Search found 222 matches

by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 9:11 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?
Replies: 41
Views: 18073

Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

mrsonchus wrote:I use these in my SM-lux. Work perfectly - perfect fit too!

Link to SM-LUX bulbs

John B.
wow, these look ideal! cheap n cheerful if they work :)

I have ordered one to try it out. Thanks for the headsup John, much appreciated!
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 8:08 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?
Replies: 41
Views: 18073

Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

Link still works. Price is $47, though seller does say he accepts offers. Also on shipping it says to contact the seller so he does ship internationally. You could get it all in for about £50 I suppose. Does not hurt to ask. Still, that is an expensive solution when all you really want is a 50 penc...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 7:59 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: What interesting things I can look for to observe under the microscope?
Replies: 7
Views: 4316

Re: What interesting things I can look for to observe under the microscope?

Agree. I too find moss to be a good source of water critters. I pull up a few chunks of moss from the ground and put it in a small container with a splash of rainwater- bring it indoors and maybe add a splash of bottled mineral water (hoping to avoid tap water chemicals) Then i just take a drop with...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 7:00 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?
Replies: 41
Views: 18073

Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

On the same page of the link you provided (bottom left) the is one for sale that looks like a halogen. It says 6v 20w https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leitz-Sm-Lux-Microscope-Lamp-Holder-6v-20w-Socket-Assembly-Rare-Global-Shipping/272612181057?_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D499...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 6:18 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Some attempts at polarised crystal pics (Aspirin)
Replies: 6
Views: 2891

Re: Some attempts at polarised crystal pics (Aspirin)

Aenima, Pure or nearly pure isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable and will catch fire if placed near an open flame (from a lighter, match, gas). The pure liquid boils at about 82 degrees celsius, so you can safely heat it in a boiling water bath or over a small pot with boiling water. Yep! found th...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 6:17 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Some attempts at polarised crystal pics (Aspirin)
Replies: 6
Views: 2891

Re: Some attempts at polarised crystal pics (Aspirin)

Wow, some great ideas, thank you :) A couple points stick out. The crystals being too thick causing lack of colour. This might explain my problems with salt. Haven't managed to crystallize in a way that leaves thin layers. Also rather limited in equipment and ingredients not to mention skill :D The ...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:31 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?
Replies: 41
Views: 18073

Re: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

no, its a stubby looking round bulb. i'll have to find a pic of it. The scope itself is the grey SMLUX with the light 'hole' in the side, rather than the back. It pulls out and the bulb is on the end of the insert. Glass very round with no 'neck'. Sorry i can't specify - i do believe its a 6v 10w fo...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 2:42 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?
Replies: 41
Views: 18073

Leitz sm lux bulb replacement?

Hi, My sm lux recently blew its bulb, so while looking for a replacement i've found the exact bulb difficult to locate. My thoughts are turning to alternative illumination - for example, would a whole new lamphouse be an option? Ive seen a few of them for sale but have no idea how it might fit the s...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 1:48 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Some attempts at polarised crystal pics (Aspirin)
Replies: 6
Views: 2891

Some attempts at polarised crystal pics (Aspirin)

Hi guys - hope you're well. Been having fun. Had a go at making a polarising mod with one of those filter sheets that can be cut into bits with scissors. Was a very cheap way to experiment with the technique. I think the little sheet cost me 10GBP off ebay. As you guys will know, a piece went into t...
by Aenima
Sat Mar 17, 2018 12:47 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Looking for first microscope
Replies: 86
Views: 29211

Re: Looking for first microscope

Wow, so jealous! Hehe :) You certainly landed on your feet with this forum, and i have to say these guys' advice is impeccable - i had the same dilemma when i first started a few months ago (brain ache and a zillion questions) and went the same way with a used Leitz SM-LUX. I am very glad i did! I t...
by Aenima
Sat Nov 25, 2017 11:51 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

To round up a collection of water bears/ water bear eggs for coverslip observations...have a slide with an elongated water sample droplet on it to screen for your target organisms. By the location (10X, 20X objectives work for screening) of the bears...then with objective turned out of way..gentle ...
by Aenima
Thu Nov 23, 2017 2:16 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

_MG_0573-red-tardi.jpg Another red tardigrade appeared a while back, and i don't know whether it was alive or not, but it wasn't moving. It does look exactly like the first one though. Thought i'd post it here as a kind of update. :) Had a slow period of microscope use due to moving to an olympus -...
by Aenima
Thu Nov 23, 2017 12:15 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Any experience with OMAX?
Replies: 16
Views: 9240

Re: Any experience with OMAX?

i'm not sure, but to be honest there is a chance i failed to properly follow up on it. Ebay pulled the ad a few seconds after i paid them, and all the info i found was based on the listed item still existing and me using the resolution center via those links, but of course without a listing to quote...
by Aenima
Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:47 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Any experience with OMAX?
Replies: 16
Views: 9240

Re: Any experience with OMAX?

Not sure about that particular Advert, but i tried to buy the same model (amscope) a few weeks ago for 26.99GBP and it was removed a short time later by ebay, and i then was unable to follow usual steps for a refund. It was a dodgy transaction all round. So be sure to check the reputation and feedba...
by Aenima
Wed Nov 15, 2017 5:23 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Amoeba eat algae
Replies: 10
Views: 5580

Re: Amoeba eat algae

Amazing capture, i would have totally missed what was happening here without the text to explain.

Thanks for sharing, great video.
by Aenima
Thu Sep 07, 2017 6:04 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

You guys have created a monster haha :D i have to admit when i first read someones post where they reported spending a few hours observing a drop of water, it seemed pretty extreme - i mean, i had initially planned to 'check out' the pond life, before then moving on to other things to view.... But i...
by Aenima
Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:01 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

Found what might be a tentative ID for the two types of tardigrade in the photos i took. Although, admittedly i have no idea whether it's even close - i've seen 3 or 4 in my short time with a microscope, and there are supposedly thousands of species - what the differences are and where i can find pi...
by Aenima
Thu Aug 24, 2017 4:25 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

They are certainly fascinating little creatures! :) The biggest problem i had was separating one from the water sample to put on a slide. I tried to use a cheapo low power stereo microscope to search for them, but when i spotted one i couldn't do anything about it. Trying to use a pipette while view...
by Aenima
Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:28 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

But otherwise i have no idea hehe :P I knew there were a huge amount of different species, but beyond that i am still learning about them - i know that some folks think they're indestructible, but they only really survive most of the harshness when they're dried up - otherwise they can easily get da...
by Aenima
Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:00 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

When i looked for the types, i found an image that seems to describe the two i saw, although i've no idea about the geography or whether they are likely to be found together... The top two, in the image look like the ones in my water sample. 164cd27b11c888f5f25da363588c32d4--tardigrade-science-illus...
by Aenima
Wed Aug 23, 2017 8:17 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

Thank you John B :) I noticed they like to hang out in the moss - even squished between glass they cling to bits of plant material, or wander around in search of some. :) I actually think i found two different types - i think i found two different types of egg so its possible... one was a giant in c...
by Aenima
Wed Aug 23, 2017 7:34 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Re: Found a Tardi bear

THNX - yeah, i found them hard to take still images of due to the constant movement and shallow DoF (coupled with a deep water sample). Video did seem better when i tried it, but i've not had chance to edit or convert the SER file yet. (was recorded with my astro cmos camera in RAW format). Hkv - th...
by Aenima
Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:07 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Found a Tardi bear
Replies: 20
Views: 9305

Found a Tardi bear

Hi guys, One of my aims when i got my microscope was to find and observe a tardigrade. After finding the egg i was encouraged to keep searching. Well, it came as no surprise that they are, in fact, pretty much everywhere :o :P In the end i only had to step two paces out my front door - and appear to...
by Aenima
Fri Aug 04, 2017 7:04 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making progress
Replies: 16
Views: 6748

Re: making progress

billbillt wrote:Hi Aenima,

Here is a plethora of web sites dedicated to water bears that you may not have seen..

http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/to ... urces.html

BillT
Thank you BillT, very useful :)
by Aenima
Fri Aug 04, 2017 7:02 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Telescope/spotting scope advice or offers wanted
Replies: 21
Views: 12816

Re: Telescope/spotting scope advice or offers wanted

With the sun's size and brightness you won't actually need a full aperture mask filter - you can get away with a small piece in the center of a card or plastic mask. Still plenty of light will get through, and its cheaper and easier that way. Mine is made using the small 50mm dust cap - the kind of ...
by Aenima
Fri Aug 04, 2017 6:17 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making progress
Replies: 16
Views: 6748

Re: making progress

Ahh, yes, will try condenser height, thank you. i have practiced Kohler setup actually, but not so much for photography - i tend to swap objectives too much, and sometimes just forget to do it The 100 oil obj. was removed from the scope in favour of the new NPL objectives i found on ebay. I will lea...
by Aenima
Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:51 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making progress
Replies: 16
Views: 6748

Re: making progress

OMG, i think you're right :shock: :D

i just researched - OK, i googled it - and they look the same as the images. Seriously regretting returning the water and moss to the great outdoors now, but its great to know they are in the neighborhood.


Huge thanks for the suggestion!
by Aenima
Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:46 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making progress
Replies: 16
Views: 6748

Re: making progress

Hi, More good photos... As long as your tripod setup is no hassle, I would continue to use this afocal method.. I think the last photo is spores,, BillT No hassle really, in fact being able to quickly pull the camera away and take a look into the eyepiece is nearly - but not quite - as convenient a...
by Aenima
Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:33 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: Telescope/spotting scope advice or offers wanted
Replies: 21
Views: 12816

Re: Telescope/spotting scope advice or offers wanted

BAADER solar film is great for the price - just cut a bit out and make your own aperture mask. It just needs to cover the front. You'll be able to safely view the eclipse and afterwards use it to see sunpots. http://agenaastro.com/solar-astronomy/white-light-solar-filters/solar-film-sheets/shopby/ba...
by Aenima
Fri Aug 04, 2017 4:39 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: making progress
Replies: 16
Views: 6748

Re: making progress

A few other objects of interest, although to be honest nearly everything that comes under the microscope will be new and interesting to me, but will likely have been seen many times before by the more experienced members - so apologies in advance for any Deja vu :P _MG_9638-single-frame-starblob.jpg...