New Filters for Microscopy by Richard (powerband4ever)

Dear all, Im testing this new patch filters made by my friend Richard that sells it on ebay as powerband4ever. The results are amazing and goes from Darkfield effect to Phase Contrast. There are 2 groups of 9 filters: Group 1 has 9 filters with similar Phase Contrast effect and Group 2 with Darkfield effect. Each objective will give a different effect for each filter so I did a couple tests for each filter and with different objectives, some with Phase Contrast rings to compare with ones without.

Microscope AMSCOPE (just normal and not expensive one) with normal Condenser 1.25
Camera Panasonic Lumix DC-GX800 with Panasonic adapter and small extension tube, attached to trinocular head with camera adapter of 9.6x (similar view/size image of a normal 10x eyepiece).

Pictures were all edited in Photoshop in the same way:
Open in Camera Raw
Auto (tune)
Open
Auto Contrast
Unsharp Mask 50/2.0/7
Image Size 1600x1201 at 180ppi
Save As .jpg Quality 10 (size around 800Kb to 1Mb)

General view of the  AMSCOPE microscope

Camera Lumix with adapter, small extension and 9.6x eyepiece

First group filters numbered from 1 to 9

Second group of filters numbered from 1A to 8A (theres a filter missing here)

So lets start, first test with objective Kyowa 10x Ph-DM A10/0.25 160/- (Phase Contrast)

First 2 pictures just with the 1.25 condenser at Brightfield and no filters

Condenser top / Diaphragm open / ISO100

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / ISO100

The next pictures are with the 1st group of filter (1 to 9)

Condenser bit down / Diaphragm open / Filter 1

Condenser bit down / Diaphragm open / Filter 2

Condenser bit down / Diaphragm open / Filter 3

Condenser bit down / Diaphragm open / Filter 4

Condenser bit down / Diaphragm open / Filter 5

Condenser down / Diaphragm closed / Filter 6

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 6

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 7

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 8

Condenser down / Diaphragm closed / Filter 9

Notice that the position of the condenser was adjusted sometimes and also the diaphragm for better image results.

The results with filter 1 and 3 were amazing and very similar to Phase Contrast!!! And the filter 4 and 5 also very good and similar to Darkfield.

Probably from 6 to 9 would get better results without the hole in the centre but that can be closed with bit of tape so will try to do tests that way.

The next pictures are with the 2nd group of filter (1A to 8A)

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 1A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 1A

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 2A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 2A

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 3A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 3A

Condenser top / Diaphragm open / Filter 4A

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 4A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 4A

Condenser top / Diaphragm open / Filter 5A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 5A

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 6A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 6A

Condenser top / Diaphragm open / Filter 7A

Condenser top / Diaphragm closed / Filter 7A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 7A

Condenser down / Diaphragm closed / Filter 7A

Condenser top / Diaphragm open / Filter 8A

Condenser down / Diaphragm open / Filter 8A

This 8 filters are patches for Darkfield effect. Nevertheless filter 4A gave a very nice blue effect with good contrast and image quality. Notice that with this filters the condenser down always gives better results.

I have done more tests with other lenses non Phase Contrast with also very good results so will post here soon!