Search found 353 matches

by wporter
Fri Jun 26, 2020 7:04 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: B&L Balplan
Replies: 27
Views: 11402

Re: B&K Balplan

Here are some pix of the Balplan epi illuminator and DIC attachment. Also shown is the camera adapter (with a cable release hanging off it; the shutter inside hasn't been removed, so needs to be opened manually when a digital camera is used on top of the adapter. balplan1-1024x1024.jpg balplan2-1024...
by wporter
Fri Jun 26, 2020 5:30 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Best DIC options?
Replies: 64
Views: 24799

Re: Best DIC options?

I'd be curious to see the DIC set-up
microb

Sure; I'll post some images tomorrow on the other thread (Balplan)
by wporter
Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:11 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Best DIC options?
Replies: 64
Views: 24799

Re: Best DIC options?

Hi Pete, I have the following DIC systems, some of which I have a lot of experience with, and some that remain subjects for deeper investigation when time permits: Reflected: Balplan Zeiss Universal Univar Transmitted: Univar Zeiss Jena Sedival (an inverted scope) I haven't done extensive toe-to-toe...
by wporter
Mon Jun 22, 2020 5:24 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Microstar IV Camera Setup
Replies: 30
Views: 13045

Re: Microstar IV Camera Setup

Maybe there's a glaring mistake I'm making? Yes, perhaps. You are missing the shutter/photocell housing which goes on top of the trino head, and one of the various lens systems (1762, 1763, 1764, or 1768) that goes on top of the shutter housing. Not sure how much compensation or correction these la...
by wporter
Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:38 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: WILD HEERBRUGG (17250) microscope.
Replies: 2
Views: 2395

Re: WILD HEERBRUGG (17250) microscope.

Also, the 100x objective may be obscured by old dried oil on the specimen-end lens, a common problem which can be cured by cleaning with lens cleaner now and after each immersion-oil session.
by wporter
Tue Jun 09, 2020 5:46 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Breaking the baffling B & L Balplan buffalo.
Replies: 92
Views: 33081

Re: Breaking the baffling B & L Balplan buffalo.

While you could use your hands to push the hot glass lens elements apart, what I did once, successfully, was to place a spring clamp diagonally across the corners of the two elements to get a shearing force, then submerged the whole thing in water to boil slowly (although I suppose you could use any...
by wporter
Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:30 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Fresh water diatoms
Replies: 19
Views: 8343

Re: Fresh water diatoms

Thanks to Apo for the question, and Charles for the excellent detailed reply, and the very illustrative before-and-after images; an excellent presentation. A much less honest person might have said, "That's the raw shot, of course. Doesn't your DIC look like that?" Lol. But seriously, this is the ki...
by wporter
Mon Jun 08, 2020 7:10 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)
Replies: 28
Views: 9305

Re: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)

What is the hardest part about being a bio major? The hardest part of any college regimen is possibly just putting up with the courses that you have no interest in, but must complete anyway. Part of the rite-of-passage that is going to college: proving to future employers that you can do the work a...
by wporter
Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:48 pm
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)
Replies: 28
Views: 9305

Re: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)

May I ask about yourself? Are you in a bio related field? What got you into this forum? I'm a 70-yr-old retired engineer who likes to fuss with microscopes, and got my bio degree (M.S.) late in life (at 55!), as what might be called a lifelong learner, at the local Cal State campus (and was self-em...
by wporter
Mon Jun 08, 2020 4:57 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: Microscope (Beginner type)
Replies: 5
Views: 3109

Re: Microscope (Beginner type)

Forum guru PeteM lives near the Bay Area, so would know what is available near you, and has also put together a very nice comprehensive pdf on microscope brands that he will provide if you ask him. Also the subject has been dealt with many times here, you might try searching the forum for similar po...
by wporter
Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:35 am
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)
Replies: 28
Views: 9305

Re: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)

OK, that's good information. You might at least temporarily hook up with a state agency or the like as a helper-tester/nasal-swabber at a coronavirus testing station, perhaps as an intern or even a volunteer at a local hospital. At least in the near-term; and I know it sounds funny, but it can be an...
by wporter
Mon Jun 08, 2020 2:03 am
Forum: Introduce yourself
Topic: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)
Replies: 28
Views: 9305

Re: Bio Major (advice on future career and academic goals)

Whereabouts are you located? What city do you plan to go to the 4-yr Uni in? This has something to do with what answers you will get.
by wporter
Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:15 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Polyvar MET (side camera port)
Replies: 11
Views: 4594

Re: Polyvar MET (side camera port)

This is a pretty informal setting and widely recognizeable source material (like your avatar). The point, which I think you're missing, is that someone might want to look up the original source themselves; they can't do this easily if the source is not identified. It is a matter of thoroughness and...
by wporter
Thu Jun 04, 2020 9:53 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Polyvar MET (side camera port)
Replies: 11
Views: 4594

Re: Polyvar MET (side camera port)

Please always cite your source of copyrighted material.

https://xkcd.com/
by wporter
Sun May 31, 2020 7:51 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Breaking the baffling B & L Balplan buffalo.
Replies: 92
Views: 33081

Re: Breaking the baffling B & L Balplan buffalo.

No, coatings from the 60's should be immune to any of those solvents, being primarily magnesium fluoride. (As for modern multicoatings such as are found on camera lenses, the types of coatings differ, so opinions and results differ, so it's best not to chance certain solvents on those. However, it's...
by wporter
Tue May 26, 2020 9:54 pm
Forum: Articles and images to be published
Topic: Making Permanent Microscope Slides of Insects
Replies: 7
Views: 12455

Re: Making Permanent Microscope Slides of Insects

Insect Microscopy, by Chick, has quite a bit on making insect slides.
by wporter
Tue May 26, 2020 4:44 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Too small?
Replies: 8
Views: 3154

Re: Too small?

the ebola virus is 600 - 1400 nm . Could it be seen with a light microscope? If so, at what magnitude? If not, other bacteria would be too small for the light microscope, wouldn't they? To clarify for the OP, actually, using darkfield, they might be 'seen', although maybe not very recognizable or i...
by wporter
Sun May 24, 2020 11:55 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Low-cost epi-illumination, 4 techniques in one
Replies: 1
Views: 1135

Low-cost epi-illumination, 4 techniques in one

This 2016 paper makes for interesting reading:

A Simple low-cost device enables four epi-illumination techniques on standard light microscopes
by Robert R. Ishmukhametov, Aidan N. Russell, Richard J. Wheeler, Ashley L. Nord & Richard M. Berry


https://www.nature.com/articles/srep20729
by wporter
Sat May 23, 2020 2:51 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: reflected light silicon chip die
Replies: 39
Views: 22340

Re: reflected light silicon chip die

MichaelG, forgot to add that you may have one of those chips that has a coating. PeteM alerted me as to the existence of those; that could seriously mess up the microscopy!
by wporter
Sat May 23, 2020 2:47 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: reflected light silicon chip die
Replies: 39
Views: 22340

Re: reflected light silicon chip die

Here is a similar chip imaged episcopically with my Univar, in darkfield, brightfield, BF with the epi condenser offset a bit (two of those shots) and phase, all with the 50x Reichert Plan Fluor objective.

I'll try this on a Balplan and a Zeiss Universal when I get a chance.
by wporter
Thu May 21, 2020 5:57 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Evaluating potential microscope objective upgrades.
Replies: 24
Views: 8656

Re: Evaluating potential microscope objective upgrades.

I'm not Stephen, but the translation might be:

x-axis: distance from the optical axis, mm

y-axis: % chromatic aberration in the intermediate image with 20mm

Graph title: Presentation of the different chromatic aberration corrections
by wporter
Tue May 19, 2020 6:42 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Best way to assess condition of microscope objective optics?
Replies: 8
Views: 3444

Re: Best way to assess condition of microscope objective optics?

If one doesn't have a stereo microscope or a phase telescope, are there any techniques that can be used to evaluate objectives? A 10x hand lens is probably the best next choice. Hold the hand lens in one place close to your eye and move the objective towards and away from you to focus on different ...
by wporter
Tue May 12, 2020 6:03 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: The Breadth of Function in One-Celled Animals
Replies: 10
Views: 4870

Re: The Breadth of Function in One-Celled Animals

Unfortunately, the article is behind a paywall, for $6, and your local library, like mine, may be closed for a while, but here's a link to a digital collector's edition with that article, plus more great ones, for not much more $: https://www.scientificamerican.com/magazine/special-editions/2018/spe...
by wporter
Tue May 12, 2020 12:42 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: The Breadth of Function in One-Celled Animals
Replies: 10
Views: 4870

Re: The Breadth of Function in One-Celled Animals

Could one of our cells, any cells perform as many functions as the protozoan potentially? That is like asking "is a Swiss Army knife capable of more than a hammer?" Sure, but if the hammer always comes with a tool box full of other specialized tools, the toolbox can equal the Swiss Army knife, and ...
by wporter
Mon May 11, 2020 1:19 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: The Breadth of Function in One-Celled Animals
Replies: 10
Views: 4870

Re: The Breadth of Function in One-Celled Animals

It is only a big mystery because we haven't figured it all out, yet. But basically it is as was said: a unicellular organism (UO) makes use of internal funtional parts to do the same functions as our organs and supportive structures. Both are complex systems, making use of positive and negative feed...
by wporter
Fri May 08, 2020 3:40 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: PVC and PET microplastics in caddisfly
Replies: 6
Views: 3460

Re: PVC and PET microplastics in caddisfly

many new sanitizers and sterilizers will emerge in the near future
A recent suggestion is to inject them directly into your veins. Then you don't have to worry about it anymore.
by wporter
Tue May 05, 2020 1:08 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Epi-Fluorescence Microscopy and Deconvolution
Replies: 19
Views: 7704

Re: Epi-Fluorescence Microscopy and Deconvolution

There is another deconvolution program called Focus Magic, which has a PS plugin, although the plugin may differ somewhat from the standalone version. There is a free trial. It also does de-motion-blurring. I have used it a bit in astrophotography. [Edit:] I forgot to say that it is a Windows progra...
by wporter
Sun May 03, 2020 1:31 am
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Leica Integrated Modulation Contrast (Variant of Hoffman)
Replies: 7
Views: 4351

Re: Leica Integrated Modulation Contrast (Variant of Hoffman)

Whoops, I had it wrong about the small ND filter part of the smaller slider; it is actually a glass disk that covers the entire hole. On it are plated the areas of 15% and 1%, the rest left clear. I can't say about your microscope. What make and model is it? What is the triangular filter for? edit: ...
by wporter
Sat May 02, 2020 7:45 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Improving Top-Stage Lighting Using a Smaller Aperture on the Lamp
Replies: 22
Views: 8345

Re: Improving Top-Stage Lighting Using a Smaller Aperture on the Lamp

Your narrow-beam images are definitely sharper, I think simply from the more point-source lighting providing more shadows, and thus a crisper relief-effect; whereas with a broader source, the shadows are eliminated from getting illuminated from many different points, and things are washed out.
by wporter
Sat May 02, 2020 6:55 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Leica Integrated Modulation Contrast (Variant of Hoffman)
Replies: 7
Views: 4351

Re: Leica Integrated Modulation Contrast (Variant of Hoffman)

Unlike the Leica website, that misrepresents this particular IMC set in fig 5, this ebay set has at least two components, the small slider and the big slider. The big slider also has two openings, an open one for brightfield, and an IMC one that has a variable slit, with the slit adjuster labeled fo...