Dark field condenser

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

That was very impressive indeed. Dark field condensers, objectives and lamps are incredibly expensive?? It WORKS! Well done. I have both a stereo and compound scopes. I never knew this worked on a stereo scope!

[@billstevens9461]

THANK YOU! Excellent DIY modifications. Greatly appreciate your ingenuity, competence and economical creative solutions.

[@Trylobyte]

Very impressive! I will give it a go if I can find some of that ice cream. Thanks for posting this video, it's clear and easy to follow

[@stevecuthbert8748]

Excellent idea Clive, this would make an ideal project for a 3D printer!. I could imagine making the patch setup modular so many sizes could be used depending on the zoom scope setting and the ‘jar’ could be made of pla and coated inside with foil. Thanks

[@clivebagshaw2805]

True - but in the spirit of sustainability I hunted around for different sized soda cans!

[@bendirval3612]

Kind of amazing.

[@Darksagan]

Nice. I have the same microscope.

[@hellishnickolas6981]

Nice 👍

[@branislav990]

Can this work on zoom stereo microscopes? I am asking because of the diameters of the hole and the patch. Is there a way to make it work when the magnification and the focal length are constantly changing?

[@clivebagshaw2805]

Not optimally, but you might get away with 2 or 3 condensers for low, medium and high zoom settings

[@madmax4860]

Why use the black tape and foil instead of just gluing the penny onto the clear film? The penny will block the light and also reflect it. Paint the top of the penny black with a permanent marker to avoid unwanted reflections... this way there's no need to try and cut perfectly round pieces of electrical tape.

[@clivebagshaw2805]

Could do - but depending on the numerical aperture and working distance of the objective lens, a penny might not be quite the right size. Also with a stereo microscope, an optimal patch needs to be more oval than round to accommodate the spacing between the objective lenses. Finally it is, or at least used to be, an offence to deface the Queens face on a coin in the UK (penny squashing machines were illegal!)

[@theglobalwarming6081]

My introductory microscope has a frosted condenser lens. Previous microscopes I delt with were not frosted. Would darkfield still be possible?

[@clivebagshaw2805]

No, it will scatter light and override the dark field effect. I also across a microscope with a frosted element in the condenser - it looks like it could be temporarily removed but as the microscope was not mine I did not try it