Re: [ATM] Variable Focus Optics (and long range microscope)

["David Harbour" <scarab2@cox.net>]

Bill, Richard-

It is so easy to assemble a "long range microscope"- I have done so, with
only a little bit of labor, with a "Sparco" brand two piece mailing tube
(whose parts slide together so smoothly and accurately for "focusing")- and
over a very large range, and observed insects beyond their "fright and
flight" distance, and I've got to tell you: it is almost as much fun as
observing astronomical objects with a "real" telescope!

You can see incredible detaiil in their "faces", as for instance, when a
Mantis eats a moth. Use a +.25 (or more manageable, a +.50; get a glass one
with the least "reflex" in its curve that you can) diopter opthalmic blank,
unless you are lucky enough to have a spare 60 mm cemented achromat on hand.
A "spare" tail piece, with a T-ring for your SLR camera would enable one to
cover the film plane with a nickel at about 9 feet! (I did this; you can
make stops to bring the f/ratio up for better performance; modern fast films
will easily handle this).

Dave

P.S.- I have at least a few Sparco tubes left over, anyone wants to do this.
Lot of fun.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Kelley" <flex@commspeed.net>
To: "Richard Schwartz" <richas@earthlink.net>; <atm@atmlist.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: [ATM] Variable Focus Optics


> Combined with flex technology it could produce large plastic optics that
> within the same instrument could served as a near range microscope with
huge
> light gathering capacity, or, as a telescope at any distance. That I can
> already do with glass- but can't change the focal length. Big but- might
> they figure out some way to correct for chromatic abberation?
> Bill Kelley
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Schwartz" <richas@earthlink.net>
> To: <atm@atmlist.net>
> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 2:08 PM
> Subject: [ATM] Variable Focus Optics
>
>
> > My boss from the old world odor sent this.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> >
> > To: <richas@earthlink.net>
> > Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 6:31 AM
> > Subject: Sent to you from PhysicsWeb by a friend
> >
> >
> >> PhysicsWeb (May)
> >> Lens makers go flat out
> >> Polymers offer new way to make variable focus devices
> >> URL: http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/9/5/3/1
> >>
> >> Comments: Shoot. What could this do your plain glass mirrors?
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/
> >
> >
>
>
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