Chaoborus III ---- The Worm (Re)Turns!

[Olympusman]

Cactusdave
Where in the light path are you putting the cellophane retarder?

[Cactusdave]

The order I used is illuminator ->polariser ->retarder-> condenser -> subject -> objective -> analyser -> eyepiece. I guess placing the retarder after the condenser would also work.

[pwnell]

These photos are really great. I love how polarization brings out details that seems otherwise dull or uninteresting.

[Cactusdave]

Thanks. Polarised light is a very valuable and versatile method of illumination which can be easily and quite cheaply implemented on most microscopes. The polariser is easy to arrange but a place must be found between the objective and the eyepiece for the analyser. Some microscopes like the Zeiss Standard have provision for a screw in analyser in the binocular/trinocular head, while others have a filter slot in the body tube , intermediate tube, or objective turret mount where an analyser can be placed.