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Take a look at my pics.

First Darkfield Experiment

Darkfield has been a mystery to me. I’ve seen plenty of photos taken in darkfield; but didn’t really understand how or why to use it. There are plenty of darkfield filters available online but my lack of understanding made me reluctant to make even a small investment.

Then I came across a Microbe Hunter video about these filters and how to make one. As always, these videos are filled with lessons and practical information.

It seemed that it was fairly simple to make my own. I located transparent plastic, used a filter as a template, cut it out, and cut a small circle of black paper attached with double stick tape to be the stop. It’s not pretty, but it works. 

YAY!

I’m not ready for Rheinberg or Oblique filters but they look fascinating. For now, I’m still taking baby steps.

Filters and filter holders

Microbehunter.com is my microscope tutor. I learn something from every video. The lessons are either useful to me or just plain interesting. Yesterday I found a bonanza.

I watched:  Making microscope filters: Darkfield, Rheinberg, Oblique

I learned:

• My new microscope does have a filter holder. From what I’ve read. I was looking for a slot in the condenser. Mine has a swing-out holder at the bottom of the condenser
• Why I should use a blue filter: I have halogen illumination
• How to make my own darkfield filter.
• What a Rheinberg filter is; how to make one; why/when to use one.
• What an oblique filter is and when to use one. I’d heard reference to oblique illumination, but had no idea what it is.

This site is a wonderful place to learn about microscopes and their uses

The end of a month of frustration - onward and upward

My last post ended with the failure of my mechanical stage. The Y axis (Vertical) froze and would not move. AMscope sent me another. Same problem. Third stage:  Same issue except on the X (Horizontal) axis.  GRRRR !!

Looking for other sources for a mechanical stage, I found one that looked identical and had the same dimensions as my stage. It wasn’t identical. The positioning posts and the screw are just fractions of a millimeter different so that it would not fit. 

I was amazed to see the quality difference between the AMscope device and the other. The AMscope stage was poorly made

compared the the other.

 

I resolved to make do with what I have; but I still looked at scopes that have an integral mechanical stage.  Out of my price range. Until I found one that I can afford.

My choice is the Celestron CB2000CF. It is an older model, but is a new scope. It has features that are lacking in my existing scope. And the price was right from Amazon.com.  It should be delivered tomorrow.

In the meantime, I’ve been looking at some interesting stuff including but not limited to toilet paper. I’ve looked at household things including cream of tartar, glycerin, vitamin C, boric acid and, more using different solutions.

Many things look different dissolved in alcohol instead of water. I’ve also tried hydrogen peroxide and acetone (fingernail polish remover).

The real excitement is when I polarize these samples. Some of the patterns and colors are amazing. I plan to make a collection of these.

Other experiments include taking a soil sample, and a sample of stagnant water. Haven’t seen anything in the soil sample; but the water sample showed some critters that I think are protozoa. This is the first time I’ve tried to identify tiny creatures like these.

Having fun. Making progress. Learning.

Back to the Scope – Finally

A different project took priority last Spring. That was followed by another one. So, 1 year later, I’m finding how much I’ve forgotten since then.

The mechanical stage was great – while it lasted. The Y axis got frozen in place and would not move. Since it wasn’t expensive, I just bought another one that froze the same way. Amscope sent me a replacement at no charge, but it, too froze in the same way. I gave up.

Then putting the original stage clips back, one of the screws cross-threaded.  It sort of works.

I’ve been able to achieve polarization with help from a video on Microbe Hunter where he adapted a microscope similar to mine. Upgrade to polarization I tried to make a device like the one he made, but ended up using the simplest solution – lenses from 3D glasses.

I’m in the relearning stage.

Update – Making Progress

Technique and skills are slowly improving. Most of the time I can apply a stain without making a big mess. I’m still taking pics of everything because looking at them all - whether good or bad – helps me learn. Remembering to adjust the diaphragm is still an issue. Need to post a note to myself.

Still getting most of my specimens from the kitchen. Viewing leaves and stem sections from vegetables. Focusing the 40x objective is often a problem when the lens is up against the cover slip. I don’t know if there’s a solution, but I’ll keep trying.

Mite in  old Bisquick

One of my kitchen specimens came when I opened an old container of Bisquick and found a layer of gunk on top. Found a mite when I took a sample

Fruit Fly Wing

Fruit fly is another interesting specimen.

Hibiscus Ovary

Hibiscus dissection was fun. Internet info gave me a flower diagram and the steps for the dissection.

A bonus came from the ghost ants on the bloom I cut.  Made a quick improvised killing jar.

Ghost Ant
Typically <5mm head to tail

The small handheld microscope is especially useful for thick specimens like an ant because it is overhead illumination.  Illumination from under the specimen shows only the silhouette.

I’ve played around with polarization with mixed results. My scope does not have a place to put a filter, so I’ve tried various methods of placing the filters. Polarizing film tends to have minute scratches – but maybe that’s because I bought cheap film. I also bought 2 round acrylic filters but haven’t found the best way to position the bottom one.

Latest acquisition is a mechanical stage which makes life much easier. I can make tiny moves to the specimen. Trying to adjust by hand, it was almost impossible to make fine adjustments.

My plan is for a quarterly summary with the best/most interesting pics. I photograph almost every specimen with all objectives and with stains. These are all documented in my log, but I want to highlight the ones that I especially like.  For the first quarter I created a PowerPoint presentation and then exported that to an MP4 file in order to send it to others. Here’s the first one.

Continuing Education

Still doing experiments from beginner’s books. Every one teaches me something.

The best beginner’s book I’ve found is Adventures With a Microscope by Richard

Headstrom originally published in 1941. It was written for intelligent children Explanations are detailed, extensive, and very clearly written.

It is interesting to read his list of useful supplies; especially the recommended chemicals and reagents. Many of the things that were readily available at the time are now restricted and/or completely unavailable to the amateur: Chloroform.   Ether.   Sulfuric Acid.  Caustic Potash.  (As a side note, I was able to get sulfuric acid from a pharmacy for use in a high school physics experiment as late as 1959.)

Much of my education is coming from the internet. http://www.microbehunter.com/ is a wonderful resource. Oliver Kim has a large selection of instructional videos and articles. He is an excellent teacher. There’s also a wide-ranging forum that has a section especially for beginners.  I’ve learned a lot form the very helpful forum members.

www.microscopy-uk.org.uk is another helpful site, but I’ve found many broken links in the learning section.

www.ibiology.org offers courses including both a long and a short microscopy course.

www.microscopeworld.com is another very helpful site.

Facebook has an Amateur Microscopy group whose members mostly post photos.  Some of the more spectacular photos are an inspiration for some experiments to be discussed later.