Search found 2104 matches

by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?
Replies: 21
Views: 618

Re: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?

...I have several brands of clean cotton pads and such that I sometimes use instead of Qtips, but I still check for residues since I found some that claim they leave no residues or lint or anything but they really did. Agreed! "Lint and residue free" too often means you simply weren't charged for t...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:40 am
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?
Replies: 21
Views: 618

Re: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?

Salt helps to break down grease. A key constituent of many old (traditional) grease removal methods. It has caused a few to hyperventilate on seeing it in the recipe though :D But if applied as per the instructions - dampen (don't wet) a cloth and clean with that, then polish with a separate dry clo...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:06 am
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?
Replies: 21
Views: 618

Re: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?

... another stuff what works excellent on fatty fingerprints is ROR Residual Oil Remover . It is water based and does not harm plastics like acetone. (Be very careful with acetone, it can instantly ruin plastic because it is vary strong solvent and you don't want to find your acetone wetted cleanin...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:46 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Images from an Auliscus ralfsianus diatom slide using 450nm light
Replies: 5
Views: 232

Re: Images from an Auliscus ralfsianus diatom slide using 450nm light

Great details from an interesting (and pretty uncommon) species. That's some serious "flexing" with the 2µm scale bars too - a mere four-and-a-bit (blue) wavelengths long! :D
by Beatsy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:15 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: What features and comforts would your hypothetical dream camera system have, based on your needs?
Replies: 11
Views: 340

Re: What features and comforts would your hypothetical dream camera system have, based on your needs?

I'm content with what my Sony bodies can do in studio macro and micro contexts, but I would like true 16-bit RGB outputs (instead of the current 14-bit max, which can drop to 10-bit in certain modes on older bodies). I shoot a lot of low-contrast micro subjects (mainly diatoms) and then stretch the ...
by Beatsy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:53 am
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: Benthic diatomeas
Replies: 9
Views: 275

Re: Benthic diatomeas

Always nice to see diatoms in their natural state. Very nicely captured. Cheers
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 02, 2024 3:07 pm
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Beauty from birds bottoms...
Replies: 2
Views: 286

Beauty from birds bottoms...

Many species of diatoms live in the ocean. Some fish eat (or ingest) diatoms. Seabirds eat fish - then poop. The poop piles up in thick guano deposits. Some humans dig this guano up to use as fertiliser Other humans prefer to extract the diatoms and photograph them. Like this (100x/1.4 objective, 36...
by Beatsy
Sun Feb 25, 2024 4:30 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Suriella sp.
Replies: 19
Views: 544

Re: Suriella sp.

hkv wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:25 pm
Smokedaddy wrote:
Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:26 am
Excellent and a superb job coloring.
Thank you! Coloring is the most time consuming part of SEM imaging. :o
Similarly, achieving such depth of field is the most time consuming part of optical imaging :D

Great image with loads of fascinating detail. Keep 'em coming please!

Cheers
Beats
by Beatsy
Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:09 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Diatom: Surirella davidsonii
Replies: 0
Views: 251

Diatom: Surirella davidsonii

A single shot using a Heine condenser set for darkfield. The Heine can be a right faff to set up but produces some really good results when adjusted "just so". In addition to better contrast, it does seem to squeeze extra resolution from any given objective too (compared to a standard NA1.4 condense...
by Beatsy
Thu Feb 22, 2024 2:29 am
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth
Replies: 73
Views: 31821

Re: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth

Betty, yes, I'm aware the coverslip I'm using is not the best/optimal quality and that might be affecting the result. I had (have) Thorlabs 1.5H coverslips (170 ± 5 µm), but I'm unable to find 'em. I guess I'll have to buy some quality coverslips and re-test the objective. - Macrero As I understand...
by Beatsy
Wed Feb 14, 2024 2:17 am
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth
Replies: 73
Views: 31821

Re: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth

That's a neat and compact idea for the diffuser. I'll try that for my Nikon TU 50/0.8...

One question: I know the distances involved are very small, but the mag and NA are relatively high too. Do you notice any shift or change in lighting as the objective advances for stacking?

Cheers
Beats
by Beatsy
Sat Feb 10, 2024 11:52 am
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: How would you design ideal 3d printed light modifiers (reflection, diffusion, and occlusion?) Ideas? Improvements?
Replies: 12
Views: 432

Re: How would you design ideal 3d printed light modifiers (reflection, diffusion, and occlusion?) Ideas? Improvements?

You are travelling a familiar road but it looks like you have a good handle on the important issues. Like you, I tinker endlessly but along the way I found a fairly general purpose solution that I still use. I described it in post that touches on a few of the points/issues you raise. Assuming you ha...
by Beatsy
Sat Feb 10, 2024 3:28 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Some diatoms from Oamaru with 450nm light
Replies: 6
Views: 3486

Re: Some diatoms from Oamaru with 450nm light

Nicely done Jonathan. I cleaned a bit of diatomite from Allan's farm a few weeks ago and have been sporadically searching strews and picking out forms since. I must have seen hundreds of B. coronata (B for broken) but none even close to being as complete as yours. About 3/4s complete is the best I'v...
by Beatsy
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:45 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Diatom: Auliscus oamaruensis. Nature mimics art?
Replies: 4
Views: 310

Re: Diatom: Auliscus oamaruensis. Nature mimics art?

Thanks folks. These guys are tough to set parallel to the cover. Impossible with my wet adhesive since they rock to the side. Even with solid Debes I find that I need to moisten with breath and then quickly use the needle to push and square the form to the cover. Amen to that! I use a ridiculously t...
by Beatsy
Wed Feb 07, 2024 1:29 pm
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Diatom: Auliscus oamaruensis. Nature mimics art?
Replies: 4
Views: 310

Diatom: Auliscus oamaruensis. Nature mimics art?

Hello all, Here's a 40x brightfield stack of Auliscus oamaruensis, from the Allan's farm deposit, Oamaru, NZ AO-zerene_1--pmn.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53515761820_c51df8ce65_o.jpg Given the straight brightfield illumination, the form looks somewhat flat in the shot above. Unlike the s...