Decisions, decisions......

I can understand the enthusiasm. I have spent time using a laser confocal microscope in a research setting (600x magnification). It was extremely frustrating trying to get my fluorescent antibodies to work, but the process of taking pictures was really fun. I spent quite a few hours one time taking z-slices of our test slide (plant tissue stained with fluorescent dyes) to make these really cool 3D reconstructions that I could animate. Of course, it was all in the name of familiarizing myself with the hardware and software . There were many times when I wished I could just be taking pretty pictures instead of trying to get data.It sounds like you are using much lower power objectives than I am, but the objectives do make all the difference in the world when it comes to higher magnifications. I am assuming the same is true for your equipment. Sometimes I will look through an older or less expensive microscope and realize how spoiled I am at work.Edited by Taq, : No reason given.

You had me at field planarity. We are using a Leica system with objectives that have color correction specific to fluorescent spectroscopy and top of the line field planarity and a floating optical bench that weighs a ton. Both the stage and objectives are motorized which makes a world of difference. If you are curious, here is the brochure for the range of Leica objectives used in biological research:https://www.leica-microsystems.com/...ective-Brochure_EN.pdfYour expertise definitely outdistances mine when it comes to optics, but it is something I can geek out on. I wish we had access to SEM or TEM, but maybe some day in the future. One can only hope.

Out of curiosity, what do you do to preserve these species? I assume that you are not using live subjects, but perhaps you are. The preservation of the small setae, especially in and near the mandible, are amazing.Great work!!