Microscope and camera, how they work together?

[Vale]

Hello everyone!!

I have a problem with the microscope and the camera.
I have a trinocular microscope, Motic GM168 Series, and a Canon EOS 400D, I’d like to put that camera in the microscope.
I found the adapter but the supplier told me that I can’t use it because my camera doesn’t have the ability to perform focusing on a monitor.

Have I other possibilities to take pictures?


I look forward your advise and suggestions.

Thank you very much!


Ciao,
Valentina

[Barbra Voltaire, FGG]

Hi Valentina.
There are several forum member who can help you with that.
Tim actually helped me tremendously with that the last time he was in San Francisco.

[Egor Gavrilenko]

Hi Valentina,

Your camera doesn't have the "live view" option, that is the possibility to see the picture you are focusing on directly on the camera screen, or connect the camera to computer and see the picture on the computer screen.

It's not a great problem in fact, you can focus looking directly through the optical visor and you'll see what the camera will capture. It's not so handy as to see it on the screen, but can work perfectly. I made a lot of inclusion photos that way with Nikon D40, it has no "live view" too.

Especially, if you are planning to use some stacking software, like Helicon Focus or similar, to make one picture from a sequence of shots to extend the depth of field (very recommendable for inclusions), the exact focusing position of each shot is not so important in that case.

[Conny Forsberg]

If your adapter is possible to set in different heights you can make the camera/microscope setup confocal. You do this by focusing through the ocular and then set the height of the camera in a appropriate height to get it in focus by looking through the camera viewfinder. When all is set you can focus through your microscope ocular and shoot images at the same setting.
If it is not possible to get the unit set in confocal mode you can still focus directly through your camera, More awkward but it works.

[Vale]

Thanks for your help!
I'll try and let you know.

But, are all adapters equal to each other? or can I get better?

[G4Lab]

I found the adapter but the supplier told me that I can’t use it because my camera doesn’t have the ability to perform focusing on a monitor.

Your camera has a 22.2x14.8mm sensor. You don't have to have live view on a separate monitor (although if you dig deep enough and possibly get the latest firmware update you may find live view somewhere. Even my ancient Coolpix has live view. It may be called video out, usb video out or HDMI out. There may be enough delay that it makes focusing a pain in the rear)

The GM 168 probably throws an image circle of about 20 to 21 mm. so you could probably use a camera to microscope adapter that has no optic in it or has one with very low magnification.

You need to try to find the parfocal point so that the oculars and the camera sensor are in focus at the same time. You can use the camera view finder screen for this (probably with some assistive magnification from a magnifier glass) or you can buy on ebay very inexpensively a right angle finder.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40

[Vale]

Thank you very much!!!!
Your advise will be helpful!