sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Although sunny today, it's quite cold and well below freezing so it's a good day to avoid chores and to get some time in behind the camera.

This is a focus-stacked image of the mandibles of a black carpenter ant. It's my go-to session when I change up my rig for higher magnification sessions so that I can compare the new arrangement to those in the past which allows me to evaluate it.

I've attached an image of the staging of the specimen before the camera and an image that shows the configuration of the rig used to produce the image of the mandibles.

The optics used is a 10X power PLAN achromatic infinity microscope objective. Because infinity microscope objectives require a "tube lens" to function properly, I use a Raynox DCR-150 mounted in reversed configuration. The Raynox has a focal length of 208mm to focus to infinity so it must be extended and I do so with a bellows and a short section of an extension tube. I also use a short section of an extension tube so that the microscope objective does not mate against the glass of the Raynox.

The microscope objective has a bright chrome finish so I wrap it with crushed velvet so that the front of it does not reflect onto the subject. I use the vellum tracing paper "light tunnel" and two IKEA LED desk lamps to illuminate the subject (not shown) and the image of the staging shows the working distance between the tip of the objective and the mounted specimen.

The total camera travel for this session was 0.784mm in which 198 images were taken. The stack of images was processed in Zerene Stacker to produce the image of the mandibles.

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Longshadow. Just passing time on a very cold day.

JohnnyDW Loc: Richmond and Sunshine Valley British Columbia

Incredible, both the image and your elaborate setup. Very interesting.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Nice image. The Rayox is part of the automated Stacking system? I have not gone that high in magnification yet. Just camera lenses (including macro) bellows and or tubes. I have only done manual focus stacked images. I do have an old 1969 vintage Leitz Ortholux microscope but I have no idea what type objectives they are other than their Magnification. Thanks for posting.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

That’s quite a rig. Very cool shot.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Impressive, Gary!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Lamiaceae, thanks for dropping by. The Raynox DCR-150, as well as the DCR-250, are "magnifying lenses" that can be added to the end of the camera's lens to increase the amount of magnification. Many folks use them as a means of taking macro images without the need to buy a dedicated macro lens.

Infinity microscope objectives must be used in series with another lens that is focused on infinity. Some folks mount them on a zoom lens or a prime camera lens with a 200mm focal length. Other focal lengths will cause the rated magnification of the microscope objective to vary up or down. Others like me, use a separate lens such as the inexpensive Raynox for this requirement.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, JohnnyDW. Glad that you could stop by.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Tomfl101. It's quite a Frankenstein arrangement made up of vintage (meaning old) things that I got on eBay that I put together.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, UTMike. I appreciate your feedback.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Wow! That is one impressive setup. And a great image, too.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Kpmac. The entire setup (less the camera of course) is less expensive than a typical macro lens.

The 10X Plan Finite microscope objective is $40.00 https://amscope.com/products/pa10x-v300
A bellows can be had for $28.00 on Amazon
An adapter to go from camera mount to RMS thread for the objective to screw into is $15.00
The WeMacro digital motorized focus rail is $299.00.

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Remarkable!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks for the feedback, WDCash.