Search found 3200 matches

by zzffnn
Fri Feb 24, 2023 4:02 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography
Replies: 13
Views: 2996

Re: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography

Thank you very much, JW. You are too kind. I bought the M450 a few hours ago. I think it is just a plain tube, although I have to figure out its length and location, at the very least. I will ask at photomacrogtaphy.net, once I receive the M450 and make sure it works as intended. I think the tube’s ...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 24, 2023 1:40 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography
Replies: 13
Views: 2996

Re: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography

The reason to remove the extra polarizer is because your photos and what you see to the eye could end up significantly different. It isn't super hard to remove though, I just careuflly scrape away the epoxy with a paring knife until it pops off. You absolutely want the trinocular via direct project...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 24, 2023 1:32 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography
Replies: 13
Views: 2996

Re: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography

Thank you, JW. I read that web page last night, when I was considering buy the M450. There isn’t answer to my specific questions there.

I will consider a 3D printer next year, when I finish up my current projects. Sorry good idea with kids.
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 24, 2023 12:18 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography
Replies: 13
Views: 2996

Re: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography

I don’t have a 3D printer or lots of skill for DIY making a trinocular adapter. Maybe it is better for me to buy one. I probably don’t need to remove the polarizer behind the eyepiece. I actually may want to partially cross polarizer sometimes (for convenience) for my subjects (some of which are ver...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 24, 2023 12:14 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Numerical aperture of Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom 7
Replies: 5
Views: 856

Re: Numerical aperture of Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom 7

https://www.microbehunter.com/microscop ... =5&t=17945

Sorry for the confusion. Let us continue there in the above thread? Thank you!
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 23, 2023 11:52 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Wild M450 Epizoom for photography
Replies: 13
Views: 2996

Wild M450 Epizoom for photography

So I bought a M450 with epizoom objective just now. This model has permanent 2x ancillary lens attached. NA is about 0.2 at max. I haven’t decided whether or not I would go for the afocal route for camera, or get “Tim’s” adapter for trinucular adaptation. My subjects (seashells, dead insects and min...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 23, 2023 11:40 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Numerical aperture of Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom 7
Replies: 5
Views: 856

Re: Numerical aperture of Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom 7

Yes, it is 0.1 (reported as 300 lp/mm, up to 600 with the 2x) though that's only in the center of the FoV. Note that Leica's current top end greenough, the S Apo, tops out at exactly the same NA (though with allegedly apo optics and a wider FoV). Thank you! I just Googled it and found it too, from ...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 23, 2023 10:16 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Numerical aperture of Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom 7
Replies: 5
Views: 856

Numerical aperture of Bausch & Lomb Stereozoom 7

Dear all, do you happen to know the numerical aperture number of B&L SZ7 at its highest magnification, with stock 1x objectives (without ancillary lens)? Thank you!
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:24 am
Forum: Microscopy accessories
Topic: Rectangular Glass Capillaries
Replies: 5
Views: 2413

Re: Rectangular Glass Capillaries

So, it looks like #3524 might be the most useful. It's 4mm wide, the gap is 0.2mm, wall thickness is 0.2mm; material is borosilicate glass. The 50mm lengths would fit on a slide. These are $30 for a vial of 36 pieces. Trouble is you have to order at least $250 from the US site, and I can't get it t...
by zzffnn
Wed Feb 22, 2023 4:32 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Micro Safari Aqua
Replies: 4
Views: 1313

Re: Micro Safari Aqua

This one looks promising, if the claims (film being porous for air but water tight, ect) are true. It is not optical equivalent to 0.17 mm cover glass though, so as the web page says, higher NA objectives may not work well. I wonder what is thickness of that film and what is its glass equivalent thi...
by zzffnn
Sun Feb 19, 2023 4:55 am
Forum: My microscope
Topic: My new toy, Chinese field microscope in the 1960s
Replies: 8
Views: 1841

Re: My new toy, Chinese field microscope in the 1960s

Wait, can the WHK eyepiece sit down more into the eye tube? As it sits in that photo, your tube length may be too long. TWX-1 is a finite design with folded optical pathways.

I guess it is not too difficult to DIY cut away some of the eyepiece bottom, if there is no glass element at the bottom.
by zzffnn
Sat Feb 18, 2023 3:05 pm
Forum: My microscope
Topic: My new toy, Chinese field microscope in the 1960s
Replies: 8
Views: 1841

Re: My new toy, Chinese field microscope in the 1960s

Very nice! I thought about buying a TWX-1 a while ago.

Is that eyepiece standard size and removable? I know my poor eyes would not work with those small eye lenses, even though the rest of the scope looks very nice.

Those objectives may not cover bigger view field though, I am guessing.
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 17, 2023 1:55 pm
Forum: Important announcements
Topic: Leitz Orthoplan - How to adjust focus tension?
Replies: 27
Views: 35860

Re: Leitz Orthoplan - How to adjust focus tension?

Gents, I don’t disagree with you on what is the best action in experienced hands. For a beginner microscopist though, opening up the focus drive may be intimidating. I have released an AO scope focus drive by carefully pipetting mineral spirits into tiny spaces around the focus knob, without disasse...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 17, 2023 6:16 am
Forum: Important announcements
Topic: Leitz Orthoplan - How to adjust focus tension?
Replies: 27
Views: 35860

Re: Leitz Orthoplan - How to adjust focus tension?

Try pouring a tiny amount of mineral spirits around the focus knob, David. You may get lucky.
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 17, 2023 4:40 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

Thank you, gents. Thank you for thinking of me, Apochronaut: Idflan did provide me a photo and descriptions of his available scope via private message and very generously offered me many parts; which helped me made decision to go with Nikon MS inverted. I am perfectly chilled if we want to poke some...
by zzffnn
Fri Feb 17, 2023 1:43 am
Forum: Important announcements
Topic: Leitz Orthoplan - How to adjust focus tension?
Replies: 27
Views: 35860

Re: Leitz Orthoplan - How to adjust focus tension?

Welcome to the forum, David. You are right in being cautious. Turning the focus knobs in opposite directions will break focus gears for Nikon Labphots and Optiphots. So please wait for an owner to comment. Sometimes it can be old lubricating grease that solidified and froze the focus drive. If that ...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 9:59 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

I am building a sporty SUV (indeed a compromise in between) :-) Likewise goes for how clean the sample reservoir would be: I would clean it up a bit and remove all big pieces, but will keep it messy and dirty enough for the biology to be natural, yet hopefully clean enough for nice views. If it does...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 7:53 pm
Forum: Identification help
Topic: Is this fungus?
Replies: 9
Views: 1383

Re: Is this fungus?

You can put the camera inside a sealed zipper bag, along with desiccants (such as some rice grains if you don’t have chemical desiccants). Fungus doesn’t like dryness and UV light.
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 7:40 pm
Forum: Identification help
Topic: Is this fungus?
Replies: 9
Views: 1383

Re: Is this fungus?

Can you reach inside and wipe it off with cotton swap? If yes, then it is fungus. It doesn’t look like fungus to my eyes, but I am not positive. It does look like melted foam bubble to me. That would not be easily wipe off unless you carefully apply a controlled amount of xylene and quickly remove t...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 3:29 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

Stage micrometer control is indeed a major problem. My hands are not smooth enough at 400x or above; I have tested them before.

I have made some methyl cellulose before but rarely use it, it does change protists’ natural behavior and is pretty messy to work with, in my hands.
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 3:08 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

:idea: With respect to immersion. Have you considered mixing glycerin with water to get some viscosity? Thank you, apochronaut. Did you mean mixing in glycerin at objective side of immersion? I am guessing that RI change may be too much for a NA 1.1 water objective to perform well? It depends on ho...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 2:46 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

It is always a compromise and depends on the protists species and behavior, Bram. Chances are higher when gravity is on my side. I simply want to have more options at my disposal than the standard typical (which I already have), and I am happy to go back to the standard typical approach when necessa...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 2:22 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

Thanks, PeteM. I have some short barrel LWD (correction collar) inverted objectives in hand. I would add better long barrel ones in the future if I use them often.
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 2:15 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

Bram: sorry I did not make it crystal clear: when I “manipulate”, I would use low power without immersion or sample being “sandwiched” in anyway. After I “manipulate”, I can then switch to condenser immersion and higher NA objectives. I think idflan understood my idea better, as he probably has done...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 5:49 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

Definitely. Single well would be the best. But multiple well can work too, if wells are big enough for condenser top to dip in. What I saw online seem too small for condenser dipping though.
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 5:36 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

I can't think of an application that a high power immersion inverted scope that wouldn't be much better treated by car ful isolation and preparation of the sample to be viewed with a usual microscope. These high power objectives require so much delicacy and the right conditions. Right away I'm thin...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 5:21 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

……… For the "petri dish" I would suggest simply buying some cell culture chamber slides made from coverslip glass. They're a bit expensive, but with care can be made to last quite a while. Thank you. I have seen those chamber slides made for 1mm slide, but not those made for 0.17 mm cover slips. Do...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 5:07 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

Why high power inverted? Is not the hallmark of inverted the utilization of gravity : letting gravity bring the subject to the coverslip, rather than away from it? With high magnification, isn't that coverslip going to get a little crowded?.....especially with the kind of condensers those clunkers ...
by zzffnn
Thu Feb 16, 2023 4:55 am
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Re: Modular high power inverted scope

Thank you very much, gents. I have looked at all scope models mentioned herein. Indeed, I would agree that Nikon black inverted scopes are probably my first choice. Idflan, I will send you a private message. Good point about water running off from inverted objective immersion. My only question for b...
by zzffnn
Wed Feb 15, 2023 11:44 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Modular high power inverted scope
Replies: 48
Views: 6364

Modular high power inverted scope

I am looking for a highly modular (DIY friendly) high power inverted scope for live protists. My rough idea for the optical train (from top to bottom) is: a very light but powerful LED flashlight fixed onto the pile of inverted scope -> -> diffusion -> COL (circular oblique light) masks -> -> regula...