Question: Microscope not focusing right

Meculus is asking a question about microscope
Follow this topic

by Meculus | January 05, 2020 14:47 | #22219


So I have a microscope(the one with the webcam and all the bolts), and I followed all the instructions (flipping the lens and setting it up) and the result was that I got a blurry image with some specks on it that sometimes come into focus, but nothing else will come into focus and all that happens is that I can see the light if I shine it on the lens. Are there mistakes that I have made? How can I fix them?



5 Comments

Hi! focusing can be tough, but if you're occasionally getting things into focus you're doing well. The lens needs to be right up near the slide, almost touching. And a good easy sample is best to start with. Could you look at something very flat, like a bit of moist onion skin? Try dying it with a little bit of beet juice or food coloring to make it more visible!

Sand is also good to look at. Try looking at some of these examples!





https://publiclab.org/tag/microbrews

Is this a question? Click here to post it to the Questions page.

Reply to this comment...


I can get it to focus somewhat, but with an onion skin (the main thing I tried), and try to focus as much as I can, it just looks like this:

Movie_on_1-21-20_at_5.37_PM.mov

Hi, @Meculus and @macapola - the other element that may be causing trouble is the light. If you are right up against the slide, almost touching, that's a good start, but also be sure that your light source is a single point, not ambient or multiple LEDs, and try using it in a dark room.

Also try holding the light steadily at different distances above your sample, which may help as well. I hope this helps! Focusing and lighting at high magnifications can be tough!


Reply to this comment...


HI! I have the same problem, did you find any solutions?

Is this a question? Click here to post it to the Questions page.

Hi Macapola, thanks for posting. Just adding in the photo of your setup. 20200129_183222_(1).jpg

Can you share a video of what you're seeing similar to what Meculus shared?

Is this a question? Click here to post it to the Questions page.


Reply to this comment...


Log in to comment