Live diatoms. Some 100X darkfield.

[c-krebs]

Here are some live diatoms. (Well... the forth one, Triceratium reticulum, looks to be just the frustule, but it came in with a marine sample and is in a water mount like the others)
The first two are darkfield with a 100X objective. With my set-up that makes the on-sensor magnification 210X. Of all the live diatoms I've photographed I think these two may show the "glass-like" nature of the frustule best.

#3, #4, and #5 are DIC.

[75RR]

Excellent images. The 4th one is most unusual.

Of all the live diatoms I've photographed I think these two may show the "glass-like" nature of the frustule best.

Cut glass comes to mind Amazing detail :)

[rnabholz]

Oh My.......

Those just sparkle. The intricate structure and the quality of the light on the glass is just amazing. Outstanding imaging.

Now if you will excuse me, I need to post a For Sale ad for my scopes and camera. ;^)

Rod

[billbillt]

I don't think it gets any better than this!... Thanks for sharing...

Billt

[gekko]

I can't say it better than what other forum members said. The last one looks to me like they are falling from the sky (alien invasion?) Thank you for sharing those stunning images.

[zzffnn]

Amazing photos!

[JimT]

Now if you will excuse me, I need to post a For Sale ad for my scopes and camera. ;^)

I was going to say the same thing

Those are really beautiful and prize winners.

JimT

[molehill]

Superb images!! Thanks for showing.

[McConkey]

I agree with Rod...time to pack up and call it a day!

Outstanding detail! Your images really put everything into perspective and give me something to aim for in a few years...or decades.

Thank you for sharing.

[KurtM]

Ha ha ha -- everybody's tossing their scopes in dumpsters, here goes mine!!

Seriously, those images are fantastic, and I hold them to be the ultimate, ideal, level of photomicography. I'll never reach it, but that does nothing to keep me from trying, having fun with it, and enjoying the heck out of the results from those that are there. Especially when the master generously shares his hard earned knowledge and experience.

Charles, I wish I could buy you a beer -- you rock!!

[c-krebs]

Really... Thanks all for the warm welcome and kind comments!

You have an enthusiastic group here. I've been a photographer for about forever, but I guess its been about 12 years since I bought that Meiji ML2000 (with it's basic achromats) on Ebay and jumped into microscopy with both feet. Along the way now I have made just about every mistake that could be made. I've got a box full of "paperweight" objectives from Ebay that I just had to try , and numerous odds and ends that were purchased for "future microscope projects" that would probably take three more lifetimes to finish.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone, I used quite modest hardware for some time and still really like a great any many of the pictures I took using it. My hope is that I can share some experience, offer some encouragement if needed, and perhaps offer some suggestions that might help others avoid some of the pitfalls I had to muddle through.

[Rodney]

Well, ah, can`t think of anything to say now.

Rodney

[gekko]

We are lucky to have you join the forum. Your images are an inspiration, and we appreciate your generosity with help and advice.

[Rodney]

Oh, which camera captured those?
thank you

Rodney

[c-krebs]

Oh, which camera captured those?

Rodney,
I used a Canon 3Ti (just like the one you just purchased )

[exmarine]

Charles, I take my hat off to you sir. You produce pictures of top quality which are a pleasure to look at and study.
Thank you for showing.

[rnabholz]

Hi Charles,

I was just joking about selling my stuff, your images are an inspiration and make me want to improve mine.

I am having waaaaaaay too much fun to quit.

Thanks for hanging out here and sharing your expertise.

Rod

[Bruce Taylor]

Charles, I would never have thought it possible to improve on your earlier work, but...wow.

[billben74]

Amazing images. It gives us all something to aim at. If I ever even get close I'll be running around like a loon.

But back to earth. Any more details? These are with your olympus? I take the dark field is continous light? Are the DIC ones continous light or flash? I assume its an apo dic objective? Stacks?

But please, keep on sharing Charles, I think its fair to say we love your pics.

[c-krebs]

Any more details? These are with your olympus? I take the dark field is continous light? Are the DIC ones continous light or flash? I assume its an apo dic objective? Stacks?

All with the Olympus BHS. First two are 100/1.40 S Plan Apo with a Zeiss Ultra-Condenser (oil) fitted to the stand. (That objective has a built-in diaphragm to allow for darkfield). #3 and #4 are with 60/1.40 S Plan Apo and the Olympus BH2-UCD condenser set up for DIC. Last one was DIC with either the 20X or 40X S Plan Apo (can't remember). All are stacks, but not large, 6-10 images. These were with continuous light.
For the first two I found some promising ("photogenic") diatoms in a wet mount, but they move quite a bit at that magnification. I kept an eye on them as the water level in the slide dropped. Just at the point where they became wedged between the cover slip and the slide (and were motionless) I quickly photographed before the coverglass dropped any lower and broke the frustules. Always a little dicey using an oil objective with a wet mount that still has a fair amount of water in it.

[vasselle]

Bonjour
Superbes photos et merci beaucoup pour les explications.
Cordialement seb

[PeteM]

Just saw this.

Stunning. Other words fail me, Charles.

[Hobbyst46]

@c-krebs
Charles, (1) stunning photos,
(2) I am particularly amazed by the DF photos. Fantastic rendition of structure, nearly devoid of halos and flare and green+violet refractions ! Is that only due to the SPlanapo 100x1.4 ?

[DonSchaeffer]

These are incredible!

[micro]

Any more details? These are with your olympus? I take the dark field is continous light? Are the DIC ones continous light or flash? I assume its an apo dic objective? Stacks?

All with the Olympus BHS. First two are 100/1.40 S Plan Apo with a Zeiss Ultra-Condenser (oil) fitted to the stand. (That objective has a built-in diaphragm to allow for darkfield). #3 and #4 are with 60/1.40 S Plan Apo and the Olympus BH2-UCD condenser set up for DIC. Last one was DIC with either the 20X or 40X S Plan Apo (can't remember). All are stacks, but not large, 6-10 images. These were with continuous light.
For the first two I found some promising ("photogenic") diatoms in a wet mount, but they move quite a bit at that magnification. I kept an eye on them as the water level in the slide dropped. Just at the point where they became wedged between the cover slip and the slide (and were motionless) I quickly photographed before the coverglass dropped any lower and broke the frustules. Always a little dicey using an oil objective with a wet mount that still has a fair amount of water in it.

Is the 100/1.40 S Plan Apo a "UIS2"?

[microb]

Cool. One of them looks like Tetris Diatoms.

[ardeact]

Wow! I really have to get a DF condenser and objective, these look stunning