Anyone have any experience with using 35mm film for microscopy?

[kville79]

I enjoy my film cameras as much as I enjoy my microscopes... so in an effort to combine the two interest I acquired a Leica microscope adapter

9.jpg (182.6 KiB) Viewed 4376 times

I was wondering if anyone has any experience on how to measure light for proper exposure or any other little bits of knowledge that may be helpful?

[PeteM]

The Gossen LunaPro meter had a microscope attachment. Probably around used. Once calibrated you could replace an eyepiece with the meter and get a sense of exposure.

Curious to know what you see as the advantage of using film? Just enjoy the craft of it??

[Scarodactyl]

I have heard the Wild film systems were the best (I guess MPS series) with great metering in particular. Those were made with Leitz, but are a later vintage than the one you have there.
Thry can be had for reasonable prices, I just saw most of one for sale on facebook a few weeks back. You'd need to get the right controller and power supply I think.
I think I actually have a shutter controller from one come to think of it, left over from digitalizing a Leitz ortholux II. If you go this route and are inside the US I'd send it for the cost of shipping.

[MicroBob]

In film times Olympus was very strong when it came to marcro and micro work. Some models had an off the film plan metering system that was usefull for micro photography. But when a Zeiss Photomicroscope was available it got the most use for its dependability and ease of use.

Recently I had over 2000 slides digitized that were exposed and selected by an old group member. He used an Olypus DIC microscope and probably an Olypus camera too. His results were really stunning, though itwould have been easier to acheive them with a digital camera.

Bob

[Hobbyst46]

You might check this link that mentions film photography
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8308&p=72600&hilit=film#p72600

[MichaelG.]

It’s from Zeiss, not Leitz ... but, this is a useful document:

http://cholla.mmto.org/minerals/photos/ ... o_35mm.pdf

MichaelG.

[kville79]

The Gossen LunaPro meter had a microscope attachment. Probably around used. Once calibrated you could replace an eyepiece with the meter and get a sense of exposure.

Curious to know what you see as the advantage of using film? Just enjoy the craft of it??

Definitely more for the craft of it, there is no real technical advantage I know of with using analog photography

Found the microscope attachment for the Gossen Light meter, this is very helpful, thanks!

[kville79]

I have heard the Wild film systems were the best (I guess MPS series) with great metering in particular. Those were made with Leitz, but are a later vintage than the one you have there.
Thry can be had for reasonable prices, I just saw most of one for sale on facebook a few weeks back. You'd need to get the right controller and power supply I think.
I think I actually have a shutter controller from one come to think of it, left over from digitalizing a Leitz ortholux II. If you go this route and are inside the US I'd send it for the cost of shipping.

I've seen these before on ebay, really hard to come across a complete set, I'll send you a PM about the shutter controller since it wouldn't hurt to start trying to piece one together. The power supply unit seems to be the easiest thing to run across.

[kville79]

In film times Olympus was very strong when it came to marcro and micro work. Some models had an off the film plan metering system that was usefull for micro photography. But when a Zeiss Photomicroscope was available it got the most use for its dependability and ease of use.

Recently I had over 2000 slides digitized that were exposed and selected by an old group member. He used an Olypus DIC microscope and probably an Olypus camera too. His results were really stunning, though itwould have been easier to acheive them with a digital camera.

Bob

That's a lovely shot of a spirogyra, takes quite a bit of luck and skill to get shots that good. The gist of what I'm getting from this thread so far is that I need more microscopes and equipment for more specialized task

[kville79]

It’s from Zeiss, not Leitz ... but, this is a useful document:

http://cholla.mmto.org/minerals/photos/ ... o_35mm.pdf

MichaelG.

Thanks!

[MicroBob]

I need more microscopes and equipment for more specialized task

Absolutely!