MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

A couple of images from a sample of fossil diatoms from the Oamaru deposit in New Zealand. More to come as I explore the slides.

AO 4 Apostar, 90X Apo, Oblique Mask, Canon 70D, Stacks using Zerene Stacker PMax routine

You've gotten fantastic images from your AO4. Thanks for posting.

That's no ordinary AO Series 4, my friend ... that is a Series 4 with the hottest glass AO ever made (I think, and would love to be corrected if mistaken), and with Rod at the controls.

Lovely -- any secret source of extra cool sample material to brag about? Looking forward to more...

PeteM wrote:You've gotten fantastic images from your AO4. Thanks for posting.

Thank you Pete, she is a sweet rig.

KurtM wrote:That's no ordinary AO Series 4, my friend ... that is a Series 4 with the hottest glass AO ever made (I think, and would love to be corrected if mistaken), and with Rod at the controls.

Lovely -- any secret source of extra cool sample material to brag about? Looking forward to more...

Thanks buddy.

The AO apochromats on my scope are the most modern version they made in the 160mm tube length. That said, they are from the 1950s, so not exactly cutting edge compared to today's offerings from the top manufacturers. ;^)

They do perform really well though, and I am thrilled to have them.

AO did make 10x and 40x Apochromat infinity objectives that came along later, but not many, and not for long. They pop up on Ebay from time to time.

I was gifted the Oamuru sample by a very fine fellow to which I owe some slides. Lots and lots of centrics, some interesting and intriguing shrapnel that makes me anxious to review all the slides to see if I can find an intact version.

You will see them here if i do.

Great pictures. Thanks.

Thanks Hobby

What do you use to control the focusing while taking the images for stacking? Do you use a normal canon lens for photography or do you use a specialty adapter lens, such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/OMAX-Microscope- ... pe+adapter

I want to start getting into stacking, and I use that omax adapter. It loses all the distance information though (I think).

mnmyco

mnmyco wrote:What do you use to control the focusing while taking the images for stacking? Do you use a normal canon lens for photography or do you use a specialty adapter lens, such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/OMAX-Microscope- ... pe+adapter

I want to start getting into stacking, and I use that omax adapter. It loses all the distance information though (I think).

mnmyco

Not sure what you mean by "control"? The camera is set to manual focus, and I use the microscope's focus knob.

If you mean how do I monitor it, I use an external screen and use the index scale on the focus knob to increment the steps.

As to the adapter, mine is a bit of a special case, as the apochromat objectives on my scope require a compensating eyepiece to produce the correct image, so i rigged up a home built adapter. You can read about it here :

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4613&p=42154&hilit= ... ice#p42154

Thanks for the interest

Rod

Ah, I see. I was curious if you had one of the special rigs that move the camera a known distance. I have yet to try just putting my camera in the port and turning the fine focus for stacking. Good to know that you can do that and get quality images.

mnmyco

mnmyco wrote:Ah, I see. I was curious if you had one of the special rigs that move the camera a known distance. ...

Those rigs are used more for close-up and macro work [where the increments are generally in the tenths of a millimetre range] ... for compound-microscopy you will be moving by microns.

MichaelG.

Hi Rod,
thank you for showing - these Oamaru diatoms often are especially beautiful.
I once was lent a bottle of material to make some single diatom slides for a project. I was astonished to find mostly little broken diatoms and ended putting a knife tip full through a 50µ sieve to quickly collect the bigger diatoms I was looking for. Is this th esome with your material: Lots of very promising shards and rarely an intact frustule?

The first one will be a Trinacria simulacrum according to Bibliotheca Diatomologica, Band 19.

Bob

The first form is really cool. Thank you for sharing, Rod.

MicroBob wrote:Hi Rod,
thank you for showing - these Oamaru diatoms often are especially beautiful.
I once was lent a bottle of material to make some single diatom slides for a project. I was astonished to find mostly little broken diatoms and ended putting a knife tip full through a 50µ sieve to quickly collect the bigger diatoms I was looking for. Is this th esome with your material: Lots of very promising shards and rarely an intact frustule?

The first one will be a Trinacria simulacrum according to Bibliotheca Diatomologica, Band 19.

Bob

Thanks for the interest and especially the ID.

My sample seems to have a great number of centrics that came through very well, but the other forms are not as well preserved. I do find in general that fossil samples do take a beating compared to "fresh", but they sure are interesting and a nice change of pace.

I will endeavor to bring the best stuff I can find here, so keep watching.

Rod

Beautiful diatoms beautifully photographed

Thank you 75