One diatom, five images [137 kBytes]

[gekko]

Five different images of a diatom (40x objective). From the top: brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast, cross polarized light, DIC.

[kit1980]

Thanks, nice comparison!

This seems to confirm my noobish understanding that phase contrast may be good for seeing inner details, but doesn't produce very attractive images.
And DIC is really nice!

[gekko]

Thank you very much, kit1980!

This seems to confirm my noobish understanding that phase contrast ... doesn't produce very attractive images.

I predict that you'll arrive at the opposite conclusion after you examine the phase contrast images of, for example, KurtM, rnabholz, or 75RR!

[zzffnn]

I like the brightfield, pol and DIC.

Was that darkfield done with DIC stop, or dedicated immersion darkfield condenser? Was the sample a bit thick....

[vasselle]

Bonjour gekko
Très belles technique des différents éclairage de microscopie
Merci pour le partage
Cordialement seb

[KurtM]

This seems to confirm my noobish understanding that phase contrast ... doesn't produce very attractive images.

I predict that you'll arrive at the opposite conclusion after you examine the phase contrast images of_________!

Oh, I wouldn't say it's about who makes the image, but more a matter of the subject at hand. Some things respond better than others to phase contrast, and the same is true for every other illumination mode. And besides being more or less subject-dependent, there are also other variables, such as sample thickness for instance.

I absolutely love phase contrast, but guess what? That opinion isn't universal, and there are others who can live without it. Which suggests some personal preference may be involved as well, if you can imagine that.

[Radazz]

Beautiful images.

[hkv]

Very good comparison!

[rabitt]

I Think as a comparison for us newbies they are excellent photos, gives us a good idea of the differences between them.

A question that crossed my mind is, which photo would you use as the most realistic to show someone who has no idea
what a diatom is or looks like? Just Food for thought, I pick bright field.

[75RR]

Always a pleasure to see a variety of illumination techniques with a single subject. Thanks

[billbillt]

These turned out very good!..

BillT

[gekko]

zzffnn, thank you. The darkfield stop was the "DF" position of the phase contrast condenser.
seb, many thanks.
Kurt, I fully agree with you, but to my way of thinking, the microscope operator is equally, if not more important: to a large degree the final product is a result of good (or not so good) judgement on the operator's part. For example, judgement is involved in choosing the aperture and the plane of focus, as well as the position of the DIC slider.
Radazz [/b, hkv, rabitt, 75RR, and BillT, many thanks for your comments.
rabitt, I agree with you: I think in general, brightfield (and also oblique) may be the best. This is also true, I think, when posting images requiring identification.