Search found 4175 matches

by mrsonchus
Wed May 19, 2021 12:15 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Lost a Tooth today :( But check it out...
Replies: 5
Views: 2030

Re: Lost a Tooth today :( But check it out...

Crikey, that's rather horrific! I bet you're glad that's out! :shock:
by mrsonchus
Sat May 15, 2021 9:57 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Achro vs. Plan Achro vs. Plan Apo stereo CMO objectives?
Replies: 5
Views: 1987

Re: Achro vs. Plan Achro vs. Plan Apo stereo CMO objectives?

Hi, hmmm the plan 1x CMO of my SMZ800 shows no doming at all but I'll go back tomorrow and have a very close look just to make sure.


nikon smz800 (11).jpeg
nikon smz800 (11).jpeg (101.18 KiB) Viewed 1978 times
by mrsonchus
Sat May 15, 2021 8:58 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: What are your techniques in reducing chromatic aberration when imaging?
Replies: 11
Views: 5292

Re: What are your techniques in reducing chromatic aberration when imaging?

Yes, the green filter helps for certain, I use that technique quite a lot with high-dry objectives. Also keep the subject in the center of the field as much as possible, although you probably do this already quite naturally.
by mrsonchus
Fri May 14, 2021 8:40 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Mold from the stems of some flowers in a vase
Replies: 5
Views: 1928

Re: Mold from the stems of some flowers in a vase

Interesting images! Someone here's bound to be able to add some info.

Nicely done.
by mrsonchus
Mon May 10, 2021 9:07 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Polarized live Diatom (Pleurosigma sp)
Replies: 8
Views: 3045

Re: Polarized live Diatom

Lovely image!
by mrsonchus
Sat May 08, 2021 8:33 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Removing Immersion Oil from Fixed, Prepared Slides
Replies: 4
Views: 3861

Re: Removing Immersion Oil from Fixed, Prepared Slides

Hi, I recently discovered that simple lens-wipes (the damp kind in little individual foil packets) bought from our local supermarket are the very best solution to removing oil (immersion just used that is) from the condenser, slide and ojective... Simple single-pass wipes over the glass, perhaps 2-3...
by mrsonchus
Sat May 08, 2021 12:58 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Spring loaded objective
Replies: 20
Views: 5278

Re: Spring loaded objective

Hi, does the spring simply drop-out as my Oly's do? If so a simple solution, assuming that the lens-pack is sliding up and down freely, may be to pull the spring apart by perhaps 50-100% to give it a little more 'push'....
by mrsonchus
Sat May 08, 2021 10:13 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Spring loaded objective
Replies: 20
Views: 5278

Re: Spring loaded objective

May be no help but my Oly's spring-loaded objectives are dismantled (to the spring that is...) by unscrewing the back-stop which holds in the spring - then the body of the lens-pack just drops out whilst remaining completely intact - may be the same here?
by mrsonchus
Fri May 07, 2021 12:14 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Pollen grains with a new photo adapater : Sony MVA-33
Replies: 2
Views: 1039

Re: Pollen grains with a new photo adapater : Sony MVA-33

Nice images, looks like things have worked out well!
by mrsonchus
Thu May 06, 2021 1:16 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Olympus SP x100 oil behaves strangely!! am I crazy ?
Replies: 9
Views: 2582

Re: Olympus SP x100 oil behaves strangely!! am I crazy ?

My twopenneth although I can add very little is that the type (e.g. A or B) of immersion oil, makes no difference on my BX50 with it's 100x oil objective. Personally I find that the thinner version (I have both) which is type-A, allows a lot of movement around a single slide during observation - bas...
by mrsonchus
Wed Apr 28, 2021 6:40 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Cells in Tree Lichen
Replies: 4
Views: 1521

Re: Cells in Tree Lichen

Interesting images and great to see the 60x performing pretty well too!
by mrsonchus
Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:20 am
Forum: Sandbox
Topic: ONION CELLS AT 400X
Replies: 7
Views: 13094

Re: ONION CELLS AT 400X

Very nice, nicely preserved nucleus and just the right amount of stain for good contrast without blotting out detail.
by mrsonchus
Sun Apr 25, 2021 10:26 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Best Practices Drymounts
Replies: 12
Views: 5104

Re: Best Practices Drymounts

For labeling slides and cutting cover slips I have a pen that was sold as diamond tipped, might be carbide. It wasn't expensive but works well as long as used only for this fine work. That sounds just the job! I think I'll have a look for such a pen, it would be pretty handy and easier than getting...
by mrsonchus
Sun Apr 25, 2021 8:57 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Best Practices Drymounts
Replies: 12
Views: 5104

Re: Best Practices Drymounts

@MicroBob @mrsonchus This is exactly the information and hints I need and have been looking for. I'm calling it a day. I'll get back to you tomorrow. Just wanted to thank you in advance. Most welcome. One other hint, when applying the dremel-bit or other suitable hard point to the glass for scoring...
by mrsonchus
Sat Apr 24, 2021 11:22 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: Microscopes for sale
Replies: 8
Views: 3505

Re: Microscopes for sale

Hi Lorez, I'm looking for Olympus objectives for my BX50, in particular planapo 40x dry and planapo 100x oil if you can help... Oh yes, I'm also on the hunt for phase (same 'scope) 100x planapo, 20x phase anything and 40x phase planapo....
by mrsonchus
Sat Apr 24, 2021 8:34 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Best Practices Drymounts
Replies: 12
Views: 5104

Re: Best Practices Drymounts

Hi, you may have a go at cutting some spacers from coverslips - see this post with example . It works very well indeed. To stick a dried specimen to the slide simply place onto a tiny amount of the resinous mountant used. The correct height of spacer is easily built-up from sveral layers of coversli...
by mrsonchus
Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:25 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Can't focus new 60X objective
Replies: 17
Views: 4428

Re: Can't focus new 60X objective

.............deletion for brevity only.................. There is a Chinese infinity corrected planachro 60X .80 objective , probably based on an Olympus design. It works on a Microstar IV and can be easily made parfocal but I found the contrast and resolution of that objective a little too low, co...
by mrsonchus
Tue Apr 20, 2021 12:14 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

Oh, here are a few images of some slides I mounted unstained, for use in polarization, phase-contrast etc microscopy. This will often reveal or clarify detail that is invisible or uncertain in stained slides. For phase-contrast I find that well mounted unstained sections are far superior to trying t...
by mrsonchus
Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:36 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

even better than egg white and glycerin i bet! meanwhile my superfrost + arrived all broken and my fast green is actually green lake-- useless! Congrats on getting any slides made. It is a lot of heartache. Urghhhh - that's bad luck. Here in the U.K. over the last 5-6 years I have never had a singl...
by mrsonchus
Mon Apr 19, 2021 11:29 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

Thank you for the response re: differentiation of safranin O. That's an impressive array of sections you've produced and the close-ups look really good. There will be a lot of people on the forum interested to see the results after staining I'm sure, and any further information on your experience w...
by mrsonchus
Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:04 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

Yes I have found this to be the case. The formulation with mordant and intensifier does appear to differentiate more effectively than the 'plain' formulation. By this I mean that the differentiation (essentially controllable and hopefully selective removal of safranin) appears to be faster, greater ...
by mrsonchus
Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:46 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

Which stain was used for the slide of Root Tip? The first and last images above of the embryonic (hence the abscence of mitosis) root-tip is a safranin/fast-green one, with the addition of orange-g which as well as acting as a differentiator for safranin, adds to the staining protocol to create a r...
by mrsonchus
Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:43 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

More terrific pictures John, thank you! But you've done it now... "enhanced" safranin formula??? Did I miss something? Please elaborate. Tom W. Hi, the additives are borrowed fromJohansen's protocol - Sodium-acetate at 1% (W/V) as an 'intensifier' and Formalin at 2% (V/V) as a mordant - they seem t...
by mrsonchus
Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:32 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Which staining?
Replies: 13
Views: 5652

Re: Which staining?

Hi, no way to tell if this is Sass' method I'm afraid. However, Sass' method is pretty simple, with no real additives, and does give good results - I've used it hundreds of times for plant tissue. Essentially Sass' pethod is: (slides having been de-waxed, cleared and rehydrated to de-ionized water) ...
by mrsonchus
Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:57 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

Hi John, glad to see you are still having fun and working hard over there in Cumbria. Thanks for the post. Hi Roldorf, yes still going strong! Today I mounted a few test-slides of 'broad-bean' (vicia.faba) edible seeds in LS to get a view of the embryonic shoot and root structures. This went quite ...
by mrsonchus
Sat Apr 17, 2021 11:40 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

Also I have been using histoclear 2 and omnimount. I must say I am very pleased with those two. A well-matched combination. I've tried this combo in the past, in fact I still have both in the lab. I reverted back to Histoclear-original a few years back however, combined with 'Histomount' as a repla...
by mrsonchus
Sat Apr 17, 2021 8:52 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Which staining?
Replies: 13
Views: 5652

Re: Which staining?

Hi, this is almost certainly the classic safranin + fast-green stain combination. It certainly looks like it, although there's a certain 'greyness' to the cytoplasmic stain here. Protocol? An enormous subject dependant upon many, many factors - you'll need to have a good look around the internet for...
by mrsonchus
Fri Apr 16, 2021 7:35 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

Thanks John. I managed to get a few better cuts but after a few days in safranin and washed with water, all the specimens peel off this cheap slide the second it touches the first alcohol grade. I haven't coated any of these slides with albumen! I got some superfrost + on order and I guess I'll sta...
by mrsonchus
Fri Apr 16, 2021 7:13 pm
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Disposable blades with Cambridge rocking microtome, anybody?
Replies: 14
Views: 5408

Re: Disposable blades with Cambridge rocking microtome, anybody?

Hi, very nice cuts to my eyes!

The rocker is a fine little machine - your sections are certainly as good as any of the best hand-sections you'll see. It all depends on what you want to achieve as far as infiltration and embedding goes.

Congratulations, things are going well!
by mrsonchus
Sun Apr 11, 2021 3:44 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Slide Making with 61°C Wax
Replies: 38
Views: 12583

Re: Slide Making with 61°C Wax

I don't have any pictures handy right now but the ribbon has a little of that accordion crinkling going on. Going to try to shrink the presentation angle a little bit see if that helps. I rigged up a Sir all ralph knife adapter for the paraffin sectioning kit to hold Feather single edge razors, whi...