Search found 3200 matches

by zzffnn
Sun Dec 24, 2023 4:50 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Does phase contrast make sense for its price?
Replies: 49
Views: 32383

Re: Does phase contrast make sense for its price?

You can also make DIY circular oblique light (using different circular mask sizes) and cover up 1/3 to 2/3 of the light circle. That would produce similar effect as what Macro_Cosmos does with his Heine condenser.
by zzffnn
Fri Dec 22, 2023 7:57 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Pond water aquarium for home
Replies: 16
Views: 5996

Re: Pond water aquarium for home

It would not hurt to keep several micro aquariums of different compositions and sizes too. I was told that they may start about the same, but surprisingly end up looking very differently under the microscope.
by zzffnn
Fri Dec 22, 2023 6:09 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Pond water aquarium for home
Replies: 16
Views: 5996

Re: Pond water aquarium for home

Thank you @macnmotion for your response, with further encouragement. I will just go ahead, like yourself, and deal with whatever happens. I would suggest you to simply go ahead and make one. I don’t think there are specific modern books about it (antique books on the topic may exist but would be ve...
by zzffnn
Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:56 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Doing Diatoms - part 2
Replies: 38
Views: 46624

Re: Doing Diatoms - part 2

Red sea is a nice place! I have some interesting seashells from that area.

Why are you aiming for a specific depth range (is 18 meters in depth not good enough for your purpose)?

I am guessing you are not allowed to bring (visible) dived specimens across the border?
by zzffnn
Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:40 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump
Replies: 11
Views: 5893

Re: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump

Thank you, Charlie. Have you compared microscopic biodiversity with heater vs. without heater? Where I live can actually get pretty cool, even inside our home in winter (our family don’t like running high heat). I do not want completely natural (our outdoor nature dies down when air temperature drop...
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 14, 2023 9:42 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Stage Plate, Frosted or Clear?
Replies: 13
Views: 6804

Re: Stage Plate, Frosted or Clear?

I don’t know for sure, though OP may be able to turn a frosted plate to semi-clear by applying some slow-drying silicone oil?
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:27 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump
Replies: 11
Views: 5893

Re: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump

The filter that came with my 3 gal tank does very little, the reviews all complain about how little water goes through it. Perfect! If I were you I’d try the tank without aeration to see how things develop. Is there a reason that you feel that aeration is required? Harry Hi Harry: it is just my gut...
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 14, 2023 12:33 pm
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump
Replies: 11
Views: 5893

Re: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump

macnmotion wrote:
Thu Dec 14, 2023 10:58 am

You can get a cheap regulator valve to add to your airline which can restrict the amount of air. For example this:

Fluval A1175 Air Plastic Control Valve https://a.co/d/91AQxWT
One came with my air pump actually. I just forgot to use it :lol:
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 14, 2023 10:48 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump
Replies: 11
Views: 5893

Re: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump

Thank you for sharing your experience, Harry. I forgot to mention that I have no filter running, on purpose. Since I started the aquarium today, I am not certain my aquatic plants will survive. So I thought air pump may help. My bubbler / air pump looks a little too powerful for my 3.5 gallon tank, ...
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:05 am
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Stage Plate, Frosted or Clear?
Replies: 13
Views: 6804

Re: Stage Plate, Frosted or Clear?

You may buy one frosted glass plate and one clear glass plate?

If not, buy two clear plates and spray on “frost spray” to make one of the two frosted? Solvent can remove that frost coat, in case you change your mind.
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:55 am
Forum: Specimens, samples and slides
Topic: Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump
Replies: 11
Views: 5893

Protist aquarium- how long should I run air pump

So I started a 3.5 gallon protist aquarium today, with aquarium heater, air pump (bubbler), LED light and pond water sample and some aquatic plants / pond soil. For those of you who have set up protist aquarium and determined the best condition for protists diversity, what settings do you use? Speci...
by zzffnn
Mon Dec 11, 2023 2:53 am
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Fossil diatom from Oamaru
Replies: 33
Views: 33228

Re: Fossil diatom from Oamaru

Such beautiful work, Hakan! Thank you for sharing.
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:19 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot
Replies: 82
Views: 74867

Re: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot

Jose, I did not understand you there. It is common for a 100x immersion objective to have spring loaded (free-moving) front element that retracts when touching cover glass. Are you using oil immersion on condenser top lens? It sounds like you may get a focused image of field iris, if you immerse con...
by zzffnn
Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:57 am
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot
Replies: 82
Views: 74867

Re: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot

Thank you, Jose.

I was going to ask you about tube length error on your DIY system.

15mm tube length error is not too much (may not be obviously visible) for immersion objectives with NAs up to 1.25. For dry objectives though, it does have some negative effect on dry NA 0.65.
by zzffnn
Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:03 pm
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot
Replies: 82
Views: 74867

Re: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot

Jose, is it possible to optically remove the dark grey gradient from your slit DIC (without using software processing)? Well implemented oblique contrast (in either circular oblique [COL] form or in offset oblique form) can produce smoother background without dark grey gradient. Have you compared CO...
by zzffnn
Mon Dec 04, 2023 6:16 pm
Forum: Beginner's corner
Topic: Good Stereo Microscope?
Replies: 36
Views: 22749

Re: Good Stereo Microscope?

FWIW, in my experience, Stephen (Scarodactyl) IS the equivalent of a reputable shop - plus being more willing to share accurate information and typically with lower overheads and fairer prices. I agree with Pete wholeheartedly and would recommend beginners to buy from Stephen. Even though I did not...
by zzffnn
Thu Nov 30, 2023 12:53 am
Forum: Home-made microscope adaptations
Topic: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot
Replies: 82
Views: 74867

Re: Working in an "universal condenser" for Nikon Optiphot

Jose Antonio Mena: very nice work, and it gets better and better! I don’t have anything to add but would be following and learning from your work.
by zzffnn
Thu Nov 23, 2023 3:04 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon Diaphot project
Replies: 5
Views: 1853

Re: Nikon Diaphot project

You may not need to disassemble it. Just soak the whole thing in solvent, then re-lubricate externally (let lubricant drip in).
by zzffnn
Sun Nov 19, 2023 10:01 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: For trade: microscope (DIC etc.) scopes & optics
Replies: 39
Views: 23406

Re: For trade: microscope (DIC etc.) scopes & optics

Very nice work, Pete! Which Zeiss DIC prism arrangement is more versatile for mismatched objectives please, especially vintage short objectives such as LOMO water immersion (non-plan) apos? I still have not set up my Nikon (stand) - PZO (DIC condenser and heads) - LOMO (objectives) yet. Have too man...
by zzffnn
Wed Nov 15, 2023 1:17 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?
Replies: 31
Views: 98436

Re: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?

osterport, I usually use my LED at original light bulb filament’s (Köhler illumination) location. Its size is slightly bigger than the original filament size, in the form of a square. I usually don’t use all 30w of its power, as I turn down its output by a resistor control. So no, at Köhler illumina...
by zzffnn
Tue Nov 14, 2023 7:11 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?
Replies: 31
Views: 98436

Re: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?

osterport, Your LED light may be too small (on terms of light diameter) and too weak (in terms of power). You can try raising the LED light higher to condenser bottom and maybe (or maybe not) diffuse it with layers of wax paper or printing paper. I wrote “maybe” there because diffusion takes away li...
by zzffnn
Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:49 am
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage
Replies: 6
Views: 2350

Re: WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage

Are they left handed or right handed shells? Haha, apo. Good question. Most common seashells are right handed (dextral). Left handed (sinistral) seashells are generally rare (there are exceptions in a few species) and command high prices. For some land snails, especially those in the Amphidromus ge...
by zzffnn
Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:16 pm
Forum: Illumination Techniques
Topic: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?
Replies: 31
Views: 98436

Re: Help: has anyone ever used Olympus DCW Darkfield condenser?

Welcome to the forum, osterport. In addition to what PeteM suggested, you would also want to carefully adjust the X, Y and Z positions of your darkfield condenser. The darkfield condenser’s top lens should be almost touch slide bottom and have oil bridge in between. Horizontal positioning is very im...
by zzffnn
Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:06 pm
Forum: Pictures and Videos
Topic: Continuing Search for Protists
Replies: 2
Views: 927

Re: Continuing Search for Protists

Hi Don, You have some microorganisms there in the videos. However, from the video, I can not clearly see the “ ovular shapes that simply hang in the water and some circular forms that seem to be moving inside” to tell you what they are. May I suggest raising your condenser to as high as possible, op...
by zzffnn
Mon Nov 13, 2023 6:35 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage
Replies: 6
Views: 2350

Re: WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage

Thank you very much, apochronaut. Bruce would like to see if anyone wants to trade a right-handed mechanical stage with Bruce’s seashells. If there is none, Bruce would have your offer as an option.
by zzffnn
Mon Nov 13, 2023 12:22 pm
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage
Replies: 6
Views: 2350

Re: WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage

IMG_7241.jpeg
IMG_7241.jpeg (189.88 KiB) Viewed 2334 times
For his scope, it should be on the other hand.
by zzffnn
Mon Nov 13, 2023 8:00 am
Forum: For forum members who want to buy and sell equipment
Topic: WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage
Replies: 6
Views: 2350

WTB: AO series 4 mechanical stage

My friend Bruce is looking for a mechanical stage for an AO series 4 scope for a good price. Shipped to Texas USA please. Please let me know your offer price.

He can trade you an assortment of specimen seashells, if that helps. Thank you!
by zzffnn
Tue Oct 31, 2023 3:30 am
Forum: Camera systems and imaging
Topic: Nikon DSLR mounting to trinocular photo port
Replies: 7
Views: 2414

Re: Nikon DSLR mounting to trinocular photo port

Does Nikon D5500 or D600 have electronic front curtain shutter? If not, then shutter vibration may affect image quality at objectives more powerful than 10x NA 0.25.
by zzffnn
Mon Oct 30, 2023 10:15 pm
Forum: Microscopes and optics
Topic: Nikon Fluor 40x frozen collar + front element
Replies: 18
Views: 8899

Re: Nikon Fluor 40x frozen collar + front element

^ So far, all my iris objectives work just fine (none becomes stuck again after I released them about 3-6 years ago). Only one objective take some effort to turn but still works. The things about tiny iris leaves is that if you mess them up, they are a huge pain to put back. I have not worked on stu...
by zzffnn
Mon Oct 30, 2023 1:23 am
Forum: Miscellaneous
Topic: Fast curing super glue with minimal fumes
Replies: 9
Views: 3063

Re: Fast curing super glue with minimal fumes

Thank you for the high praise that I am not sure I deserve, Kurt. I think I learned about the device (and its name) from Phil and / or a YouTube microscopy lesson. I like using iris objectives for increasing depth of view (at expense of resolution loss) and controlling flares in darkfield and COL, s...