Not happy with my videos

Here you can discuss different microscopic techniques and illumination methods, such as Brightfield, Darkfield, Phase Contrast, DIC, Oblique illumination, etc.
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smollerthings
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Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2021 12:10 pm

Re: Not happy with my videos

#31 Post by smollerthings » Mon Oct 24, 2022 6:33 pm

Scarodactyl wrote:
Sat Oct 22, 2022 11:49 pm
She has said she uses obliqie to get these kinda of results. It could be, well tuned oblique can be very good.
I went back to compare the DIC vs her version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W0XMM7DQ-E&t=275s
DIC
https://youtu.be/HbwV-EzP67Q?t=84

I think it is indeed oblique illumination rather than DIC. She is very talented and the videos are impressive.
Antartica wrote:
Sun Oct 23, 2022 4:00 am
I will try my best to prepare my sample as best I can. Also, I will play around with my camera settings especially white balance and color profiles. I should also try post processing edits to make it fancier. Lastly, investigate other techniques like dark field, oblique and perhaps polarized.
Keep us posted! I want to know how to get to this level of awesomeness as well.

Scarodactyl
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Re: Not happy with my videos

#32 Post by Scarodactyl » Mon Oct 24, 2022 6:59 pm

Wouldnt be much reason to undersell her equipment. Given her obvious skill with other aspects of microscopy I think it would track that she can use oblique skilfully as well.
Last edited by Scarodactyl on Tue Oct 25, 2022 3:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

viktor j nilsson
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Location: Lund, Sweden

Re: Not happy with my videos

#33 Post by viktor j nilsson » Mon Oct 24, 2022 7:35 pm

Yup, definitely not DIC.

It should also be noted that many of tardibabe's most striking videos are done with fairly large organisms at relatively low magnifications (10x and 20x objectives). She has some higher magnification images as well, but to me they don't pack the same punch as the lower mag ones. In fact, 20x seems to be the practical limit of Martin Kaae Kristiansen's "pseudo DIC" method, and darkfield requires better condensers at higher magnifications. That's not a criticism, but rather a testaments to tardibabe's excellent skills at finding and preparing excellent samples, and getting the most out of what she has.

Another thing tardibabe's really good at is filming very thick samples in a non-conventional way to great effect, where the organisms can freely move in and out of focus.

On a budget scope, my top options for cheap DIY techniques that produce visually pleasing images would be:

1. Martin Kaae Kristiansen's pseudo DIC
2. Darkfield at 10x and 20x (substantially harder at higher mags)
3. Simple polarization
4. Polarization+ Darkfield combined

Seems like no one is getting even an honorable mention at Nikon Small World with high-magnification DIC images these days, but several examples of low magnification images taken using techniques 2, 3 and 4 have been present among the winners in recent years. Says something about the aesthetic ideals of the times, maybe.

Chas
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Re: Not happy with my videos

#34 Post by Chas » Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:10 pm

I notice that at least in some of the videos there is a diffuser over the condenser (a coverslip with matt-finish scotch tape?) and the condenser is racked down, or tape is stuck underneath the slide that supports a petri dish.
It also seems that some of the videos use above-stage oblique white light.
Messing about:
A blue plastic milk bottle top (maybe this is a UK only thing!) resting on top of the condenser serves both as a blue filter and a diffuser.
Here is a drop of water resting on a very dusty old glass slide, lit from the side with a Jansjo desk light:
drop of water on dusty slide blue milk bottle top and above stage oblique white light.jpg
drop of water on dusty slide blue milk bottle top and above stage oblique white light.jpg (63.74 KiB) Viewed 5487 times
(The circle is not the edge of the bottle top ..but vignetting from the mobile phone against the eypiece).

Not award winning, but it is surprising to me how much the white light seems to rattle around in the water drop and illuminate the dust from more than one direction.

LouiseScot
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Re: Not happy with my videos

#35 Post by LouiseScot » Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:18 pm

Martin gives some details in a Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/Amateur ... 618676246/ (click on the '5 previous comments' link

Louise
A Nikon CF plan 20x; A Swift 380T; A DIY infinity corrected focus rail system with a 40x/0.65 Olympus Plan, a 10x/0.30 Amscope Plan Fluor, and a 20x/0.75 Nikon Plan Apo

viktor j nilsson
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Re: Not happy with my videos

#36 Post by viktor j nilsson » Tue Oct 25, 2022 4:46 am

I linked to a document where Martin describes his method in detail in post #8 of this thread. Here it is again:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/Amateur.M ... 725296433/

LouiseScot
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Re: Not happy with my videos

#37 Post by LouiseScot » Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:16 am

viktor j nilsson wrote:
Tue Oct 25, 2022 4:46 am
I linked to a document where Martin describes his method in detail in post #8 of this thread. Here it is again:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/Amateur.M ... 725296433/
It says 'content not available' - maybe because I'm not on Facebook/in the group

Louise
A Nikon CF plan 20x; A Swift 380T; A DIY infinity corrected focus rail system with a 40x/0.65 Olympus Plan, a 10x/0.30 Amscope Plan Fluor, and a 20x/0.75 Nikon Plan Apo

viktor j nilsson
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Location: Lund, Sweden

Re: Not happy with my videos

#38 Post by viktor j nilsson » Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:36 am

Yes, you probably need a Facebook account.
If you pm me your email I can send you the pdf.

LouiseScot
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Re: Not happy with my videos

#39 Post by LouiseScot » Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:46 am

viktor j nilsson wrote:
Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:36 am
Yes, you probably need a Facebook account.
If you pm me your email I can send you the pdf.
Oh ok - thanks. The link I posted seems to show what to do - is there more detail needed than shown there?
I'm wondering whether adding eyepiece projection to my infinity microscope would improve my basic image quality - or not make any real difference. What do you think?

Louise
A Nikon CF plan 20x; A Swift 380T; A DIY infinity corrected focus rail system with a 40x/0.65 Olympus Plan, a 10x/0.30 Amscope Plan Fluor, and a 20x/0.75 Nikon Plan Apo

viktor j nilsson
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Location: Lund, Sweden

Re: Not happy with my videos

#40 Post by viktor j nilsson » Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:53 am

Not really needed no, that's the basics.. The full document discuss various ways to optimize and adjust the effect.

LouiseScot
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Location: Scotland

Re: Not happy with my videos

#41 Post by LouiseScot » Tue Oct 25, 2022 8:01 am

viktor j nilsson wrote:
Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:53 am
Not really needed no, that's the basics.. The full document discuss various ways to optimize and adjust the effect.
Ok, thanks. I'm not sure when I might get the time/chance to try it out anyway
Louise
A Nikon CF plan 20x; A Swift 380T; A DIY infinity corrected focus rail system with a 40x/0.65 Olympus Plan, a 10x/0.30 Amscope Plan Fluor, and a 20x/0.75 Nikon Plan Apo

Dennis
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Location: New Jersey, USA

Re: Not happy with my videos

#42 Post by Dennis » Tue Oct 25, 2022 1:36 pm

Well,
I never knew there was a such thing as oblique filters. I haven't even messed with dark field filters etc.. really and have just found the place to put them on one of my microscopes.
I looked at the videos but was always confused about the "She is doing this" whoever "she was."

Anyhow I just caught on and will be trying filters esp. oblique because I like DIC but cannot afford it.

-Dennis

Crusty
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Re: Not happy with my videos

#43 Post by Crusty » Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:51 am

You might have better luck if you can adjust your camera while filming. I have exactly the same set up as you do. My camera (Canon 5D Mark ii) is mounted on the microscope and connected directly to a computer using the free Canon software. The computer screen shows exactly what the camera sees and I can adjust the camera- ISO and shutter speed mostly- directly from the computer. By playing with the settings you can make the most of whatever light you have.

Ryanb
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2022 7:54 pm

Re: Not happy with my videos

#44 Post by Ryanb » Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:02 pm

viktor j nilsson wrote:
Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:36 am
Yes, you probably need a Facebook account.
If you pm me your email I can send you the pdf.
Would you be able to send me the PDF as well? I will send you my email if you’re willing. Thanks!!

viktor j nilsson
Posts: 760
Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2018 10:12 pm
Location: Lund, Sweden

Re: Not happy with my videos

#45 Post by viktor j nilsson » Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:50 pm

Ryanb wrote:
Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:02 pm
viktor j nilsson wrote:
Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:36 am
Yes, you probably need a Facebook account.
If you pm me your email I can send you the pdf.
Would you be able to send me the PDF as well? I will send you my email if you’re willing. Thanks!!
No probs, pm your email and I'll send it

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