Cheap Photomicrographs
ziggy53
Super Moderators Posts: 24,135 moderator
What is cheap?
How about $8.00 USD and stuff that I already had?
The new microscope lens was $7.50 and I also used a black "Foamies" sheet at around 40 cents or so. Those were the main expenses.
Here's what it looks like all together:
... and a crop of just the micro lens on the end of a tube:
The inverted glass jar is holding a few sprinkles of salt. Here is a "stacked" image from the lens (from 3 original images.)
A link to the full-res image (1.5 MB file size):
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/186516872-D.jpg
This is an image of some of the pixels of a Mag 17" CRT monitor (the dot mask and phosphor dots), also shot with this lens:
The full res image is here (6.5 MB file size):
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/186517344-D.jpg
If there is enough interest, I will do a mini construction tutorial. Any takers?
How about $8.00 USD and stuff that I already had?
The new microscope lens was $7.50 and I also used a black "Foamies" sheet at around 40 cents or so. Those were the main expenses.
Here's what it looks like all together:
... and a crop of just the micro lens on the end of a tube:
The inverted glass jar is holding a few sprinkles of salt. Here is a "stacked" image from the lens (from 3 original images.)
A link to the full-res image (1.5 MB file size):
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/186516872-D.jpg
This is an image of some of the pixels of a Mag 17" CRT monitor (the dot mask and phosphor dots), also shot with this lens:
The full res image is here (6.5 MB file size):
http://ziggy53.smugmug.com/photos/186517344-D.jpg
If there is enough interest, I will do a mini construction tutorial. Any takers?
0
Comments
The abstract possibilities abound.
Thanks Llywellyn, I'm thinking on it.
Plus this is a "works in progress". Notice the blue rubber bands currently holding the tube onto the camera.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Has to be, right? Or at least an inverting ring to hold down the contacts? Otherwise the shutter wouldn't open...
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
Just the one lens, an Achromatic Objective. This basic setup should be adaptable to most cameras, maybe even Nikons.
Thanks Doc,
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This setup puts the 400-odd bucks I just paid for a 100mm macro into a perspective :-)
How on Earth did you focus this thing?
Do you mind sketching a dissection of your miracle tube!
What power objective lens did you use ?
Brian V.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
Thanks Nik! It's really a very simple project and I was surprised how quickly it came together (compared to some of my projects.)
Stay tuned.
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Hi Brian! That's the great part, you don't need much power using only an objective lens.
Most microscopes create a virtual image that requires our eye to observe. Using a camera body allows a "real" image to form and a much greater relative magnifications without the ocular/eyepiece. (I am betting you know this so I am explaining for everyone else.)
I was wondering about creating a more portable and inexpensive microscopic imagery apparatus for some time. This is just the latest in a line of experiments.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Wow Ziggy that is quite amazing
I like the shapes found in the salt.
Your quite the little Scientist aren't you
Thanks for sharing ....... Skippy
.
Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"
ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/
:skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
Thanks Skippy! I am planning to make this available to teachers as a free "how to" and yes, I love simple discovery and much of that has to do with science.
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Thanks Micheal. There is more to come so stick around.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
here is shot of RGB with reverse lens on my H5
It is really cool world out there
My Gallery
Thanks Awais! It's harder than it looks, isn't it.
BTW, I love what you did in:
http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=69223
(I just haven't posted there yet)
Best,
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
First the lens for the project:
http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/l1867d.html
It is indeed listed at $7.50, but since it's a "surplus" site, there is no way of knowing how many they have in stock. I have to assume when they're gone, they're gone.
Note that this objective is designed for the JIS microscope tubes, and a tube length of 170mm, slightly longer than the DIN specification of 160mm. In this case the JIS designed optics should be a slightly better choice in matching the tube I used.
The lens is also only rated at 4x, which is not a very high power, but trust me, you don't need anything higher for many interesting objects, and focus and exposure are greatly complicated by a higher power.
Tomorrow I'll have more on the tube that holds the lens, and why I chose it.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
To start, here is a US dime, shot with the 4x microscope objective, scaled for the Net but not cropped:
You can tell it is a fairly high magnification because little of the dime is showing.
A US dime is rather a nice target because it has about the same diameter as the vertical height of a crop 1.6 sensor. That means, if you fill the image top to bottom with a US dime, you are at a "true" macro for that system. (A US quarter is about right for a true macro on a full-frame 35mm based system.)
Here is a "true" 1:1 macro (close enough anyway) of the same dime with the approximate view of the 4x objective inside the yellow circle:
Here is a bunch of those circles, lined up to show approximately how many fit in the frame:
I think it is safe to say that this setup is producing images of approximately 7 to 7.5 times "true" macro for this system, or about 7:1 in macro terms.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Here are the basic instructions relating to the tube construction.
First are a couple of images showing the tube and lens, front-ward then rear-ward:
This is a view of the components of the tube and the lens itself:
The tube is simply a container that powdered drink mix comes in. Inside the container are 6 tubs of the powder, like the one in the foreground.
Strip off the label and you are left with a cap and a cylinder which is closed at one end. The length of the tube is just over 170mm, which is fine for my needs.
The closed end of the cylinder needs to have a hole drilled in it slightly smaller than the diameter of the lens. In this case a 3/4" spade bit worked great.
The inner surfaces of the tube need to be covered to reduce and control internal reflections and stray external light. I measured the length of the tube and cut a strip off of the black foamy sheet. Then I wrapped that around the tube and marked where it overlapped, cutting short because I needed the strip to fit the interior. You will need to measure and cut for the length and circumference of your tube. I used a rotary paper cutter to slice the sheets.
I also cut a piece the diameter of the inside of the tube and created a hole for the lens to poke through. This "donut" shaped piece should go into the tube first, then the piece which flocks the sides.
That's pretty much all there is to the tube. The lens is press fit and screwed into the end with the hole.
All that's left is mounting the tube to the camera, and that I am still working on.
Later,
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Thanks Nik.
Once I get an appropriate mount figured out, I'll share that too. I'm working on something to allow a fairly portable solution that doesn't weigh too much or become intrusive for the camera.
My thought right now is to use a camera body cap, punch out the middle to allow the image to pass and mount the tube directly to that.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
I was thinking of that, too. Body caps seem to be quite effective for such DIY projects :-)
Thanks for the tutorial.
It reminds me of days I worked with a microscope inspecting circuit boards for IBM. I think we looked at everything under those scopes. Check out an X-acto blade... razor sharp is not always a fine line. Amazing at the jagged edges. Cassette J-cards and CD inlays (inserts) are cool to look at - the dot colored printing.
Hmm.. Im not sure if you can see the pits on a CD with a microscope. You may need a stronger lens to see it. I don't know what they used to use at work, but you can see the pits if magnified high enough.
Rich
Alright, so I'm raising this thread from the dead. Well hey why not, Ziggy linked it to me today.
Planning on doing this DIY as soon as all the parts come in. Just for those wondering, that surplus site still has the lens he used and it is still just $7.50.
I also think that the body cap idea is Great for ataching it to the camera. I got a pack of 5 official canon body caps off ebay this afternoon.
The only thing I still need to pick up is the tube but I'm not worried as I can get that at any grocery store
This should be fun!
Ziggy, did you ever finish the project and attach the lens to something to make it easier to hook up/use?
Suprised I actually got the ebay order (body caps) before the non-ebay order
Would an alternative - for those ppl that have them - be to use extension tubes and a length of pipe insulation - to effect a good 'push fit' - without damaging the surface of the ext. tubes.
If can't get suitable dia insulation ... something that does a similar job - like loo roll / kitchen towel / foam plastic etc wrapped around a suitable dia former to match ext tube dia?
pp
btw - a similar setup
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2825
Flickr
I did Ziggy's project yesterday and I used a body cap to attach to the camera. It fit perfectly inside the tube, nice and tight too. Works great.
pp
Flickr
I'm so proud of you. These simple projects are so enabling and empowering, and you improved on the original.
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Pikchas?