Thursday, October 30, 2014

HD Digital Stereo Microscope Images

Stereo Microscope 10x 30x with HD camera
S2-TPHD Stereo Microscope
The Richter Optica S2-TPHD is a 10x / 30x stereo microscope with a high definition camera. Right now this microscope system is on closeout special and has been reduced by $200 to $799 with free shipping. This past week Microscope World captured some images with this specific setup. The LED ring light provides plenty of light and the camera captured some good images. The camera allows a live view on an LCD projector or monitor using the HDMI cable, or capture of 5 megapixel images to an SD card.


Stamp image under microscope
Postage stamp captured under the microscope at 10x magnification.

Steel under microscope at 10x
Steel Blade captured under microscope at 10x.

Printed Circuit board under microscope at 10x
Printed Circuit Board under microscope at 10x.


Plastic film at 10x under stereo microscope.
Plastic Film captured under microscope at 10x.

Monocot and dicot under microscope at 10x
Monocot & Dicot captured under microscope at 10x.

Postage stamp under microscope at 10x magnification.
Postage stamp under microscope at 10x.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Tuberculosis Viewed Under the Microscope

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs and it is spread through the air when people with an active TB infection cough or sneeze. Symptoms of TB include chronic cough, often with blood-tinged sputum, fever, night sweats and weight loss. Diagnosis of TB relies on radiology (chest X-Rays), as well as microscope examination. One -third of the world's population are thought to have been infected with TB with new infections occurring in about one percent of the population each year.

The microscope prepared slide of Tuberculosis used to capture the images below can be found in the Bacteriology Prepared Slide Kit.

TB under the microscope at 40x
Tuberculosis under the microscope, 40x magnification.
These images of TB were captured using the U2 digital microscope (5mp camera).

TB under the microscope at 100x magnification.
Tuberculosis under the microscope, 100x magnification.

TB under the microscope, 400x
Tuberculosis under the microscope, 400x magnification.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Spleen Under the Microscope

Just about all vertebrates have an organ called the "spleen". The spleen has a similar structure to a large lymph node and acts primarily as a blood filter. The spleen plays important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. The spleen removes old blood cells and holds a reserve of blood, which can be valuable in the case of shock. The spleen also synthesizes antibodies in its white pulp and removes antibody-coated bacteria and antibody-coated blood cells by way of blood and lymph node circulation.

Image courtesy US Government
The images below were captured under the U2 biological microscope using a microscope digital camera.

Spleen under microscope at 40x magnification.
Spleen captured under the microscope at 40x magnification.
Spleen under the microscope at 100x magnification.
Spleen captured under the microscope at 100x magnification.
Spleen captured under microscope at 400x.
Spleen captured under the microscope at 400x magnification.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Kids School Microscope Project Ideas

There are two types of microscopes you might find in your school, and each can be used to view different samples.

Student microscope
Student Biological Microscope F1

#1 - Biological Microscope

A biological microscope has light that shines up from beneath the stage directly through your sample and provides high magnification (40x, 100x, 400x). Samples are placed on a microscope slide and must be thin enough to allow light to pass through them. A cover slip is usually placed on top of the microscope slide.

Here are some great ideas of samples you can view with a biological student microscope.
  • Pond water (algae and bacteria, protozoans and other living organisms can be viewed).
  • Mold found on cheese such as Brie, Camembert or many other types of stinky cheese!
  • Hair - just a single strand of hair is all that is needed.
  • Cheek cells - use a Q-tip to scrape the inside of your mouth and place the sample on a slide.
  • Thinly sliced piece of an onion. Can you see any cells?
Stereo microscope for kids
Student stereo microscope with digital camera.

#2 Stereo Microscope

A student stereo microscope (or dissecting microscope) provides lower magnification (typically 10x - 40x) with light from above and/or below the sample. There is more room under a stereo microscope to place a larger sample such as a rock or plants.

Here are some great ideas of samples you can view in the classroom under a stereo microscope.
  • Dust, dirt and sand. The different grains and particles of sand and dirt are fun to view.
  • Textiles or fabric. What does the weave look like?
  • Printing text. What does a newspaper print look like compared to something you print from your computer?
  • Fruit and vegetables. Cut them thinly and then look at what you see under the microscope. Tomatoes, mushrooms and kiwi are all interesting to look at.
  • Coins and dollar bills.
  • Flowers and insects.
Insects under microscope.
Insect captured at 45x magnification.
Have fun with your microscope. If you capture any interesting images send us an email, we would love to see them!

Monday, October 6, 2014

Corn Seeds under the Microscope

Kernels of corn (or corn seeds) are used to make popcorn, feed animals, and make ethanol, among other uses. An average ear of corn contains 600 kernels on it.


The images below of a cross section of a corn seed were captured using a student biological microscope

Microscopy image of kernel of corn.
Corn seed captured under the microscope at 40x magnification.
The corn seed prepared microscope slide can be purchased as part of the Fruit and Flower Prepared Slide kit from Microscope World.

Microscope image of corn seed captured at 100x magnification.
Corn seed captured under the microscope at 100x magnification.
Corn seed captured under the microscope at 400x magnification.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Capturing Microscope Images through an Eyetube

Ever wonder how it might be possible to capture images through your microscope if you don't have a trinocular port? There actually is a solution to this problem.

Replacing high school microscope eyepiece with c-mount camera adapter
The images below were all captured with a student microscope by removing the eyepiece, replacing it with the Generic C-Mount Adapter (AMA050) and threading the microscope camera onto the c-mount adapter.
Generic microscope c-mount adapter
Generic C-Mount Adapter (AMA050)
microscope camera
Microscope Camera
Microscopy image of laryxn.
Larynx captured under the microscope.

Larynx under the microscope.
Larynx under the microscope.
The larynx microscope prepared slide is available for purchase as part of the Histology and Musculosketal Microscope Prepared Slide Kit.

Microscope Larynx Image
Larynx under the microscope.

Aphid captured under a biological microscope.
Aphid under the microscope.
Student microscope image of frog's blood.
Frog's blood under the microscope.
If you have any questions about how to attach a camera to your microscope, send us an email!