Pine Needle in EPI

Frez · Post by **Frez** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:15 pm

The tree looks like a White Pine. The images were shot through a Reichert Zetopan's EPI setup. I had originally set out to use the reflected DIC system, but it was uninspiring and would not produce enough relief. The Reichert EPI illuminator has something called a rotatable sector diaphragm that can be moved into the light path on a slider. This gave some nice relief for showing the rows of stomata. The first pic is with a 5.5x objective and the second with an 11x. The final pic is the RSD.

Frez

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:08 am

Some pretty fancy stuff you're showing us there in that last photo Frez. I have tons of pine trees around here for sure, I might should take a look at some of those needles. Great photos there Frez, thanks for the idea.

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:11 pm

Frez,
So with this sector diaphragm the light only comes from the side (as opposed to the full "circular" illuminating "beam"), providing a bit of relief?

I've got a vertical illuminator on it's way for my BH series, hardly ever used one before.

This post is timely. I was just wondering about the ability to "shape" the brightfield light into something a little more "interesting" than the normal full "beam".

(I know I've told you already, but that Zetopan hardware is so cool looking )

Frez · Post by **Frez** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:51 pm

Ken, you could maybe come up with different examples of long needle pine. I'm hunkering down up here. More snow is on the way.

Frez

Frez · Post by **Frez** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:04 pm

Frez,
So with this sector diaphragm the light only comes from the side (as opposed to the full "circular" illuminating "beam"), providing a bit of relief?

Hi Charles
That is exactly what it does. By rotating it the specimen can be hit from any angle.

I've got a vertical illuminator on it's way for my BH series, hardly ever used one before.

Congrats! You'll find the technique translates easily from transmitted. There will be a contrast and field diaphragm. There may also be a flip in DF spot, but it will require BF/DF EPI objectives. No doubt there will be a filter slider and maybe a mechanism for focusing the beam. You'll find it interesting and I look forward to some pics. Do you have any "no cover slip" objectives?

This post is timely. I was just wondering about the ability to "shape" the brightfield light into something a little more "interesting" than the normal full "beam".

You could probably fashion something to go into a filter slot.

(I know I've told you already, but that Zetopan hardware is so cool looking )

The vertical illuminator reminds me of something from the movie Dune.

Frez