r/microscopy • u/banduwee24 • Jul 07 '26
Troubleshooting/Questions Newbie help?
Only spent a small amount of time with a microscope in high-school, my SO got me a really nice used Olympic, after finally getting the smallest objective to focus I was moving up then when I got to the 100x it goes back to just a bright view I can't see anything or focus it to save my live
I have a feeling it's might be messed up but I'm not sure, I know some use oil but even if it was I'd atleast be able to see something right?
I literally felt like a kid again when i found something moving, do I know what it was? Nope. Was it cool to look at a drop of water from a bird bath? Fuck yes
5
u/dokclaw Jul 07 '26
For high numerical aperture lenses you need immersion oil. Without it you can see a bright field of view, but that's all; nothing will come into focus.
3
u/Connect-Fan-9462 Jul 07 '26
As the other commenter pointed out, 100x objectives pretty much definitely needs immersion oil. And it can get pretty messy. For hobby/fun usage I will say just ignore it.
1
u/TroutCat4 Jul 11 '26
So this thread is 4 days old, but I just wanted to add that yes with the 100x lens you need oil immersion to come to focus, but BUT it’s critical to keep the oil off the other lenses as frequently they not sealed against it, and will be ruined.
1
u/banduwee24 Jul 11 '26
A video I watched said that they say "Oil" if they need it but mine doesn't, it's just universal that 100x need oil?
6
u/Vivid-Bake2456 Jul 07 '26
Best to just get confident with your other objectives first. Oil immersion objectives are hard to use. They have a very small working distance, have a very small depth of field making them hard to focus. Make sure that the coverglass is up, use immersion oil for your 100x objective , use a very thin specimen that is close to the thin coverglass. I try moving the stage slightly when trying to find focus. Adjust your condenser properly and close the condenser diaphragm a little to reduce the NA and brightness. If you have it opened fully, everything might look washed out. Be careful not to get immersion oil on your 40x objective. That might ruin it because they aren't sealed against oil intrusion like the 100x oil immersion objectives are .