Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Hi guys - I have two questions about this vid - 1st is it Paramecium? ive been looking for paramecium for ages, and wasn't finding them in my moss and rain water, however I discovered a local park with a pond and had some good water samples from there - finally seeing some of the species that seem to appear in many images and posts, which is cool.
I have been quite occupied with the pond sample and even got a bonus clutch of baby newts to look after until I revisited their pond and returned them.
Secondly, i recently got hold of a phase objective - mainly because it was cheap and an APO spec {Zeiss 25x vintage} i'd read that phase objectives still work okay for brightfield, and i figured being an apo it would at least have less CA than my achros.
Anyway, I had a knackered old phase condenser from an inverted Olympus scope - it has 0.55 written on it, and I had hoped to remove the insert for a diy darkfield project - its a bit loose and difficult to line up but with the zeiss objective I can get something approaching what I hope is a phase contrast image - i'm not really sure how it's meant to look, or whether the detail and/or quality is going to be up to scratch, so I was hoping to get your thoughts on the end result in this {possibly) paramecium video.
Apologies for the link - I couldn't get the embed feature to work.
Thanks for looking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUzfRAezL8Q
Last edited by Aenima on Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
- actinophrys
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Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Hi Aenima,
To make the embed work you only include the last part of the URL: [youtube]zUzfRAezL8Q[/youtube]
But it turns out it can be nice to include a link anyway just in case that doesn't work for some browsers.
I will have to let someone else critique the phase contrast, but the larger ciliates are indeed Paramecium, which usually occur in stable water like ponds since they do not form cysts. Most of the smaller ones are possibly something like Cyclidium, it's hard for me to say. But around 0:30 you get a nice look at a colepid (Coleps or a related genus) and then around 0:45 there is also a cameo of a hypotrich (Oxytricha are the most famous but there are many different kinds).
To make the embed work you only include the last part of the URL: [youtube]zUzfRAezL8Q[/youtube]
But it turns out it can be nice to include a link anyway just in case that doesn't work for some browsers.
I will have to let someone else critique the phase contrast, but the larger ciliates are indeed Paramecium, which usually occur in stable water like ponds since they do not form cysts. Most of the smaller ones are possibly something like Cyclidium, it's hard for me to say. But around 0:30 you get a nice look at a colepid (Coleps or a related genus) and then around 0:45 there is also a cameo of a hypotrich (Oxytricha are the most famous but there are many different kinds).
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
woo - hoo was hoping for paramecium - thank u for the clarification actinophrysactinophrys wrote:Hi Aenima,
To make the embed work you only include the last part of the URL: [youtube]zUzfRAezL8Q[/youtube]
But it turns out it can be nice to include a link anyway just in case that doesn't work for some browsers.
I will have to let someone else critique the phase contrast, but the larger ciliates are indeed Paramecium, which usually occur in stable water like ponds since they do not form cysts. Most of the smaller ones are possibly something like Cyclidium, it's hard for me to say. But around 0:30 you get a nice look at a colepid (Coleps or a related genus) and then around 0:45 there is also a cameo of a hypotrich (Oxytricha are the most famous but there are many different kinds).
But yeah, i have been seeing LOADS of new species once i'd found a real pond to take water from - gathering moss and wetting with rainwater was okay for tardigrades and some rotifers, one or two amoebas etc, but i found a lot of species missing that most people seemed to have abundance of, - so i made an effort to find a pond and suddenly all those 'usual suspects' started appearing
The phase contrast is a bonus, and something of a novelty at the moment - but not sure how much i'll be using it in the future with photography in mind, although it certainly seems to be effective on the pondwater critters, especially the amoebas and all the transparent stuff.
Thanks also for the tip on embedding video, will have to give that a try.
P.S i believe i also came across the other common paramecium [bursaria] but not certain yet.
Thanks again.
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Jay,
If the condenser light ring and objective annulus overlap almost perfectly (when you peep down empty eye tube), then your phase contrast should be as good as it can be.
I don't know much better you can get with that mismatched phase contrast set. Yes, you got phase working and it looks surprisingly good for a mismatched set, though it may get even better if you have a perfectly matched set. Lots of factors play roles in phase quality, so it is hard to say.
If the condenser light ring and objective annulus overlap almost perfectly (when you peep down empty eye tube), then your phase contrast should be as good as it can be.
I don't know much better you can get with that mismatched phase contrast set. Yes, you got phase working and it looks surprisingly good for a mismatched set, though it may get even better if you have a perfectly matched set. Lots of factors play roles in phase quality, so it is hard to say.
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
BTW probably not useful info, but just to clarify the phase contrast setup - 3 unmatched parts, the BHTU of course - and a zeiss 25x planapo slim silver with dark green band [my keyboard is broken, so some numbers are an issue lol] it has fortysix - zero six - forty one - nine nine zero one, as ID.
The condenser is Olympus PHASE CONTRAST - seems like a weird lens as its concave, with "0.55" upside-down text, and two adjusters.
I believe it's from an inverted model, as the numbers read on the opposite side to the corresponding insert/annular thingies - plus the wide concave lens seems different to my regular condenser.
So i'm really not sure if this effect is actually Phase contrast, or something else - and if it is, does it resemble a specific type - like positive low or whatever? [totally clueless in this area]
Whatever it might be, it's certainly fun. I am seeing many things in a new light, and some things i'm seeing for the first time - flagellates for example.
So yeah, i'm just curious. It seems to look okay, and certainly a little more attractive than some phase effects i've seen. But the two rings are different thicknesses and the alignment is sketchy at best.... so
The condenser is Olympus PHASE CONTRAST - seems like a weird lens as its concave, with "0.55" upside-down text, and two adjusters.
I believe it's from an inverted model, as the numbers read on the opposite side to the corresponding insert/annular thingies - plus the wide concave lens seems different to my regular condenser.
So i'm really not sure if this effect is actually Phase contrast, or something else - and if it is, does it resemble a specific type - like positive low or whatever? [totally clueless in this area]
Whatever it might be, it's certainly fun. I am seeing many things in a new light, and some things i'm seeing for the first time - flagellates for example.
So yeah, i'm just curious. It seems to look okay, and certainly a little more attractive than some phase effects i've seen. But the two rings are different thicknesses and the alignment is sketchy at best.... so
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
cool. the tip about embedding worked - thank you!
Also, sorry Zzffnn just spotted your reply - many thanks for the input, much appreciated I added the specific parts involved, in case it rang any bells with someone - not an ideal match but it seems to 'do something' using bits I already had to hand, so i'm calling it a win :p
Also, sorry Zzffnn just spotted your reply - many thanks for the input, much appreciated I added the specific parts involved, in case it rang any bells with someone - not an ideal match but it seems to 'do something' using bits I already had to hand, so i'm calling it a win :p
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
This is what zzffnn was referring to:If the condenser light ring and objective annulus overlap almost perfectly (when you peep down empty eye tube), then your phase contrast should be as good as it can be.
Note: A Phase telescope helps with the alignment.
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Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Ah yeah, I can get it so the rings are pretty concentric, but they are both different thickness, so that some of the 'bright' ring is visibly uncovered by the dark ring, around the edge, despite being aligned.
I guess this is why the effect isn't as drastic or highly contrasted as some of the proper phase images - plenty of light still gets through.
The blue background is nice, though. I'm sure i've seen a blue background in a phase contrast image somewhere, but can't find it now.
I guess this is why the effect isn't as drastic or highly contrasted as some of the proper phase images - plenty of light still gets through.
The blue background is nice, though. I'm sure i've seen a blue background in a phase contrast image somewhere, but can't find it now.
- Crater Eddie
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Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Whether you have achieved "proper" phase or not, it is visually pleasing and shows a lot of detail. Credit goes for obtaining good results with what you had on hand.
CE
CE
Olympus BH-2 / BHTU
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB
LOMO BIOLAM L-2-2
LOMO POLAM L-213 / BIOLAM L-211 hybrid
LOMO Multiscope (Biolam)
Cameras: Canon T3i, Olympus E-P1 MFT, Amscope 3mp USB
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Same opinion. Very nice video.Crater Eddie wrote:Whether you have achieved "proper" phase or not, it is visually pleasing and shows a lot of detail. Credit goes for obtaining good results with what you had on hand.
CE
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Bonjour.
Très belle vidéo
Très belle vidéo
Microscope Leitz Laborlux k
Boitier EOS 1200D + EOS 1100D
Boitier EOS 1200D + EOS 1100D
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
thanks guys - appreciate the feedback, and kind words
will be recording some more phase contrast stuff as it does seem to work okay - can't complain really
will be recording some more phase contrast stuff as it does seem to work okay - can't complain really
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
Wow! That is truly outstanding video!
Radazz
Radazz
Arnold, Missouri
Olympus IX70
Olympus BX40
Olympus SZ40
Olympus IX70
Olympus BX40
Olympus SZ40
Re: Paramecium? {also, Phase contrast?} video youtube
thank you Radazz. Really having fun with the phase objectiveRadazz wrote:Wow! That is truly outstanding video!
Radazz