[meteorite-list] [?? Probable Spam] question on using a macro flash ring forphotgraphing meteorites

From: Glenn Skinner <lostbowyer_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:54:21 -0400
Message-ID: <d9cd52f10910131554n7f148eccn2693f4bc13e6e3ef_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Werner

I'll let you know how I make out if I decide to try a macro ring, they
say the macro ring works really well for forensics and dental work, to
capture the fine detail of an object in natural light. Only draw back
i've read is some of the cheaper units tend to over flash so you need
a camera that can compromise.

I do have a traditional light box with three lights, and on my "baby"
camera I have a copy board with 2600w of balanced lighting, but the
problem I run into is my camera is wide field fixed lens, to get a
good image, I need to be a couple of cm from the object, at that point
the lense tends to shade the whole object.

I do have a Celestron 44340 Digital Microscope, it works very well,
but the focus is very narrow, if viewing a thin section or a flat
slice it works great but give it a curvature and a lot of the image is
out of focus, if I could go a bit lower on the power it would be
better, but I can't

Glenn Skinner

On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 11:32 PM, W&S Schroer <schroer at bigpond.com> wrote:
> Hi Glenn,
> I have exactly the same problem and I wonder too whether a flash ring is the
> way to go. I've bought a so called 'light box' with 3 fluorescent lights
> (circular light rings) which is ok for general work. But when it comes to
> close up photos there is simply not enough light even if I arrange all three
> rings to sit on top of each other allowing at least 60% of the light of each
> individual ring to get through to the meteorite. Even the flash on the
> camera doesn't add enough light, it mainly alters the colours and is
> therefore pretty useless.
>
> I've been thinking about buying the LOMO SF-100 microscope(or MBC-10 as it
> is known too) and if I like it I will add the ring light illuminator plus
> the camera attachment at a later stage. Apparently, the microscope is very
> cheap compared to similar products and of excellent quality except for a few
> minor issues. It's the add-ons that are very expensive but according to the
> reviews I've read, you have to spend between $3000-$6000 on a similar
> microscope of that quality and you therefore save a lot of money despite
> those expensive add-ons.
>
> I live in the Outback of Australia and the nearest shop that sells products
> like these, is some 350 miles away. I therefore have to rely on other
> people's opinion and experiences and the only way of buying these products
> is via the internet, often enough on Ebay.
>
> I would be grateful if you could pass on to me any information you might get
> off list.
>
> Best regards
> Werner Schroer
Received on Tue 13 Oct 2009 06:54:21 PM PDT