My current setup for image stacking

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tevans9129
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2017 8:03 am
Location: TN

My current setup for image stacking

Post by tevans9129 »

This is a work in progress and thanks to others for posting images of their setups as they have given me great ideas as to where to start. This is where I am now but things are still evolving, lighting is one of the major subjects.

Image

Base is two layers of 3/4" MDF for weight and stability with 7/8" hickory that the 1.5x1.5 aluminum rail is set into.

Image

Close-up of the subject area.

Image

My rendition of the laser sighter as taken from the images provided by Chris S., thanks millions Chris. I use two AAA batteries but thinking about adding a third one. The unit locks into the hot shoe.


Image

I want to do some more experimenting with the idea. It may work with some improvements in lighting. I will probably add a couple of speedlights next.

Image

A couple of adapters have been ordered from China but being ignorant of this equipment, I am not for certain that I even ordered the correct adapters. I made this tempory adapter by having a snug fit over the reversing ring and boring the hole for the Amscope 4x approximately .001 undersize. It seems to screw in fairly snuggly and indexed on the shoulder.

Would love to hear ideas and suggestions of others for improvements. Feel free to post images in this thread if that will help.

NikonUser
Posts: 2693
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
Location: southern New Brunswick, Canada

Post by NikonUser »

very nice setup.
Images would be improved if you replaced the Amscope 4x with a
4x Nikon CF Plan Apochromat NA 0.2.
Your current 4x seems the weakest link in the system
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

tevans9129
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2017 8:03 am
Location: TN

Post by tevans9129 »

NikonUser wrote:very nice setup.
Images would be improved if you replaced the Amscope 4x with a
4x Nikon CF Plan Apochromat NA 0.2.
Your current 4x seems the weakest link in the system
Thank you for the suggestion. Using objective lens is a totally new experience for me and to which I know nothing about. My idea of the Amscope lens was to get my feet wet without spending much on something I know nothing about. At the moment, my interest seems to be in the 1 to 10x range and I do plan on acquiring some better optics in the future. Of course, cost is an unfortunate issue.

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

That particular 4X objective appears to be the one that tested very well in Robert OToole's tests, especially with respect to corner performance on full-frame sensors like the D800E. In comparison the plan apochromats fell off pretty badly in the corners.

See Robert's threads at http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=34277 and at http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=36028 and http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=36071 , and the corresponding more detailed reports on his web site at https://www.closeuphotography.com/4x-le ... 00-dollars and https://www.closeuphotography.com/4x-te ... objectives .

--Rik

NikonUser
Posts: 2693
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
Location: southern New Brunswick, Canada

Post by NikonUser »

Not being in the market for any more lenses I did not read Robert's report on 4x's.
I did recall seeing a spider face with the Amscope 4x:

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=36082

It does not seem to be a high image quality. I know I could get a better image quality with my Nikon 4x Apo; I use it with a 1.4x teleconverter (primarily to keep dust off the camera's sensor) which helps in reducing corner vignetting on a full frame.
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

ChrisR
Site Admin
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Location: Near London, UK

Post by ChrisR »

Even on Expanded Live View, the planapos definitely look sharper in the middle.
One has to ask how important the corners are, how much the CA corrects, etc. For many subjects they wouldn't actually be a problem, so I expect the planapos would make a better picture.
For a specimen, whole animal shot with a plain background, no contest.

The cheap Amscope is remarkable for the price though, and "good" at any price.
Chris R

mawyatt
Posts: 2497
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:54 pm
Location: Clearwater, Florida

Post by mawyatt »

Here's an image of the AmScope 4X in action on another site. Maybe not in the Mitty realm, but for $18 as someone mentioned, "a Jewel in the Rough". I use it often if not looking for the absolute best image, and certainly easier to get setup and going without having to deal with a tube lens with the Mitty's.

https://4.img-dpreview.com/files/p/E~fo ... 1d9001be14

Best & Happy Holidays,

Mike

mawyatt
Posts: 2497
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:54 pm
Location: Clearwater, Florida

Post by mawyatt »

tevans,

Your laser pointer is very interesting, really like the use of the Hot Shoe on the D800E. Could you provide a separate thread and give us some details?

I suspect this requires a custom machined fixture to mount on the Hot Shoe and hold the laser at the right position and angle.

Best & Happy Holidays,

Mike

tevans9129
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2017 8:03 am
Location: TN

Post by tevans9129 »

mawyatt wrote:tevans,

Your laser pointer is very interesting, really like the use of the Hot Shoe on the D800E. Could you provide a separate thread and give us some details?

I suspect this requires a custom machined fixture to mount on the Hot Shoe and hold the laser at the right position and angle.

Best & Happy Holidays,

Mike
Thanks for the comments Mike, I posted here.

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... 136#224136

Yawns
Posts: 400
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2015 9:18 am
Location: Benavente, Portugal

Post by Yawns »

I only did one stack with the AmScope so far .. did not have time for more as I got it very recently ..

the picture is here and in Flickr it can be expandd to full size..
I believe I will use it a lot more in th future...

I'm very pleased how well it captured the tinny hairs in between the eye clusters... specially on the left side where the light is better ...

https://flic.kr/p/217zZZW

Image2017-12-05 #Testing AmScpe 4X 0,1 Plan 160/0,17 by Antonio Caseiro, on Flickr
YAWNS _ (Y)et (A)nother (W)onderful (N)ewbie (S)hooting

tevans9129
Posts: 129
Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2017 8:03 am
Location: TN

Post by tevans9129 »

Nice shot, any details?

Yawns
Posts: 400
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2015 9:18 am
Location: Benavente, Portugal

Post by Yawns »

tevans9129 wrote:Nice shot, any details?
as it was a try I did not take notes of the details but have to be shot very much like this one ...
https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/ ... highlight=

it's the same animal .. I used continuos light for 3" seconds exposures.. and only the 2 top side lights of the hexagon... camera setting have to be the same.
YAWNS _ (Y)et (A)nother (W)onderful (N)ewbie (S)hooting

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