Search found 25 matches

by Thomas Ashcraft
Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:17 pm
Forum: Community Members and Friends
Topic: How about a video through the microscope section?
Replies: 0
Views: 17583

How about a video through the microscope section?

Hi Forum folks. Good luck with the new formats as they develop and thank you for this forum. It provides a lot of good energy. I would love to see a "videography through the microscope" section unto itself. I think it would generate interesting contributions and advice sharing. Photography is great....
by Thomas Ashcraft
Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:49 am
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Is perfection too much to ask for?
Replies: 3
Views: 16733

Ken wrote: " .........even the tiniest specks of dust. It would drive me insane because I too am a stickler for perfection in optics and cleanliness in them. " Thanks for your replies Ken and Will, That's it....."tiniest specks"........ It's a hyper-dusty world at 1000x magnification for sure. Anywa...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Thu Jul 13, 2006 3:09 pm
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Is perfection too much to ask for?
Replies: 3
Views: 16733

Is perfection too much to ask for?

My problem : Tiny specks show in my videography at 400x and 1000x bright field and it's bugging me like crazy. :cry: I am making movies with a video webcam abutted atop a 10x widefield eyepiece on a trinocular microscope. No matter how fastidious I clean the glass.....I cannot seem to get it all abs...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:29 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope Gallery
Topic: Greetings from Microscope Mania Camp!
Replies: 2
Views: 14884

Re: Greetings from Microscope Mania Camp!

Hi Meadster,

I'm not sure what rotifer but hope you get some answers. Great idea...microscope camp. Lucky kids.

Have fun!

Tom
by Thomas Ashcraft
Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:25 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope Gallery
Topic: Microbe identification help please.
Replies: 10
Views: 25785

Hi Bernhard and Ken, Thanks for putting me on the right track. I think it is Astasia. I googled Astasia and came up with a couple of movies and some further information. http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Movies/MDB1/0001/D/025.mov In this movie the specimen sort of cortorts and I saw my specimen do this ...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:17 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope Gallery
Topic: Microbe identification help please.
Replies: 10
Views: 25785

Microbe identification help please.

Hi. I am unable to identify this particular microbe collected from my rain barrel in north central New Mexico. I have been through all the specimen images at the fine micro*scope website repository and there are a few candidates but without motion and behaviour characteristics the id has been unsucc...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:18 am
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Rotifer darkfield test movies in DivX mode
Replies: 3
Views: 16457

Rik wrote: I looked at all your movies. The sharpness seems OK to me, but the movies are pretty dark and I think this is degrading the detail that I can see. ........ I don't know cheap software to make this correction after capture. Does your setup allow to adjust brightness and contrast during the...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:17 am
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Rotifer darkfield test movies in DivX mode
Replies: 3
Views: 16457

Rotifer darkfield test movies in DivX mode

I have posted some short test movies of Rotifer activities shot in darkfield with a Meiji microscope and a Logitech quickcam 4000 camera. http://www.heliotown.com/Rotifer_Movies_divx.html I think my Meiji optics are quite fine but my darkfield movies seem to me to be a little soft for my own tastes....
by Thomas Ashcraft
Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:15 am
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Videomicroscopy using still cameras in movie-mode?
Replies: 3
Views: 16331

Rene wrote: "I've found the brightness uneven between images, 'flickering' and was told that this was because of the 50Hz cycling of the lamp. Further then that, ok." Rene, What camera model have you used? I can see that there could be a conflict with a frame per second rate and illuminator/rheostat...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:31 pm
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Videomicroscopy using still cameras in movie-mode?
Replies: 3
Views: 16331

Videomicroscopy using still cameras in movie-mode?

I am very impressed with Ralf's Hydra video which he made using a Canon powershot camera in movie-mode. I haven't seen much written about using snapshot cameras in movie-mode to do videomicroscopy. For example, a Canon Powershot S3 IS 6MP Digital Camera can make a movie at 60 fps QVGA (320 x 240). T...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Sun Jun 18, 2006 10:40 am
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope Gallery
Topic: Hydra in a video
Replies: 7
Views: 21696

Ralf wrote: "I use a CANON Powershot A85 camera both for recording the videos and the fotos. No special software for recording the video, just the camera. " Hi again Ralf, You have a very fine collection of specimens on your website. Nice! It looks like your Canon Powershot A85 is capable of good an...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Sat Jun 17, 2006 4:09 pm
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope Gallery
Topic: Hydra in a video
Replies: 7
Views: 21696

Ralf,

That's a very fine video! Thanks for sharing it.

I am wondering what video camera and software system you are using? It seems to capture a rich and deep black background very well. Any details appreciated.

Thomas Ashcraft
by Thomas Ashcraft
Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:50 pm
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Proper darkfield microscopy?
Replies: 7
Views: 23631

[Steve wrote: "You might consider an AO Spencer Series 10 (infinity corrected), or an AO series 4 .......But, if you want an excellent alternative, Nightingale microscopes has Leitz SM's Phase scopes for $1400. Refurbed to new. " ) Steve, Thank you for your considerable advice. It is highly apprecia...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:13 pm
Forum: Photography Through the Microscope Gallery
Topic: The Bdelloidea Rotifers.... practicing miniature soccer ??
Replies: 2
Views: 14307

The Bdelloidea Rotifers.... practicing miniature soccer ??

June 12, 2006 ( world cup soccer time ) Greetings. I may have possibly happened upon some Bdelloidea Rotifers practicing some form of miniature soccer. Not sure. . :-k I posted a couple of short movies at: http://www.heliotown.com/Rotifer_Soccer.html In the midst of the incredible photo quality in t...
by Thomas Ashcraft
Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:41 am
Forum: Macro and Micro Technique and Technical Discussions
Topic: Proper darkfield microscopy?
Replies: 7
Views: 23631

Steve wrote: " Work with what you have -- a good phase condenser (pancake, turret style would be the best) will be very versatile." Steve, Thanks again for your input. It is very helpful. Right now I am working with an old ( 1930s maybe ) Spencer Buffalo microscope that has seen its day but is still...