I have a new hobby....

[Doc]

I recently bought a microscope, it's a Leitz SM-Lux made in the mid seventies I would guess. It's got Brightfield, Darkfield, and phase contrast objectives. I'll take some photos of the scope later but here is a few videos on youtube and a few pictures.

 

https://youtu.be/OF0Gednfy6w

 

https://youtu.be/VF9wVvf0QZA

 

https://youtu.be/xF9NyvRH6KE

 

https://youtu.be/pAZpEvO2920

 

https://youtu.be/8nmH_8f4G-Y

 

I think this is a Rotifer

 

 

 

 

 

I think this is a Diatom

 

 

 

 

[+RonC]

Great photo's Mick, what sort of magnification are you using? 

[Doc]

Hi Ron

 

They are taken in phase contrast either 100x or 400x

 

Focusing is a knack and will take some getting used to. As they swim they keep going in and out of focus.

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by Doc

[+Bino-viewer]

I had one as a boy, and enjoyed it a lot, and it sparked my interest in telescopes and binoculars. Anything that magnified something 

was a fascination to me.

 

Looking back at those days i remembered one of my favourite microscope views. A simple snowflake. But under a microscope it was amazing.....☺️

[Doc]

Snowflake is o my list Rob.

 

If it ever snows in Nottingham

[+bryand]

I added a rotating polariser to mine and use it for looking at geological thin sections.

[Doc]

Good idea Bryand

[philjay]

Nice one Mick. I,ve had quite a few microscopes over the years, with my business, mainly vintage and antique plus collections of slides from various ages. My favourite was a 1930s Watson in brass and black with micrometer stage, it came with 100 slides in a mahogany collectors case. I played with that one for awhile before it sold.

 

 

[+Derbyshire Dave]

Really interesting Mick, and great shots. Never had a go at anything like this. How do you prepare the slides.... and where did you get your subjects from?

[Doc]

I'm no expert guys I'm not even a beginner 😄

 

I bought a pack of slides and cover slips from AMscope. So far I have only gathered moss from between the paving slabs and moldy leaves from the garden. All you do is place these in some water to wash of all the critters that frequent this hidden world and with a pipette suck a little bit up and place on the slide. Then you gently place the cover slip over the water trying not to get any air bubbles.

 

Believe me when I say that you will be astonished at the amount of life you see in that little drop of dirty water. I have seen tartigrades, Rotifers, Cillates, Diatoms etc etc.

 

Next will be to visit my local dragonfly pond and see whats there lurking in the pond.

 

I'm also going to try some body fluids such as blood. Then you have salt, sugar, paracetamol, etc, the list is endless.

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by Doc

[+Derbyshire Dave]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

I'm no expert guys I'm not even a beginner 😄

 

I bought a pack of slides and cover slips from AMscope. So far I have only gathered moss from between the paving slabs and moldy leaves from the garden. All you do is place these in some water to wash of all the critters that frequent this hidden world and with a pipette suck a little bit up and place on the slide. Then you gently place the cover slip over the water trying not to get any air bubbles.

 

Believe me when I say that you will be astonished at the amount of life you see in that little drop of dirty water. I have seen tartigrades, Rotifers, Cillates, Diatoms etc etc.

 

Next will be to visit my local dragonfly pond and see whats there lurking in the pond.

 

I'm also going to try some body fluids such as blood. Then you have salt, sugar, paracetamol, etc, the list is endless.

 

 

 

Careful with them body fluids Mick! 😂