Search found 2107 matches

by Beatsy
Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:44 am
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: Fossil diatoms in their natural habitat...
Replies: 2
Views: 56

Fossil diatoms in their natural habitat...

That is, diatoms still buried in a tiny crumb of diatomite from Newport Bay, CA SMB00017--pmn.jpg Here's a close up focus stack from the centre of the crumb. Magnification 12.5x on sensor (20x Mitty on 125mm Raynox DCR 250). FoV covers about 1.6mm by 1.4mm. diatomite closeup - pmn.jpg Full resolutio...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:59 am
Forum: General Discussion Forum and Community Announcements
Topic: Loss of Robert OToole
Replies: 27
Views: 732

Re: Loss of Robert OToole

Tragic news. I only ever interacted with Robert on this forum, but will still remember him as a friend. Always so affable and generous with his knowledge. He will be sorely missed. Beats.
by Beatsy
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:07 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Diatoms - Didysmophenia geminata and Gomphonema sp.
Replies: 8
Views: 509

Re: Diatoms - Didysmophenia geminata and Gomphonema sp.

Spectacular, as always. These images are very useful in helping "interpret" what I see optically too. The inside/outside differences in Didymosphenia (aka Rock Snot) are near impossible to separate with transmitted illumination, even using UV (you see both overlaid). But after seeing the SEM version...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:18 am
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?
Replies: 22
Views: 741

Re: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?

...I have several brands of clean cotton pads and such that I sometimes use instead of Qtips, but I still check for residues since I found some that claim they leave no residues or lint or anything but they really did. Agreed! "Lint and residue free" too often means you simply weren't charged for t...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:40 am
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?
Replies: 22
Views: 741

Re: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?

Salt helps to break down grease. A key constituent of many old (traditional) grease removal methods. It has caused a few to hyperventilate on seeing it in the recipe though :D But if applied as per the instructions - dampen (don't wet) a cloth and clean with that, then polish with a separate dry clo...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:06 am
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?
Replies: 22
Views: 741

Re: Safe objective cleaning solution -- so much conflicting info online?

... another stuff what works excellent on fatty fingerprints is ROR Residual Oil Remover . It is water based and does not harm plastics like acetone. (Be very careful with acetone, it can instantly ruin plastic because it is vary strong solvent and you don't want to find your acetone wetted cleanin...
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:46 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Images from an Auliscus ralfsianus diatom slide using 450nm light
Replies: 5
Views: 278

Re: Images from an Auliscus ralfsianus diatom slide using 450nm light

Great details from an interesting (and pretty uncommon) species. That's some serious "flexing" with the 2µm scale bars too - a mere four-and-a-bit (blue) wavelengths long! :D
by Beatsy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:15 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: What features and comforts would your hypothetical dream camera system have, based on your needs?
Replies: 11
Views: 382

Re: What features and comforts would your hypothetical dream camera system have, based on your needs?

I'm content with what my Sony bodies can do in studio macro and micro contexts, but I would like true 16-bit RGB outputs (instead of the current 14-bit max, which can drop to 10-bit in certain modes on older bodies). I shoot a lot of low-contrast micro subjects (mainly diatoms) and then stretch the ...
by Beatsy
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:53 am
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: Benthic diatomeas
Replies: 9
Views: 315

Re: Benthic diatomeas

Always nice to see diatoms in their natural state. Very nicely captured. Cheers
by Beatsy
Sat Mar 02, 2024 3:07 pm
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Beauty from birds bottoms...
Replies: 2
Views: 315

Beauty from birds bottoms...

Many species of diatoms live in the ocean. Some fish eat (or ingest) diatoms. Seabirds eat fish - then poop. The poop piles up in thick guano deposits. Some humans dig this guano up to use as fertiliser Other humans prefer to extract the diatoms and photograph them. Like this (100x/1.4 objective, 36...
by Beatsy
Sun Feb 25, 2024 4:30 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Suriella sp.
Replies: 19
Views: 592

Re: Suriella sp.

hkv wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:25 pm
Smokedaddy wrote:
Fri Feb 23, 2024 10:26 am
Excellent and a superb job coloring.
Thank you! Coloring is the most time consuming part of SEM imaging. :o
Similarly, achieving such depth of field is the most time consuming part of optical imaging :D

Great image with loads of fascinating detail. Keep 'em coming please!

Cheers
Beats
by Beatsy
Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:09 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope
Topic: Diatom: Surirella davidsonii
Replies: 0
Views: 278

Diatom: Surirella davidsonii

A single shot using a Heine condenser set for darkfield. The Heine can be a right faff to set up but produces some really good results when adjusted "just so". In addition to better contrast, it does seem to squeeze extra resolution from any given objective too (compared to a standard NA1.4 condense...
by Beatsy
Thu Feb 22, 2024 2:29 am
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth
Replies: 73
Views: 32224

Re: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth

Betty, yes, I'm aware the coverslip I'm using is not the best/optimal quality and that might be affecting the result. I had (have) Thorlabs 1.5H coverslips (170 ± 5 µm), but I'm unable to find 'em. I guess I'll have to buy some quality coverslips and re-test the objective. - Macrero As I understand...
by Beatsy
Wed Feb 14, 2024 2:17 am
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth
Replies: 73
Views: 32224

Re: Debunking the high NA / coverslip correction myth

That's a neat and compact idea for the diffuser. I'll try that for my Nikon TU 50/0.8...

One question: I know the distances involved are very small, but the mag and NA are relatively high too. Do you notice any shift or change in lighting as the objective advances for stacking?

Cheers
Beats
by Beatsy
Sat Feb 10, 2024 11:52 am
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: How would you design ideal 3d printed light modifiers (reflection, diffusion, and occlusion?) Ideas? Improvements?
Replies: 12
Views: 471

Re: How would you design ideal 3d printed light modifiers (reflection, diffusion, and occlusion?) Ideas? Improvements?

You are travelling a familiar road but it looks like you have a good handle on the important issues. Like you, I tinker endlessly but along the way I found a fairly general purpose solution that I still use. I described it in post that touches on a few of the points/issues you raise. Assuming you ha...