MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Ho together,
here a potrait of a horsefly, taken with an Olympus TG-4 outdoor camera in "microscope mode" at f=14.
The photo shows how much is possible even with limited equipment.
This is a rugged compact camera I use while paddling. Image quality on these cameras is always limited, probably because of the protective window. I made a microscope adapter too, but with the 40:1 objective the optical limitations become apparent in form of a blotchy background.

Bob

Very nice, have any more images from other angles?

Hello Bob,

microscope adapter

please tell us about this adapter.

Cheerrs,
Hans

Hi together,
here one more photo, this time from the side. I wasn't able to do a closer identification so far, it is not the ordinary variant.

The TG4 has a bayonett in front of the objective which is normaly covered with a ring. There is a 3D model that fits this bayonett on Thingiverse, but the printed model needed several adjustments to fit properly. The adapter connects a Leitz Periplan 10x18 (this means 160mm tube length version) to the camera objective.

For micro photo purposes the camera is not ideal. As in many compacts there is at least one optical element that shows defects when used with higher power objectives. The image is edited to show the defects, taken with a 40:1 achromat.
There also is a hotspot, probably caused by the flat protective window.

A similar compact solution but much better is the adaptation of a Pentax Q, Nikon 1J5 or probably Oly M43.


Bob

I can't tell for sure, but does it have 3 ocelli (simple eyes) at the top of it's head (vertex)? If it does, and the back pair of legs have 2 tiny spurs on the tibia, then I believe it is in the subfamily Pangoniinae.
It looks to be in pretty good condition, the antennae break off easily. The 3 pads on the feet are a Tabanidae feature, pretty neat looking.

I have a small Olympus camera too, the SP350 It's a shame Olympus is getting out of the camera business.