Search found 3211 matches

by Chris S.
Fri Mar 22, 2024 11:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion Forum and Community Announcements
Topic: Loss of Robert OToole
Replies: 27
Views: 725

Loss of Robert OToole

Friend and forum member Robert OToole has died. Robert-OToole-bio-pic-300px.jpg (Photo from www.robertotoole.com, which holds the copyright.) Robert posted here as "RobertOToole" for more than eleven years. He also authored and maintained the encyclopedic site closeuphotography.com , where he extens...
by Chris S.
Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:22 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: State of high CRI COB lights in 2024? Current recs?
Replies: 4
Views: 250

Re: State of high CRI COB lights in 2024? Current recs?

Right before that reply, the Yuji were linked (which I found online as well) but they're a bit more pricey. Mkbn, This won't answer your query, as it's neither inexpensive nor more current--but I can add a little information to my post on the Yuji COBs that you mentioned above. I still haven't gott...
by Chris S.
Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:55 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Advice Needed
Replies: 9
Views: 444

Re: Advice Needed

Dennis and Scarodactyl, If this is the stand I saw portions of, it is a solid setup and should be very good for Dennis' current purpose--perhaps after some illumination tweaks. If it is this stand, I hard-mounted a stepper motor on its BHMJ focus block. Dennis, with that excellent Mitty glass you ha...
by Chris S.
Sun Feb 18, 2024 9:05 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Anybody willing to test Mitutoyo 5x and 10x
Replies: 5
Views: 361

Re: Anybody willing to test Mitutoyo 5x and 10x

I'm really glad Robert offered to help! I test objectives fairly often for forum members, but will be traveling soon, and would find it ticklish to get someone else's objectives tested and out the door in time.

Your objectives will be in excellent hands with Robert. :D

--Chris S.
by Chris S.
Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:06 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Sharpest aperture for a given macro lens
Replies: 35
Views: 1333

Re: Sharpest aperture for a given macro lens

FotoChris, you might be onto something. My rig had some issues initially; among others I had to dial in -22 for the fine focus. Sounds as if you are using autofocus? I would recommend turning it off for critical tests of lens sharpness, especially at magnifications approaching 1x. Here, you probabl...
by Chris S.
Sun Jan 28, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 50X serial Number
Replies: 3
Views: 380

Re: Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 50X serial Number

Dario, My 50x/0.55 Mitutoyo has an "E" serial number. I've used it as a benchmark to test a number of Mitutoyo 50x/0.55 objectives for forum members. Some of these lenses are likely older than mine, and some are definitely newer. My lens has never been second best to any other. So I would advise you...
by Chris S.
Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:50 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: Need opinions about computer for stacking with Zerene
Replies: 10
Views: 756

Re: Need opinions about computer for stacking with Zerene

I'm also a new user of Zerene and my i7 Windows laptop does not run it very well. Welcome to posting! :D The thread Rik linked to--near its end--mentions overheating as a possible culprit for slow PC performance. With a desktop or tower PC, overheating is indeed occasionally the culprit for slow pe...
by Chris S.
Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:13 pm
Forum: General Discussion Forum and Community Announcements
Topic: Highest Serial Number 105PN?
Replies: 70
Views: 15807

Re: Highest Serial Number 105PN?

That one is a beauty. Glad I already have one, or I'd be reaching for my wallet.

--Chris S.
by Chris S.
Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:51 pm
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: some scales
Replies: 140
Views: 14920

Re: some scales

Adi, The rainbow-like effect--is that speckle? Does it go away if your light sources are more diffuse? I'm guessing that it is/does. Also, that greater diffusion will increase resolution--though resolution is not bad here. I do realize that greater diffusion would decrease the amount of light hittin...
by Chris S.
Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:06 pm
Forum: Equipment Discussions
Topic: microscope lens 10x
Replies: 37
Views: 1995

Re: microscope lens 10x

Thomas, Before you buy that Olympus lens, STOP for a moment, and read this. The Olympus 10x lens is an infinity lens. Your Amscope 4x achromat may be a finite lens. It is important that, before you buy a microscope objective, you know the difference. Finite and infinity objectives need to be set up ...
by Chris S.
Sat Jan 20, 2024 10:19 pm
Forum: Beginners Macro
Topic: Unknown True Bug
Replies: 9
Views: 496

Re: Unknown True Bug

Insects are not something I study, and others with more knowledge will surely weigh in. But most online photographs don't portray how much red is on a BMSB. Also, remember that there will be a number of instars that may differ in appearance. Members of our forum have posted images of this bug that a...
by Chris S.
Sat Jan 20, 2024 9:20 pm
Forum: Beginners Macro
Topic: Unknown True Bug
Replies: 9
Views: 496

Re: Unknown True Bug

For ID, look at Halyomorpha halys , the brown marmorated stinkbug. They are an invasive species common in much of the US. They like to overwinter inside houses. Their numbers have thankfully fallen off in my area, so I suspect that some natural enemy has caught up with them here. But I still kill se...
by Chris S.
Tue Jan 16, 2024 9:44 pm
Forum: General Discussion Forum and Community Announcements
Topic: AI Photo Use So Widespread is Sad to See
Replies: 19
Views: 852

Re: AI Photo Use So Widespread is Sad to See

Robert, I agree that passing off AI-generated images as photographs is wrong--even more so if done by a news organization. I could not quite follow how you determined that these images are AI-generated. For the one source, at least, they seem to be labeled as photographs--albeit royalty-free, which ...
by Chris S.
Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:44 pm
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: some scales
Replies: 140
Views: 14920

Re: some scales

I guess you use the camera's long exposure noise reduction? No, actually. I don't like letting cameras do things without my control. I came up in the days of manual cameras and hand-held light meters, and rarely even use auto-exposure in general photography. I'm still waiting for this auto-focus fa...
by Chris S.
Sun Jan 14, 2024 12:53 pm
Forum: Technical and Studio Photography -- Macro and Close-up
Topic: some scales
Replies: 140
Views: 14920

Re: some scales

Stacking with such long exposure time will cause the sensor to heat and increase noise. Agreed that it could increase noise, but in my case, I'm not seeing it, even in stacks with hundreds of images. The camera I use in the macro studio is a Nikon D7100, always at base ISO. The stacking algorithm I...