Hi folks - I created this video to show food vacuole formation and cytoplasmic streaming in Paramecium. Without slowing them down this is very difficult to see. In order to do this I used a 3% Methyl-Cellulose solution. One drop on a slide, one drop alongside of the sample water and mixed with a mounted needle, then the cover slip. It enables detailed observation without stopping the normal internal processes. Having shown the video to family they commented how serene and peaceful it looks. I thought I would set it to some music and post as a 5 minute 'chill out' video. Set it to full screen, put on earphones and relax...................
Martin
PS - It also happens to show the processes I set out to observe !
Brunel microscope SP300, achro, plan, infinity, oblique, x40 objective, filmed on Samsung Galaxy A13 phone.
Chilling out with a Paramecium !
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macnmotion
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Re: Chilling out with a Paramecium !
Very nice. I was surprised to see it was recorded on a cell phone.
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DonSchaeffer
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Re: Chilling out with a Paramecium !
Cell phones are your mama!
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Martin Parnham
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:43 pm
Re: Chilling out with a Paramecium !
Thank you - This might be heresy, but in many respects I find my phone better than my dedicated 5 megapixel USB 'microscope camera' !
It can shoot HD at 30 fps. Its light sensitivity and colour response is excellent, its contrast is also excellent. Its focus is precise. I suppose its main limitation is a restricted field of view but I can usually move the specimen to compensate for this. I have it mounted on the trinocular camera port. I have to stand to view the screen and operate it, but that's no real problem. It is also very much only a mid range phone in its capabilities (Samsung Galaxy a13 - about £140.00 here in the UK). For not a great deal more you can get phone with higher resolution, 60 fps, slow motion etc. I am seriously thinking of buying another higher spec one to leave permanently on the scope as my camera. I must admit I was rather skeptical at first but I have been very pleasantly surprised by the results.
Get my tin hat on!
Martin
It can shoot HD at 30 fps. Its light sensitivity and colour response is excellent, its contrast is also excellent. Its focus is precise. I suppose its main limitation is a restricted field of view but I can usually move the specimen to compensate for this. I have it mounted on the trinocular camera port. I have to stand to view the screen and operate it, but that's no real problem. It is also very much only a mid range phone in its capabilities (Samsung Galaxy a13 - about £140.00 here in the UK). For not a great deal more you can get phone with higher resolution, 60 fps, slow motion etc. I am seriously thinking of buying another higher spec one to leave permanently on the scope as my camera. I must admit I was rather skeptical at first but I have been very pleasantly surprised by the results.
Get my tin hat on!
Martin
Re: Chilling out with a Paramecium !
Pretty nice video. It is more impressive when I saw your spec.
I agree with the phone recording. My microscopes are trinocular. I did setup entry level sony mirrorless camera ( bought it for 250$ used) and spent another 50$ for other accessories but at the end I found out that my phone camera takes superior images and much easier to use. So, when it was time to get a new phone, I went with a very good camera phone (Samsung galaxy S21 ultra - 12$ per month). It takes beautiful videos and pictures @4k60. It only takes about a minute to setup. I wouldn't bother with mirrorless anymore and never use usb ( very expensive to get half the good video of the cell camera). The way technology moving, cellphone cameras improve every year. They are reaching close to 1" sensor now.
I agree with the phone recording. My microscopes are trinocular. I did setup entry level sony mirrorless camera ( bought it for 250$ used) and spent another 50$ for other accessories but at the end I found out that my phone camera takes superior images and much easier to use. So, when it was time to get a new phone, I went with a very good camera phone (Samsung galaxy S21 ultra - 12$ per month). It takes beautiful videos and pictures @4k60. It only takes about a minute to setup. I wouldn't bother with mirrorless anymore and never use usb ( very expensive to get half the good video of the cell camera). The way technology moving, cellphone cameras improve every year. They are reaching close to 1" sensor now.
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macnmotion
- Posts: 548
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2022 3:13 am
Re: Chilling out with a Paramecium !
I wonder if my S22 Ultra would work and reach focus with my Nikon Diaphot. I'll give it a try.
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Martin Parnham
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:43 pm
Re: Chilling out with a Paramecium !
Thanks for the camera tips I will definitely look at those other Samsung phones.
One of the main reasons I post my system specs is to hopefully show people that you can get fairly respectable results with quite modest equipment. My scope is a good quality but 'ordinary' bright field device. My phone is similarly not 'top end'. I use 2 homemade cardboard stops, Darkfield and a Rheinberg oblique. I use Polerisers occasionally.
I also hope people will see how useful oblique lighting can be. I simply move the darkfield stop out a little. You can also get a sort of half darkfield half oblique effect which can give excellent images.
Martin
One of the main reasons I post my system specs is to hopefully show people that you can get fairly respectable results with quite modest equipment. My scope is a good quality but 'ordinary' bright field device. My phone is similarly not 'top end'. I use 2 homemade cardboard stops, Darkfield and a Rheinberg oblique. I use Polerisers occasionally.
I also hope people will see how useful oblique lighting can be. I simply move the darkfield stop out a little. You can also get a sort of half darkfield half oblique effect which can give excellent images.
Martin