complete beginner needing advice

mnkytrk · Post by **mnkytrk** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 2:59 am

Hi all - i'm a commercial photographer trying to do some microscopy in our research lab. we've bought the camera adapter kit and had a couple of goes with really bad results so i'm looking for some advice.

for starters, am i using the right kit? we have a Meiji EMZ-8TR microscope and i'm attaching a canon 60d.

i can get images, but can't seem to get any part of the focal plane really sharp. is it just a case of practice and getting to know the kit or are there any setup details i could be missing?

any help would be really appreciated

best regards,

phil sheldon

Alan Wood · Post by **Alan Wood** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:15 am

You need a photo eyepiece in the adapter to focus the image onto the sensor in your camera.

Is there any glass in your adapter? If not, then that is your problem.

Alan Wood

mnkytrk · Post by **mnkytrk** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:24 am

Hi Alan

yes, there is one, its a 2.5x, and the instructions said to place it into the first ring of the adapter. does that sound right?

thanks

Phil

Alan Wood · Post by **Alan Wood** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:28 am

Hi Phil

Yes, that sounds right.

I can't think of anything else to suggest, but I expect someone else will soon join in.

Alan Wood

ChrisR · Post by **ChrisR** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:41 am

Is it like this - page 9?
http://microscopeinternational.com/manu ... manual.pdf

Does para 3 make sense, or any difference?

Rotate the adjustment ring on the straight
tube so as to set the red indicator line on the
upper tube portion at the top edge of the lower
tube. Then fix in place with the clamp screw.
You now should be set correctly for optimum
conditions of simultaneous visual observation
and photography.

mnkytrk · Post by **mnkytrk** » Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:53 am

hi there chris

we didn't get the adapter with the eyepiece, just the straight through tube, but i've been to look, then reread and gone back to double check, and there are definately no red lines for aligning the tubes.

after lunch, i'll take some pictures of the kit and post them

thanks

Phil

phil m · Post by **phil m** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 3:48 pm

Is it possible you are over illuminating and washing the image out?

zzffnn · Post by **zzffnn** » Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:38 pm

You may want to provide some more details about your subject and magnification.

Very thick subjects need image stacking (single shot won't produce sharp focus throughout when subject is thick).

Low contrast subjects (e.g., transparent crystals) may demand use of contrast enhancing techniques such as epi-dark field.

Stereo / macroscopes, in genetal, cannot very sharp images at high magnifications. Their ovjectives usually have low NA value ( resolution).

And I assume you manually focus your lens to infinity? And you provided diffused illumination sufficiently?

mnkytrk · Post by **mnkytrk** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 6:41 am

hi again

this was our first go which you can see is way off

but lit ok i think, and image focussed as best we could with the microscope

cheers for now

zzffnn · Post by **zzffnn** » Fri Apr 24, 2015 7:21 am

Phil,

I think your camera is not parfocal with viewing eyepieces (camera was not focused correctly in that photo, even though microscope eyepieces were).

Please try to focus using camera screen alone. With some cameras, switching to video mode will zoom in further than the photo mode, allowing you to focus as best as you can (once you obtain best focus in video mode, switch back to photo mode and you should get a good focus).