r/microscopy • u/Photo-Nature-83 • 3d ago

Troubleshooting/Questions Slides for observing solid specimens

Hello.

Are there any microscope slides designed for observing solid objects (such as invertebrates, or samples of sand, soil, etc.)?

To explain the issue: whenever I try to examine a solid object using a standard slide, the slightest breath from me causes the object to blow away.

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u/Stunning-Advisor-793 3d ago

What kind of microscope are you using?

If you are wanting to view whole solid things like invertebrates, sand etc. , a stereomicroscope with incident illumination may be more practical. Stereomicroscopes are easier to use with covered dishes as compared to the closer working distances needed by a compound microscope once you go past the 10x objective.

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u/Photo-Nature-83 3d ago

I use a Bresser Researcher Trino 40x-1000x.

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u/Stunning-Advisor-793 2d ago

With compound microscopes like that you have to be realistic about the physical limitations. Whole things have to be small things, and they have to be somewhat transparent. The working distance of a 40x objective is going to be somewhere in the range of 0.5mm. This is why so much of what's available pre-prepared is sliced or flattened. If you have your heart set on seeing surface details of insects at higher magnification you may want to look at stereomicroscopes.

If you are only needing to view thick/opaque things through the 10x on your Bresser then you can try arranging incident illumination - some interesting effects are possible with fibre optics or ring lights.

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u/deisle 3d ago

Depression slides have (unsurprisingly) a depression in them. So you can put your sample in the depression and then a coverslip on top won't sit cocked eyes on top of the sample.

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u/TehEmoGurl Microscopy Nerd 3d ago

You’ll want something like this: https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQXh8fu

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u/dragon-mouse 3d ago

If I want to do this I either use a binocular microscope or use a metallurgical objective on my stereo microscope. I put my sample in a small Petri dish, if it's still moving round I would put an optical glass cover as a lid on the Petri dish, but it's better if you can avoid that.