Search found 4291 matches
- Tue Nov 28, 2023 12:45 pm
- Forum: Illumination Techniques
- Topic: Darkfield diagnostic test slide
- Replies: 26
- Views: 69832
Re: Darkfield diagnostic test slide
Perhaps a more or less uniform layer of small opaque particles of a defined diameter can serve for that purpose. Polystyrene spheres and other polymer particles are available from lab suppliers as suspensions that can be diluted with water as needed. A dried drop on the coverslip will make the test ...
- Sat Nov 25, 2023 9:17 pm
- Forum: Beginner's corner
- Topic: How to connect a microscope to a monitor
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4554
Re: How to connect a microscope to a monitor
Also note that the listed camera lacks a 0.5X reducing lens, which likely will provide a much wider FOV than without it, and that the FPS is relatively low at high quality video. I would prefer USB 3 rather than USB 2, if choosing an eyepiece camera. The listed camera appears to be bundled with a co...
- Fri Nov 24, 2023 12:27 pm
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: BH-2 RFCA, filtre cubes, filtres and accessories
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7362
Re: BH-2 RFCA, filtre cubes, filtres and accessories
2) I understand what you write - but why is it in the analyzer slider? Any particular reason? What's the benefit of this, in lieu of placing it in the cube itself? Are an analyzer and cube installed together, such that the rays pass through both of them in series ? in that case, perhaps the previou...
- Thu Nov 23, 2023 9:54 am
- Forum: Microscopy accessories
- Topic: BH-2 RFCA, filtre cubes, filtres and accessories
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7362
Re: BH-2 RFCA, filtre cubes, filtres and accessories
Having had success in asking for help on lubricating the cube slider on my RFCA, I dare post a few more questions, as the epifluorescence modality and its various accessories are new to me - so here are my current inquiries: 1) What is the difference between the BH2-ANF and the analyzer dummy? I on...
- Wed Nov 22, 2023 4:28 pm
- Forum: Illumination Techniques
- Topic: DIY Fluorescence microscopy?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 12329
- Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:27 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Meiji ML2000L for $150 reasonable?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4827
Re: Meiji ML2000L for $150 reasonable?
What's even more ridiculous is I have a degree in molecular cell biology which required doing all sorts of microscopy (including plenty of fluorescence microscopy on organisms I had to genetically modify), although in my defense I don't use that degree for anything, and it's been many years since I...
- Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:32 pm
- Forum: Illumination Techniques
- Topic: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 100828
- Tue Nov 14, 2023 3:29 pm
- Forum: Illumination Techniques
- Topic: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?
- Replies: 31
- Views: 100828
Re: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?
Thank you all so much for the reply! I'll take a picture tonight to show how messy it is. The most difficult part is, I can not use centering Telescope to properly center it, it's just dark, not like with other condensers where you can try different stops to see where the boundary is. BTW, when I t...
- Thu Nov 09, 2023 9:31 am
- Forum: Illumination Techniques
- Topic: autoflorescence
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7131
Re: autoflorescence
Fluorescence microscopy requires a strong illuminating (say, blue) beam and a VERY efficient long pass filter that passes ONLY the (say, green, yellow, red) weak fluorescence. Why would you be using a blue light, instead of a UV light? Not only would UV be easier to block, but wouldn't it also crea...
- Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:34 pm
- Forum: Illumination Techniques
- Topic: autoflorescence
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7131
Re: autoflorescence
Highly unlikely in a "standard" trans-illuminated microscope. Some internet sites have advocated sort of DIY epi-illumination arrangements on such microscopes, like a diagonal excitation LED beam (from above) combined with a long-pass filter on the eyepiece, etc. I am afraid that most of them are ov...
- Sat Nov 04, 2023 8:50 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Zeiss Phase Contrast Condenser question
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2382
Re: Zeiss Phase Contrast Condenser question
When I disassembled the condenser a tiny metal ball fell out. I assume it is for indexing the turret because without it the turret turns freely. Unfortunately I don't see an obvious place for the ball, suggestions greatly appreciated. I am missing the knob and bracket shown in the last picture abov...
- Sat Nov 04, 2023 10:20 am
- Forum: Illumination Techniques
- Topic: Correct position of darkfield/oblique patch stop in relation to condenser?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2914
Re: Correct position of darkfield/oblique patch stop in relation to condenser?
That sucks; its manual mentions filters... To be fair, it *does* come with filters, they just intend them to go here: ... The marked position is designed only for filters (e.g.polarizer) that completely pass the entire diameter of the illumination beam. The ideal place for a patch-stop is as close ...
- Wed Nov 01, 2023 3:02 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Reassembly of the leaves of the field diaphragm of a Zeiss PM3
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1483
Re: Reassembly of the leaves of the field diaphragm of a Zeiss PM3
This may help some, maybe see #8 (or #18 ?) of the following previous post:
Re: Help needed - 1) Faulty phase contrast, 2) re-assembly of field diaphragm leaves Zeiss standards
Often questions about Zeiss are answered in detail on the German forum.
Re: Help needed - 1) Faulty phase contrast, 2) re-assembly of field diaphragm leaves Zeiss standards
Often questions about Zeiss are answered in detail on the German forum.
- Tue Oct 31, 2023 3:57 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Help with cleaning / restoring second hand Olympus BX40
- Replies: 27
- Views: 20355
Re: Help with cleaning / restoring second hand Olympus BX40
Bravo for the great job !
- Thu Oct 26, 2023 1:26 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Question about Zeiss PM3 field diaphragm
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1037
Re: Question about Zeiss PM3 field diaphragm
The plastic diaphragms are somewhat of a later generation. The very first ones on the standard were all metal. Moreover they had more leaves (11 I think) than the plastic ones. The three screws are tiny and one needs a screwdriver that exactly fits the slots, otherwise they are easily stripped and d...
- Mon Oct 23, 2023 7:26 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Help with cleaning / restoring second hand Olympus BX40
- Replies: 27
- Views: 20355
Re: Help with cleaning / restoring second hand Olympus BX40
Why not prepare or find a stiff cardboard pipe, that has a perfectly straight end, of a diameter just slightly less than that of the lens; pass the pipe through the lower part of the eyepiece; support the lens on that end and slowly lower the pipe until the lens reaches its proper position. To preve...
- Mon Oct 23, 2023 7:20 pm
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Fossil diatom from Oamaru
- Replies: 33
- Views: 34315
Re: Fossil diatom from Oamaru
Fascinating images, hkv.
- Mon Oct 23, 2023 7:15 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: 6 cent coverslips vs 24 cent coverslips
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1495
Re: 6 cent coverslips vs 24 cent coverslips
I'm curious if anybody can comment on the photo-optical benefits of high end coverslips vs lower cost coverslips. I'm looking to order the more expensive #1.5 Schot coverslips listed as .16 to .19 mm thickness, but not sure if my camera will see an improvement. I understand that the DPlan objective...
- Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:43 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: On holiday at at St.Lawrence River, microscope info requested
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3077
Re: On holiday at at St.Lawrence River, microscope info requested
Charlie, the KF Junior is fairly similar to my GFL. Those original incandescent illuminators are indeed 6V 15W and come with that old-looking "Trafo" control box. The light is yellow. IMHO, they are not sufficiently bright (except for brightfield mode). I replaced mine by LED fixtures - the later of...
- Mon Oct 02, 2023 7:40 am
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Zeiss Objective Disassembly
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2061
Re: Zeiss Objective Disassembly
Well I have tried numerous methods so far, including with the addition of penetrating oil down in the groove, and this thing just absolutely will not budge. I think I'd need an F1 wheel gun to have a hope. Maybe someone disassembled it before me and covered the threads in loctite. I guess if I ever...
- Sat Sep 30, 2023 7:39 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Zeiss Objective Disassembly
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2061
Re: Zeiss Objective Disassembly
This post of ~ a year ago:
Re: Zeiss achroplan stuck
#14 Post by apochronaut » Mon Jul 25, 2022 10:51 am
Helped me a lot. Using two genuine leather straps, I managed to disassemble a stuck old Zeiss objective.
Re: Zeiss achroplan stuck
#14 Post by apochronaut » Mon Jul 25, 2022 10:51 am
Helped me a lot. Using two genuine leather straps, I managed to disassemble a stuck old Zeiss objective.
- Tue Sep 26, 2023 7:21 pm
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Lab spinel up close
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1129
- Tue Sep 26, 2023 7:14 pm
- Forum: Beginner's corner
- Topic: Unable to clean residue from objective lens
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2862
Re: Unable to clean residue from objective lens
A few more tips if I may: First step, prior to anything else, deliver a jet of clean room air on the lens, from a rubber air dust blower pump for photography. Look for remaining dust particles, if necessary remove them by very gentle wiping using a very soft brush (again, a photography accessory). T...
- Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:38 am
- Forum: Pictures and Videos
- Topic: Crystal Surfaces Are Awesome!
- Replies: 5
- Views: 812
Re: Crystal Surfaces Are Awesome!
Very nice setup and images !
- Sat Sep 23, 2023 1:24 pm
- Forum: Camera systems and imaging
- Topic: Old Zeiss documentation at Zeiss.com
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1913
Re: Old Zeiss documentation at Zeiss.com
If I do a Google search for "end-of-service site:zeiss.com/content/dam/Microscopy/us/download/pdf" I get a list of 57 documents. I don't know if that is complete, but it seems like a small number. Any other ideas? My Google search for the same key sentence only showed 42 separate items, not arrange...
- Thu Sep 21, 2023 8:06 pm
- Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
- Topic: Steel shims for permanent slides
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2060
Re: Steel shims for permanent slides
An important topic IMHO. I was interested in the same for mounting thick diatoms, to preserve their 3D structure. I bought 0.1mm and 0.2mm thick shim rings, OD ~ 18mm. The glue adds thickness. Moreover, the glue which is used to initially attach the coverslip to the slide must withstand the conditio...
- Thu Sep 21, 2023 8:17 am
- Forum: Camera systems and imaging
- Topic: Zeiss AxioCam HRc - Worth the bother?
- Replies: 30
- Views: 28798
Re: Zeiss AxioCam HRc - Worth the bother?
A skimpy Google search has brought the name Henry Pinkard (@henrypinkard) (allegedly - for a device driver for old Axiocams) and the software micro-manager (unknown to me). Edit: I see that MM is an ImageJ application. It is configurable and "Axiocam" is included in its list of cameras. Admit that M...
- Sat Sep 16, 2023 7:38 am
- Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
- Topic: Practical applications
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2803
Re: Practical applications
Stereo microscope: - splinters - differentiation between ordinary garden ants and the tiny monstrous fire ants - re-connecting fallen parts of spectacle frames, like the nose pads and earpieces; handling those tiny screws Compound scope: identification of lice and lice eggs around (happily, only sel...
- Thu Sep 14, 2023 9:38 am
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Freeing Slideways that are frozen.
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3072
Re: Freeing Slideways that are frozen.
Heptane or Octane has worked for me without heating.
Even Immersion oil Type A can soften dried oil-based paint, if left on it for a day or two.
The flame of the butane pencil torch is incredibly hot (for example - can soften and bend a glass tube in 2 seconds. I think that a hair dryer is safer.
Even Immersion oil Type A can soften dried oil-based paint, if left on it for a day or two.
The flame of the butane pencil torch is incredibly hot (for example - can soften and bend a glass tube in 2 seconds. I think that a hair dryer is safer.
- Mon Sep 11, 2023 2:15 pm
- Forum: Microscopes and optics
- Topic: Help with cleaning / restoring second hand Olympus BX40
- Replies: 27
- Views: 20355
Re: Help with cleaning / restoring second hand Olympus BX40
Some types of old oil or grease, that survive isopropanol, can be removed with heptane or octane (or a similar hydrocarbon from a Pharmacy). Do not try acetone - it can damage optical cements. Try to blow away all dust and solid particles especially from inside-tube surfaces. One advantage of the BX...