopes give me great satisfaction because I amso impressed by the level of workmanship and precision that went into making these instruments. Not only ar...

The 5x obective with a 20x eyepiece yields 100x The 20x objective with the 5x eyepiece yields 100x The 10x objective with the 10x eyepiece yield 100x, The same can be said for similar combinations of objectives and eyepieces. Is there a formula for the correct combination to give best image results ...

The responses to my posting are interesting. My need for great accuracy of image quality and colour were not a prority when using the 2x objective, although to be honest I have not seen any degradation of colour with the 2x objective. However, I have looked at the correct condenser for the 2x object...

Recently I received a 2x objective. I do a lot of work with insects and the standard 4x objective offered too much magnification and reduced field of view. Some time ago I purchased a 2x objective from AmScope ( it was quite expensive) and was disappointed by the fact that the entire circumference o...

To Apochronaut: Well I have to respectfully disagree with your statement. After a long explanation (all correct) you finally state that "Generally, the cheaper a new optic is, the less likely it is that it or the system it has been built for will be precise enough to provide fine imaging." This was ...

Does anyone know where you can get parfocal shims ? I tried to make them with paper. It works but looks crude.

Looks like a nice microscope with all the necessary functions. I don't know anything about the quality of the optics but you can always get some good objectives on Ebay. Let's face it, it's the optics that make for a good scope.

Asking Ebay to step in may help but don't be disappointed if you get a response you don't want to hear. Claims like "clean no scratches" is very ambiguous. Seller claims that the buyers response was on a different item is difficult to prove. I had a similar experience where the seller advertised tha...

I know I'm in good company when I talk about microscopes. I also have a Olympus CH2 that I was able to buy "never used" !!!!! It was an amazing find. It's not brand new since that model was discontinued many years ago but as an unused scope it was in mint condition. Although it has the "entry level"...

Although I definitely didn't need this microscope, I couldn't pass it up when it became available. This particular BH2 BHT model has an interchangeable rotating objective turret, I came with five objectives and I was able to acquire an adittional six objective turret !!! Six objective turret: 4x,10x...

The reputation of microscope companies is usually based on the optical quality of their objectives (most important) and eyepieces (less important). Searching Ebay,or other sites,shows an overwhelming number of objectives available from unknown manufactureres. I've seen a set of four objectives (4x,1...

I have been experimenting with a LabCam attachment to my Iphone. It is very easy to use and in my personal use takes better images than my Nikon D5500 despite the Nikon having almost twice as many pixels (16MP vs 24MP). I do have a dedicated microscope camera from China that has 8MP and its own buil...

I have not had good results with my microphotography attempts. Image quality is fairly poor all around. I have a Nikon D5500 (I think it has a 2/3 sensor) with 24megapixels and the proper c-mount adapter which takes poor images. The LabCam with my IPhone (12+) with 16MP takes better overall images, ...

Hello TomW:
Thank you for your informative response. I contacted Brunel and will order the book you recommended.
Antoni

Hello MicroBob: Thank you for the informative response. You have given me a lot of information to research. If I may ask what you mean by "FAE fixative" ? The German documents translated well. I have several stains available. I'm not at my home right now and can't remember exactly all of them but I ...

When the technician has decided after a visual examination that the bleaching and softening process has been reached, the insect is transferred to a 1" deep water dish. Squeezing out the abdominal contents is necessary so that the insect can be flattened sufficiently well for microscopic viewing. I ...

My main interest in microscopy at the present time is making permanent slides of insects. Most large insects have dark brown or black exoskeletons that require further processing to make suitable permanent slides. Without this processing, their dark exoskeletons prevent examining their external and ...

As a lifelong enthusiast of the microscope I have never tried counter-staining. I have some prepared slides of stem crossections that show two different colors and would like to duplicate this process. I tried to make some permanent slides of simple things like onion skin with just one stain but dur...

Hey don't be busting on antique lenses! :mrgreen: Early lens makers knew what they were doing! Just like today some Victorian lenses were better than others however I regularly use objectives that are over 100 years old and the optical quality is excellent. Of course there's no fancy lens coatings ...

I recently watched an informative Youtube video from our moderator where he compared the optical quality of a toy microscope vs the professional model. Watching this video reminded me that I had done the same thing several months ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5lBKSF4Xr8&t=624s I was struck b...

I've been successful in preparing whole mount insects for the majority of insects that have brown exoskeletons like ants and some beetles. The problem arises when I try to make whole mounts of black exoskeleton insects, even black flies. Usually, I immerse the insect in a strong solition of potassiu...

I have several microscopes, more for the fact that I have a microscope fetish and also love the superb optical quality. The popular standard objective magnifications are 4x, 10x, 40x and 100x (oil immersion). One of my microscopes (Olympus BH2) has a five objective capability so I removed the 100x a...

I wanted to have an objective that gave me a lower magnification than 4x. I was able to buy an OMAX 2x objective but found that it had a large dark circle around the periphery severly limiting the field of view. I was hoping to get a 2x objective that gave me a wide field of view like I experience w...

This message is for Oliver: Wonderful web site, great posts. I watched Oliver's Youtube video about microscopic observation of insects. Insects happen to be my favorite topic of observation and I really enjoy mounting and preserving whole or part insects. In my opinion the best way to observe the st...

Can anyone recommend books or publications on how to make permanent slides of insects , large and small. I have general ideas but would like tried-and-true methods. About six decades ago I had a book on slide making which has been long misplaced or lost. It was very thorough, right down to the proce...

Attached are several images form the LabCam IPhone adapter. Compare image 6
(taken with LabCam) to Image TS (taken with $1150 Excelis). All others taken with LabCam Pro.