Something a little different

[IanW]

As I am getting fed up with blurred images whilst photographing living organisms in pond water, I decided to try a prepared slide (here one of Lotus pollen), and so am sharing the resulting photo here. Nice design for a tie or wallpaper perhaps:-)

DSC_0045_DxO by Fortesmentum, on Flickr

[75RR]

As I am getting fed up with blurred images whilst photographing living organisms in pond water, I decided to try a prepared slide ...

Know what you mean. If they move I take a video.

Which reminds me, I have to take up the flash project again.

[IanW]

Which reminds me, I have to take up the flash project again.

Yes that is something I had begun working towards last year but neglected owing to the complexities getting the better of it:-)

[billbillt]

As I am getting fed up with blurred images whilst photographing living organisms in pond water, I decided to try a prepared slide ...

Know what you mean. If they move I take a video.

Which reminds me, I have to take up the flash project again.

Maybe this simple flash setup could help out:

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/ind ... flash.html

BillT

[IanW]

Hello Bill and thanks. Yes I have tried something similar using a split prism instead of a mirror - it's rather hit and miss and of course not really providing for Koehler illumination. It also takes up a lot of space on the desk, and so I am thinking along the lines of channelling the flash through the light port - still not given it enough thought.

[Hobbyst46]

Lovely pollen microphoto!

[billbillt]

Hello Ian,

As you know, Kohler is not absolutely necessary for good microscopy.. A lot of lower cost stands, that still perform very well do not utilize it.. I personally like to try different appliances and configurations, regardless how unconventional they are, to find what suits me..

The Best,
BillT

[IanW]

Thanks Bill - I will keep that in mind.

[IanW]

Lovely pollen microphoto!

Thank you:-)

[apochronaut]

An additional problem with living organisms is the sample thickness many of them provide. An individual organism or matrix of organisms, either way , ends up requiring an objective with an unusual depth of field in order to visualize it accurately. Deep samples allow an undesirable amount of travel in the Z axis. Adding a .17 cover slip to that just makes matters worse, sometimes to the point where image quality suffers too. It is always wise to include the cover slip thickness as part of the sample thickness and with high magnification, especially oil immersion, to keep the sample as shallow as possible and the cover slip likewise. I use .10-.12 as a rule.

Properly prepared slides take this into account and many of the good ones, if , mic'ed will come out around in the .17 to .20 range.