MICSCAPE - Exploring the miniature world

Issue 311 : February 2022 (ISSN 1365 - 070x)      Monthly, next issue March 13th 2022.


index.
The LOMO Biolam D1 set up to compare  standard phase with the rarer LOMO anoptral contrast outfit. Image by Stefano Barone.

 

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Micscape Editor:
David Walker
Email: micscape AT ntlworld DOT com

Please do not contact the above for image permissions. Each article contributor retains the copyright to their material so should be contacted directly via the link in the relevant article. Thank you.

Comments on Micscape and contributions welcomed.
Contributions: Any modern format welcomed i.e. pdf. doc/docx with embedded images, or html + jpegs.

Anoptral phase contrast applied to diatoms: a study by means of test diatoms on the advantages originally described by its discoverer Alvar Wilska, over the standard (positive) phase contrast - Stefano Barone (Italy) compares the results from the rare LOMO anoptral phase contrast outfit with the standard phase. PDF

Baker’s traveller’s microscope / Moginie traveller’s microscopes 5th edition - R. Jordan Kreindler (USA) shares an updated edition of his extensive illustrated survey. PDF

Microscopist moving on ... - Christian Autotte (Canada) shares his experiences of moving to a more rural Canadian home and setting up a new microscopy study area. PDF

Geometry of Nitzschia coarctata - Rob Kimmich (USA) studies the structure of this diatom frustule using a sequence of images at different focus planes. PDF

Microscopical exploration fourteen. A closer look at blood, fish and bone - James Stewart (UK) explores the ingredients of this fertilizer on the microscopical scale. PDF

Further adventures with a 3D printer & microscopy! Part 1 An attempt at EPI illumination without a dichroic mirror! - Steve Cuthbert (UK) describes and illustrates this project and with typical results. PDF

"Full speed, ahead, Mr. Sulu" - Richard L. Howey (USA) shares a further gallery of images manipulated with the filters in photo-editing software.

Woodlouse surprise - Anthony Thomas (Canada) explores this common crustacean. PDF

Lakes and meadows - Sawyer Winn (USA) shares images created by chemical stain evaporation.

Mother Nature as the ultimate terrorist and the consummate creator - Richard L. Howey (USA) shares an illustrated essay. (Note that some graphic medical images are used.)

Micscape Lite - contributors sharing their other interests

Reviving a latent interest in astronomy in a congested urban setting - David Walker (UK) shares his experiences and value of letting a DSLR camera with prime lenses to be the eyes with indoor comfort.

    In Focus: Brian Stevenson maintains an invaluable and extensive resource at microscopist.net on 'Historical Makers of Microscopes and Microscope Slides'. A recent addition is a biography of the relatively little known George A Clout, 1886 - 1976 noted for his slides of 'Podura Scales'.

    We are delighted to receive contributions small or large from microscopy enthusiasts whether a novice or expert. If you have an image, tip or article, why not share it, this magazine is what you make it!

     

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External links. Updated April 2020. Below are some of our favourites, which includes sites with extensive links and/or resources for the optical microscopy enthusiast.

External Microscopy forums: Places to discuss the hobby or to raise queries.
www.photomacrography.net
forums, galleries, articles on macroscopy and photomicrography.

groups.io (formerly Yahoo groups):
Amateur Microscopy
Diatom Forum
Microscopy as a hobby or profession
Wild Microscopes

Facebook groups:
Amateur Microscopy (>21000 members, very active). Also specialist groups e.g. for users of given maker's microscopes (e.g. Zeiss, Olympus, Wild, Vickers). Also try a Facebook Group search with keywords like microscope or microscopy to find these.

Other:
Microbe hunter the website ably run by Oliver Kim has built up a popular and valuable forum with help for both the beginner and more advanced user.

Listservers:
Algae-L
'Forum for marine, freshwater and terrestrial algae'. Access to Archives possible for non-subscribers.
Diatom-L 'Research on the diatom algae.' Access to Archives for subscribers only. Link was current March 2016. Many online diatom resources point to an outdated Indiana Univ. listserver. (With thanks to Rob Kimmich for the current link.)

Mikroskopie-Treff.de (Extensive German microscopy forum; some English categories.)
Mikrobiologische Vereinigung München e. V. Wide range of articles and resources in German.
Le Naturaliste French based forum and image gallery for micro / macro but open to non French speaking international contributors.

Other sites (also see Societies and Clubs page.)
Royal Microscopy Society Journal, 'infocus' and other resources for members and the community.
Quekett Microscopical Club Journal, Bulletin and meetings for members.
Light Microscopy Forum links and articles
Little Imp Publications public domain books collated by Steve Gill formerly on CD and now free on Micscape.
Mikroskop Museum German website with resources on microscopes / makers .
Molecular Expressions awesome optical microscopy resources
Dennis Kunkel's SEM images stunning images
Diatoms Ireland - resource site by Leszek Wolnik
Leitz museum an illustrated resource compiled by Robert Allen
Microbe hunter microscopy enthusiast website, forum and magazine edited by Oliver Kim
Microscopies online magazine and Forum for French speakers
Micrographia articles, projects for the enthusiast
Microscopy Today
journal with online archive
Modern Microscopy
online journal by McCrone Group
Fun Science Gallery projects, articles on optics in English and Italian.
Independent Generation of Research (IGoR) - Wiki style resource for citizen scientists to share their work.
Lens On Leeuwenhoek - extensive resource online by Douglas Anderson
Collected Letters of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek ('Alle de Brieven ..') transcribed and free online at DBNL.
A Cabinet of Curiosities a resource on Victorian microscope slides by Howard Lynk
Klaus Kemp's 'Diatoms' website - offers regional strews and arranged prepared slides of diatoms, an 8 form test slide, radiolaria, insect scales etc and prepares arranged slides on commission.
'Diatoms Ireland' resource by Leszek Wolnik
Historical makers of microscopes and microscope slides Brian Stevenson's extensive resource .
Victorian slide makers
Cambridge rocking microtome resources including manual
www.willemsmicroscope.com Dutch enthusiast Willem Cramer's website
David Jackson's Better Microscopy blog. Regularly updated free resources extending from his 'Better Microscopy' series of books.
Stefano Barone's Diatom Shop
sale of his own prepared and arranged slides of diatoms, radiolaria, forams and scales.
www.testslides.com website devoted to Stefano Barone's Diatom Lab test slides.
Darwin Biological a UK company for 'biological education' supplies. Including live cultures of protozoa and algae.
Microscopie van de Natuur Dutch microscopy resource site by Rolf Vossen.
 

Microscopy-UK
parent site coordinator:
Maurice Smith


Microscopy-UK and Micscape - established 1995
Micscape is a free magazine for enthusiasts funded by Microscopy-UK and dedicated to non-commercial microscopy.
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