MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

... be a bit more contrasty and sharpened slightly.

Now that you mention it, it looks as if it could do with a little something. Will have a go.
I inexpertly use Photoshop.

Thanks gekko, will "endeavor to persevere".

Got an id. Not cysts but Trachelomonas with broken shell.
So instead of hatching they are dying.
Suspect my clumsy focusing with the new objectives is to blame. :(

16x, about 320 µm, Offset Dark Stop, 5 stack photoshop

Have added a second image per gekko's advice to increase sharpness and contrast.
Not sure if it is better. I find it difficult to improve it much.
By the way, just noticed that one side of the Desmid is shorter than the other!

Are those amoeba like tendrils in the first photo, lower of the two. At 4 and 7 o'clock?

These were taken with my new 40x, the Cyst, if that is what it is, is about 20µm

Very nice. I find Amoebas fascinating.
It is also encouraging that you are making video of this high quality with your E-p1.
Can't get the White Balance sorted out in movie mode on my E-p2. Looking forward to getting it right.
If I end up making videos like yours I will be very happy.

I like it. Was that the one you sealed with Nail Varnish?

Here are two links that beginners will find very useful. I know I do. Do not be misled by the "simple drawings", they work well. - the first one downloads a pdf - the second links to the original site page on which the pdf is based. http://www.msnucleus.org/watersheds/mission/plankton.pdf http://www...

Nice video. Very clear.
The "Scuticociliates" seem to be walking/running rather than swimming, at least that is the impression I get.
Are they on the surface?

First time I see these first hand, they come from a sample I took from a friends garden pond on Sunday.
If you add my new to me 25x to the mix, it has been a pretty good couple of days.

25x, Euglenas about 260µm, alga about 45µm wide, both are 5 image stacks in photoshop.

Took me a while to find the focus point, assumed it would be parfocal with the F2.5x or if not, focus would be a little closer to the slide. Turns out it is a little further away. From the 25x to the F40x not parfocal either but this time focus is a little closer to the slide. No delamination that I...

I assume you are using Zeiss compensating eyepieces

Upgraded a little while ago. Step up from the Zeiss/Winkels.
I believe the yellowish ring bordering the field of view establishes that?

Zeiss Standard Junior (built between 1952 and 1957) and a 10x, 40x, 100x Zeiss/Winkel (came with Microscope) + a Plan 2.5x and a Plan 16x. I have not used the 100x as yet.
Camera is an Olympus E-p2 with legacy OM lenses 28mm, 50mm and 35-70mm.

Pol objectives are tension-free and therefore do not interfere with polarized light. They can therefore be used for non polarized work.

Thanks, was wondering if it would be ok. A 25x should fit in nicely.

Have these on loan/option to buy. (Picture 1) Will be testing them soon, just wondered if on general terms they would have better optics than my 60 year old Zeiss/Winkels. (See Picture 2 - 10x, 40x and 100x) Are the 2.5x plan and the 16x plan better than the (Picture 1) options? The 25x is a bonus, ...

2 test photos