Re: Nikon D70 DSLR on microscope: Update

From: KBob (KBob_at_nowhere.net)
Date: 12/28/04 

Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 16:57:10 GMT

On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 05:18:10 GMT, "GTO" <gregor_o@NOSPAMyahoo.com>
wrote:

>I just want to give an update of my attempts to use a Nikon D70 DSLR on a
>trinocular viewing body (see my previous posts regarding this subject).
>
>
>
>Using objectives that are fully corrected for lateral chromatic aberration
>(no CDM), I found the following:
>
>
>
>1) At fast exposure settings, the mirror slap of the D70 (no mirror lockup
>feature!) only contributes to the already existing vibration induced by the
>mechanical shutter curtain. I assume a D100 or D2H will not save the day. I
>might still get vibrations due to the mechanical shutter.
>
>2) At slow exposure settings using bulb mode, I get excellent images. They
>are sharp and, of course, free from vibrations. Fast moving subjects can
>easily be photographed with a flashlight moved into the illumination path as
>long as a collector lens is added in front of the flash for proper Koehler
>illumination.
>
>3) The D70 can be connected to a regular eyepiece (with a spacer in front of
>the eyepiece). The necessary spacer is around 5mm in length. With this
>setup, which is parfocal with the objectives, the D70 oversamples the image
>(too many pixels!). A relay lens (photo eyepiece) with a magnification
>factor of 0.5x is recommended but such a relay lens can be rather expensive.
>
>4) The D70 works great when its CCD is positioned into plane holding the
>real image. In this case, vignetting occurs, but the D70 provides enough
>pixels so that after cropping away the effect of vignetting a well-sampled
>image remains of 3 to 4 Mpixels.
>
>
>
>The 12-bit RAW file format with the larger pixels of the D70, make this
>camera an interesting solution for amateur photomicrography. The D70 is very
>strong for low light exposures. Remember, it is possible to combine this
>digital camera with a scope with only a couple of lens-less adapters that
>cost around US$80 to 100. Of course, this solution makes only sense for
>people who are already enjoying using the D70 for photography :-)
>
>
>Gregor

Here's another idea. Someone on eBay has been selling microscope
adapters that contain 10X WF eyepiece lenses and they come in both
23mm size (for standard microscopes) and 30mm sizes to fit binocular
microscopes. These have 28mm male threads intended to couple with
Nikon Coolpix cameras. All that's needed to make these work with
other cameras (such as the D100, D70, etc.) I'm told is a 52-28mm
stepdown ring, also readily available. I ordered these and will post
shots after testing.

I've been trying to use a Nikon microscope adapter (containing relay
lens) with a Zeiss Standard microscope, but thus far the results
haven't been all that great, at least with top-illuminated subjects.
Loads of glare and chromatic aberration, and the photos look far worse
than the objects appear visually. I'm trying to shoot the irregular
surface of a silver amalgam filling, and the specular highlights from
the mercury specks (or something) is making this task difficult. Has
anyone tried anything like this?
Thanks, kBob

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Zeiss ICM 405
    ... What you have is a very fine metalograph, an inverted microscope ... one you have uses bottom up lighting while the others use top down ... There were two different sets of objectives offerred by Zeiss for ... and another polarizing filter before the light reaches the binoculars. ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Photomicrography ... objective questions (and general advice)
    ... > My main concern is "what objectives to purchase" ... ... > I don't want to spend a lot of money on a microscope only to find, ... But I want photographs with good color/optical quality. ... achromats can produce some nice ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: How many pixels?
    ... needed for some common objectives.. ... of the microscope onto the CCD increases that demand. ... the NA per unit magnification of various objectives that I own. ... approximate number of resolved pixels in the exit pupil as 0.64 Megapixels. ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Newcommer Seeks Advice Re Microscope Purchases Made
    ... I don't need another microscope, ... The Universal uses the older 160mm tube length objectives, ... However the 160mm lenses are older, ... Zeiss, ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)