Trees under the microscope

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

You need to post your images for us all to wonder at. That's what you need.

[Khriss]

Nice desk tho' K

[tree77]

4 hours ago, Gary Prentice said:

So, microscope, immersion oil, 250 slides (forgot cover slips), pipettes, lens paper, single edged safety razors, cutting boards.... What else do I need?

 

Microtome, stains, USB camera..... Anything else? 

Do you know if you can attach a camera to old school microscope?

[Christopher Schroeter]

Do you know if you can attach a camera to old school microscope?

You can get decent images by pointing your phone camera down the microscope lens.

[Gary Prentice]

12 hours ago, tree77 said:

Do you know if you can attach a camera to old school microscope?

I would think so. What kind of camera though. 

 

With only one eyepiece keeping stuff focussed might be difficult unless your using a usb camera and viewing on a monitor. 

 

Tbh, I know very little, I’m looking to learn as I go on, relying very much on Jules to continue this thread.

[Gary Prentice]

16 hours ago, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi said:

You need to post your images for us all to wonder at. That's what you need.

Still need to buy a camera, but not too educated about what to get.

 

Microscophy  (Sp) is a steep learning curve 

[daltontrees]

On 15/12/2017 at 17:59, Gary Prentice said:

"So, microscope, immersion oil, 250 slides (forgot cover slips), pipettes, lens paper, single edged safety razors, cutting boards.... What else do I need?

 

Microtome, stains, USB camera..... Anything else? "

Big question. Depends what you are wanting to look at. That looks like a decent microscope, so you have loads of options.

 

Near the beginning of this thread I tried to explain the difference between reflected and transmitted light microscopy, but maybe I was too technical about it. A simpler way to explain it is that reflected light is like looking at a painting and transmittred light is like loooking ata  stained glass window. For the latter you need thin thin samples, and stains can be indispensable, as can be a microtome. And carrots (more on that another time).

 

But if you are keen to get going then reflected light is easy. You can literally put anything under the microscope that will fit, and focus on it. There's a lot to be said for just shovign stuff under, seeing it ina whole new way abut also thinking 'that's not quite as good as it could be, what can I do to improve it? Better light, better direction of light, flattening it with a coverslip? Just go for it. Really fgood easy starting points that are rewarding are insects, postage stamps, leaf surfaces, feathers, fungal pore surfaces, christmas tree needles off the floor, old film negatives, fungal spores, the edge of a ruler (which is good because it gives a true idea of how close you get with a microscope). Anything is worth a try. Reflected light is easiest, tehre's little preparation required, but it will only be good at low magnification.

 

Just go for it. Transmittee light is a world of pain, frustration, expense, endless extra equipment and materials, squandered time. I hope I can get to the point soon of helping people get into transmitted light microscopy (can I call it TLM for short, and call reflected light microscopy RLM?) but I think it will need me to get my microcope out and take pics and make videos (coming soon).

 

RLM, a trip to the best art gallery you will ever visit.

 

A camera is for sharing, nice eventually but not at all needed for understanding.

[daltontrees]

On 15/12/2017 at 23:13, Christopher Schroeter said:

On 15/12/2017 at 22:42, tree77 said:

Do you know if you can attach a camera to old school microscope?

You can get decent images by pointing your phone camera down the microscope lens.

Yes my pictures on the 4th page of this thread were taken with a camera pointed down the eyepiece. Focusing and alignment at higher magnifications can be a real problem though.

[Gary Prentice]

1 hour ago, daltontrees said:

Transmitted light is a world of pain, frustration, expense, endless extra equipment and materials, squandered time. 

 be no fun if it was easy. 

[Christopher Schroeter]

Insects are seriously amazing. They look like the most mental aliens you could think of.