sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is a face-on focused stacked image of a flower-eating weevil using a 10X microscope objective mounted on a 200mm macro lens as the optic for the camera.

Staging the small specimens at high magnifications has always been quite challenging for the slightest touch to get them into the desired view often moves them completely out of the view of the camera. I measure my time in cups of coffee and the cup is often empty before the job is done.

Although I enjoy my cups of coffee, I purchased a micrometer-controlled stage that has four micrometers that have fine movements of 0.01mm which allow me to move the specimen forward and back, left and right, up and down, and rotate it all without touching the specimen. The stage is commonly referred to as an XYZR positioning trimming stage. I used 3M automotive trim adhesion tape to attach it to the milling table that I use for rough specimen positioning.

I've attached a view of how I use it and a copy of the product description page showing it in more detail. Also, if you look closely, you will see the weevil mounted on the #000 mounting pin on the stage. There is a hole in the center of the rotating stage which I put a bit of plastine modeling clay that I stick the mounted specimen into.

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UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

You use your tools very well, Gary!

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Great shot Gary...

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Fantastic image!!!
Great piece of equip. and that clay sure works great, thanks for the tip awhile back.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

MosheR Loc: New York City

You don't go out and buy stuff just for the sake of owning more stuff, Gary, as so many on this forum who complain they don't really have the means to do so do. You see a challenge, determine what kind of equipment will help you overcome said challenge, mull it over, then purchase and, above all, UTILIZE it to its fullest.

The result, in this case, is simply one more truly amazing and eye popping photo. Keep 'em coming.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

That's some setup!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Mel, thanks ever so much for the kind words. I'm a DIY fellow whenever possible. I find that I learn more about what works and what does not, which is more important at times. I've been using (and will still use for lower magnifications) a $2.50 steel roller caster that I popped the bearing out of and set on top of the housing. I put a dab of Plasticine modeling clay on it to stick the pin-mounted specimen on and it provides orbiting with pitch and yaw. It's not fastened down so I manually place it "about" where it needs to go.

I set this orbiting stage on a $14 laboratory scissor jack to raise and lower it which is set on top of a $36 milling table which moves it all forward and back and left and right. All in all, a DIY solution for nearly every session for the past five years.

Using a 10X microscope objective posed new challenges for the field of view akin to looking at something closeup through a pinhole not being able to see the entire subject only to be made more difficult with a depth of field of 3.5 microns where everything is a blur except for a small area of focus. Attached is the first of the 415 images taken in the stack to show what I see on the viewfinder screen of the camera.

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kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Outstanding image. I guess great equipment can play a part in it.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great image and setup, Gary.

MosheR Loc: New York City

Amazing, Gary. And you have to do that one bit at a time for 415 steps till you get to the far end of the field. Lots of admiration, my friend.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Beautiful as usual Sippy. Do you use the XYZR table to move the specimen for the 100 + shots that make up the final image or do you use the motorized table?

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, UTMike. It may help save what bit of sanity I may have left.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Ron, thanks for stopping by.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Manglesphoto. I've been looking at them for quite some time. These came up for sale on VEVOR (tough tools half price) for $158.00 which is quite a bit less than others that I have searched for. I've bought from them before so I knew they were a reliable source.