Giant Amoeba

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:54 am

This very big amoeba (about 2 mm) I found in a fresh pondwater sample.
Used objectives Plan 4/0.10 and Plan 10/0.25

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 4:13 pm

Wonderful shots!

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:55 am

Thanks. Never seen a big one like this. I found another one in the sample but that one was much smaller.

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 2:10 am

Jan l'Amie wrote:Thanks. Never seen a big one like this. I found another one in the sample but that one was much smaller.

I've yet to find one at all!

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:15 am

Hello Jan,

I dont know how to say it in a kind way: For me these shots are not nice, because they are not clear. (The pictures with the mite were clear. It means that your microscope is also able to make clear pictures). What could be the reason for it? Maybe the light was not according to the priciples of the "Köhler Illumination"? To be colorful is not enough for a good picture. But this is my subjective opinion, I dont want to exclude other opinions...

Franz

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:34 am

Franz. Your right, but I think the last two are better than the others.
The others are made with a 4x lens and the oblique light doesn't work so well with this lens.
Another reason is, I take the pictures with about 0.3 seconds, I use no flash, and the organism is constantly moving.
And maybe the most important thing, my microscope Byomic BYO-500T costs new in the box only about 500 euro's so it's not a Leica from 5000.
But I'm very happy with this thing. And using some cheap home-made filters etc. I'm mostly satisfied with the results. And please, no hard feelings. Every comment, positiv or negativ is welcome.

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:52 am

Thank you Jan, for your kind answer! In microscopy we always need to have an open mind.
Personaly I have more problems with an 4x-objective to make clear pictures. With the other objectives (10x, 20x ecc.) it is easier. The human eye is adapting and correcting automatically the pictures coming from a 4x objective. Therefore when I am photographing with a 4x-objective I am making often 2 or 3 pictures with different positions and than I coose later on the computer the best one.

Franz

Ferry · Post by **Ferry** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:38 pm

Dag Jan,

This is Pelomyxa palustris. It has an interesting life cycle. See http://arcella.nl/pelomyxa-palustris

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 1:52 am

Thanks very much Ferry, very interesting.