This
page is always under construction
Last
edit: 14 May 2010
Live
Microscope Webcam
Live
video
Please
wait a few
moments for your mediaplayer to start automatically.
This webcam is not continuously available for 24 hours a
day. Best
chances are between 12.00 and 00.00
(GMT +1).
Sometimes you will see a pre-recorded stream instead.
Enjoy!
Water
from a pond
- Framerate:
25 frames/sec.
- Bitrate:
1024
Kbps.
- Resolution: 320 x 240.
- Enlargement: Mostly ca. 1000x or 6000x (on
17" monitor fullscreen).
Pictures
Pre-recorded
videos
p-faqs
(
presumably
frequently asked questions )
What microscope do
you use?
An optical
microscope (see picture at the beginning of this page).
My parents bought it for me, my brothers and sister 25 years ago for
about f 600,- (ca. 275 euro).
Possible enlargements of the microscope: 30x, 50x, 60x, 75x, 100x,
150x, 360x, 600x, 900x. Generally, I will use 60x and 360x which seem
most
suitable.
With my camera on max. zoom (10x) and a 17"monitor (fullscreen), the
total enlargement appears to be about 1000x resp. 6000x.
Which webcam do you
use?
A (non-digital) Hi-8
Sony ccd-tr2000 camcorder, which is connected to my
computer with an 's-video'-cable.
How do you place
the camcorder?
I use a stand where
the camcorder is placed in. The camcorder is placed directly above the
microscope.
How do you adjust
all this? Good question!
I do not
remove the ocular from the microscope nor the camera lens. I maximum
zoom my camera (10x).
The focus and exposure are set by hand.
How fast is the
drop of water under the microscope vapourizing?
Normally I would
need to replace the slice every 30 minutes. However, I use some
(silicon) grease on the edges of the slice.
Now I need to replace the slice about once a week.
Are you always
behind the microscope to adjust the settings?
As you probably
expected, I am not, because i have a life too :-). That's one of the
reasons why you will not always see much of interest (although you can
be lucky). Therefore the video images can be unsharp sometimes.
Regularly I
will try to check wether I have to adjust some settings or look for a
different object.
Most organismen move (sometimes very fast) so they get out of sight.
Once in a while I will try to follow one.
Why is your camera
sometimes so restless focussing and zooming?
Unfortunately, a
while ago my
camera got some serious defects .
Now I can't adjust the camera manually anymore, so it is automatically
focussing and zooming.
Is this your
profession?
No, it is only an
hobby. Therefore usually I wouldn't be able to tell you what you are
looking at, or what is happening. Unless you are a professional,
I am probably (often) as surpised as you are.
blog:
- 11 April 2010: Webpage started .
- 15 April 2010: Guestbook added. Chatroom added.
- 23 April 2010: Some pictures and pre-recorded videos added.
- 28 April 2010: Background music added.
- 02 May 2010: Youtube video links added.
- 11 May 2010: It seems that the live stream is not reaching this
webpage.
I'll try to fix this as soon as possible.
- 13 May 2010: Live stream fixed.
Disclaimer:
If:
- you forget to watch your favourite baseballgame;
- you get addicted;
- you forget to do your homework;
- your food burns or your house and you forget to extinguish;
- you buy a microscope that you can't afford;
etc. etc...
please don't blame me. I cannot be held responsible for any physical,
mental, financial or whatever harm this page can do to you directly or
indirectly.
.
Now I can't adjust the camera manually anymore, so it is automatically
focussing and zooming.
.
