Recommend a microscope for capturing dslr images please

[shawngibson]

<p>So much new terminology. I'd never heard of 'objectives' before.</p>

<p>Microscope and slides should arrive this week. Probably best if I refrain until I've put a specimen on the microscope and project it onto a screen from there.</p>

<p>I hope there's a Tardigade in the slides; for that matter, I hope to see a Tardigrade and a Hydra, live, someday....on the same slide, moving...</p>

[Rick Bortnick]

<p>You will....<br>

Tardigrades.... get some moss soak with a little water & squeeze. Often works for me :)</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>>>Those slides can be bought, but are not cheap. Know anyone in high school or taking college biology.</p>

<p>I've been looking online but am not having any luck. Any suggested website? I don't know any students:(</p>

<p>Microscope arrived, but still waiting for slides.</p>

<p>I've also been trying to find a walk-in store in Toronto for microscope supplies...again not having much luck. Maybe I need to try and find a U of T professor to give me some local guidance...over a beer or two:)</p>

<p>It seems staining will be important for my own specimens. And a darkfield condenser:</p>

<p>http://www.amazon.com/OMAX-Darkfield-Condenser-Biological-Microscopes/dp/B0084F8SFM#customerReviews</p>

<p>And I'm not sure, but I think I found a 1x condenser that will allow me to view a cockroach?</p>

<p>http://store.usascopes.com/acoble.html</p>

<p>It's the "1X Plan Achromatic Objective Len" but I have no idea if it will fit the microscope I bought, above.</p>

<p>Finally, IF I can fit a cockroach (ant, isopod, teeny weeny fish) into the above-modified config, would I be able to use this (link below) to see the way I'm used to (i.e. like a photoshoot lol)?</p>

<p>http://www.amazon.com/AmScope-LED-6W-Powerful-Gooseneck-Illuminator/dp/B007LBELH4/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1441924832&sr=1-1&keywords=microscope+light<br /> Very frustrating to be starting on a brand new path. I feel so dumb lol!</p>

<p>Shawn</p>

<p> </p>

[Edwin Barkdoll]

<p>1x objective, not a condensor.</p>

<p>It will probably "fit". Most objectives are RMS thread mount these day and both fit a 160mm tube length.</p>

<p>This will still give you 10x total mag which may be too much for a whole cockroach but not its foot!</p>

<p>The illuminator seems like an ok place to start.</p>

<p>The 1x objective will give you decent working distance for lighting and a slide with a tardigrade on it.</p>

<p>You can prepare your own cheapie slides - get a box of slides and cover slips from a biological supply house and "mount" what you want e.g. a gnats wing in a medium like a drop of clear nail polish and position the cover slip, let dry. Watch out for bubbles and don't use too much nail polish.</p>

<p>Experiment.</p><div></div>

[shawngibson]

<p>Thanks Edwin. May I ask what the magnification is in your mosquito image?</p>

<p>How would an image like this (link below) be created? It looks like someone took a slice of a bee, since it's transparent and seems "sectional". My brain thinks, freeze a bee and use a Star Wars laser to cut a thin slice...clearly above my knowledge lol.</p>

<p>http://www.microscope-microscope.org/gallery/Ingram/Images/art_honeybee-L.jpg</p>

 

[shawngibson]

<p>Another question, more about biology than microscopy. I know there are some organisms that are considered the 'standard'' i.e. fruit flies and mice. What is that called, and what are some of the other 'standards'? Across metazoan phyla, what do scientists typically work on? I assume this has to do with abundance, ability to work in a lab, and how quickly generation occurs. What is the term I'm looking for, in order to buy specimens across phyla so I can look at them in my microscope? </p>

<p> </p>

[Edwin Barkdoll]

<p>I don't know about the "bee" but it looks like it was "squashed" between coverslip and slide and perhaps cleared with KOH or lactic acid.</p>

<p>I wouldn't worry about sectioning yet. Familiarize yourself with your scope first, try some stains etc.</p>

<p>In the animal kingdom (metazoans, basically) there are many common subject, depending on what is studied. Ones that come to mind in addition to the two you mention include the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, various species of squid, the horseshoe crab, the lovely sea slugs (nudibranchs), rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Really varies with ones interest. Fruit flies, mice and C. elegans are great for certain genetic research but that hardly covers all of biology.</p>

<p>Im not sure what term you are looking for, perhaps "model organism"?</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>Sorry for the delayed response, I'm still waiting for my prepared slides, so as of yet I have nothing to look at lol.</p>

<p>Model organism is indeed the word I was looking for, thanks:)</p>

<p>I realize I'm a bit all-over-the-board here, but it appears that my desires require 2 different types of scope, i.e. one for macroscopic specimens (dead arthropods for the most part) and microscopic specimens.</p>

<p>Is there typically the ability to standardize on 'peripherals' (for want of a better term), when working with high mag and low mag microscopes? What I mean is, the high mag microscope I bought is this Omax:<br /> http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005LIG4RE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00</p>

<p>I'd be willing to purchase some variation of this (link below) low mag scope, on the assumption that some things will be interchangable, i.e. get one good quality digital camera setup:<br /> http://www.amazon.ca/OMAX-5X-10X-15X-20X-30X-60X-Digital-Binocular-Microscope/dp/B007M1X0K2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1442679518&sr=8-5&keywords=omax</p>

<p>I don't see the need in buying the usb camera with this, since I already have one, and will replace that with something better as funds allow, hopefully in a manner that will work with both microscopes.</p>

<p>I've done a lot of reading/youtubing, regarding staining, dark fields, light in general, and a whole bunch of other things. All of it is going in one ear and out the other right now because I have no ability to experiment/learn/create microscopic art until my prepped slides arrive.</p>

<p>As is usual with me, I'm putting the cart before the horse. Patience grasshopper specimen, patience...</p>

<p> </p>

[shawngibson]

<p>Just bought this as hopefully a low mag variation of the high mag microscope I already bought:</p>

<p>http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B004OPOA9E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00</p>

<p>So much to learn. I need to stop spending any more money now. Once all of this is in my hands, I can learn and ask legitimate questions while exploring.</p>

 

[Edwin Barkdoll]

<p>Re standardization: yes and no. It is certainly possible to use the same camera on different scopes. Some scopes have incorporated camera/video ports which then require relatively simple connections to the camera. If they don't have a port there are often relatively inexpensive adapters which can either be attached directly to the ocular or can be inserted directly into the tube replacing the ocular. These adapters are sometimes interchangeable between scopes.</p>

<p>Get your scope, play around and see how it meets your needs/wants.</p>

[shawngibson]

<p>Good to know, thanks Edwin. And now...time for a laugh. I received my 100 Specimen Home Schooling microscope slides today. I opened the box and...it's 8 decorative glass roses. Yep. Ugh. Order mix-up, or someone is telling me it's time to get a little pastoral in my life...</p>

<p>Wonder what glass looks like at 40x?</p>

<p>LOL oopsie!</p>

[sebastianshaw]

There are many good microscopes out there. Take a look by yourself at the best digital microscope. Hope this will be helpful :)

[Ed_Ingold]

Focus stacking can work miracles with a microscope, just as it can for macro photography and landscapes. I use software called "Helicon Focus". I haven't personally used it with a microscope, but DPReview recently published a photo of moss, on a cellular level.

[DrBen]

Read this book first:

https://www.amazon.ca/Introduction-Digital-Photomicrography-Brian-Matsumoto/dp/1785003046/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1504454172&sr=1-10&keywords=photomicrography

 

Then read Matsumoto's comprehensive book:

https://www.amazon.ca/Practical-Digital-Photomicrography-Photography-Microscope/dp/1933952075/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1504454408&sr=1-12&keywords=photomicrography

 

Omax makes excellent compound trinocular microscopes for DSLR or USB captor to computer photography.