Amoebas Seen With Phase Contrast

Phase Contrast microscopy uses a Phase Condenser and Phase objectives to first turn light waves 1/4 wave out of phase before the light gets to the slide on the microscope. Then when the light leaves the slide and passes through the microbe and up into the phase objective lens, it is twisted back by that 1/4 wave, minus what impacting the microbe on the slide you want to look at has turned it. And what you see is enhanced images of the subject on the slide, which highlights all the almost invisible microbes that have very little structure and are almost as clear as glass or water they are in. In short, it allows you to see and photograph things you could not see with a normal brightfield microscope, and see them in much sharper detail.

OK, enough talk, here's the real thing.

1. The next four shots are of an amoeba on a slide who is about to meet his maker. One down side to phase contrast work is that the slide and converslip have to be as close together as possible, leaving less water and room for the bugs, hence, the water evaporates faster, inside and outside of the bug.

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great, don't see these often. 4 is my favorite

Thanks Rick. Amoebas are why I bought my microscope. They have always interested me, and now I have the time to study them. This new equipment makes the details pop out now though.

interesting sequence

Thanks for looking Toby. This lighting effect makes everything look different, and just when I was getting use to the normal look.

Fascinating stuff.

Thanks Gator. My Phase Contrast equipment just all came together this week. The last parts came on Tuesday, the lenses. They make it all possible. now I hope to learn how to use it to it's best and post some really cool images.

Interesting shots !
Brian v.

Really interesting shots. I love the fact that you can capture a world I would otherwise not get to see.

Great work.

Would you post a picture of your microscope with phase contrast setup?

Thanks Brian and Bas. Phas contrast has already opened upa new vista to the hobby.

Qbx, I will have to get a few shots in a couple hours, then I will post them.

Qbx, here are some images of the Nikon Phase Condenser unmounted and mounted on the scope.

1. From it's left side. The part to the right in the image attaches to an up/down adjuster gear that brings the top lens up closer under the slide, or drops it down further from it, to adjust the light.