2nd try

[dhmiller]

Here's my second try with the enhanced MJKZZ clamp system and 10x objective. Composition is horrible because I don't yet have a precision specimen holder, but lighting seems decent and looks like there isn't much vibration in the rig (using a Stackshot on a gimbal on a tripod... I'll upgrade that as well - open to suggestions.)

[mawyatt]

Nice image, good start

Best,

[rjlittlefield]

lighting seems decent and looks like there isn't much vibration in the rig (using a Stackshot on a gimbal on a tripod..

I agree on both counts. In the background on the right side we can see a couple of dust trails. They have a classic smooth spiral shape that is typical of screw driven rail combined with apparently a bit of tripod sag or misalignment of the camera with respect to the rail. But they do not have any significant roughness like we'd expect if you were getting random vibrations that were frozen out by flash.

What was your lighting setup for this image? Flash? What type, and what power?

--Rik

[dhmiller]

Rik - thanks for your note. I had no clue what the spirals were and thought they might be dust on the sensor, but good to know otherwise.
I bought a studio flash setup - Bowens Gemini 750W -

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... light.html

- sort of on impulse, but actually because it was a closeout and 75% off normal price. Overkill for super macro, but I think I can make it work. I'm out of town for a few days, but will take a photo of the setup - quite unusual, I imagine - but for this shot when I return. I used two semi-opaque plastic boxes as diffusers and created sort of a "diffuser tunnel" with the specimen and objective within that space.

I would love to find an automated specimen holder with X, Y, Z and R control (with the precision of a Stackshot) and of course, complete 360 degree movement for the alligator clip attached to the (hypothetical) bullhead. Ever seen anything of that ilk?

Really struggling with positioning the specimens...

lighting seems decent and looks like there isn't much vibration in the rig (using a Stackshot on a gimbal on a tripod..

I agree on both counts. In the background on the right side we can see a couple of dust trails. They have a classic smooth spiral shape that is typical of screw driven rail combined with apparently a bit of tripod sag or misalignment of the camera with respect to the rail. But they do not have any significant roughness like we'd expect if you were getting random vibrations that were frozen out by flash.

What was your lighting setup for this image? Flash? What type, and what power?

--Rik

[rjlittlefield]

Rik - thanks for your note. I had no clue what the spirals were and thought they might be dust on the sensor, but good to know otherwise.

The spirals are due to dust on the sensor, stretched out into trails by movement of the camera on the StackShot. See the explanation at https://zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker/d ... hy_is_that .

--Rik

[dhmiller]

Interesting. Will definitely give the sensor a good cleaning. Thanks for spotting that.

Rik - thanks for your note. I had no clue what the spirals were and thought they might be dust on the sensor, but good to know otherwise.

The spirals are due to dust on the sensor, stretched out into trails by movement of the camera on the StackShot. See the explanation at https://zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker/d ... hy_is_that .

--Rik

[brentbristol]

This is not as good as physically cleaning the sensor, but there are software options for automating the removal of dust spots from images. I have only used it with canon dpp4, but found that there is a similar capability using the Nikon Capture image processing software (Image Dust Off).

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/NSG_ ... lang=en_SG

With the canon I simply update the dust reference occasionally so that I have the option to automate dust removal if necessary.

[dhmiller]

Thanks, Brent. In this, a little touchup in PS would be adequate, given the placement of the "spirals." But I usually give the sensor a swab when needed, so hoping that will work as well.
Will look into the Nikon software, which I don't typically use.
Dennis

This is not as good as physically cleaning the sensor, but there are software options for automating the removal of dust spots from images. I have only used it with canon dpp4, but found that there is a similar capability using the Nikon Capture image processing software (Image Dust Off).

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/na/NSG_ ... lang=en_SG

With the canon I simply update the dust reference occasionally so that I have the option to automate dust removal if necessary.