Best way to connect Micro 4/3 camera to Leitz SM-LUX?

[Sinar]

Thanks for letting me join the forum, I have recently bought a Leitz SM-LUX microscope and would like to take photos and videos of what i see using my Micro Four Thirds camera, but i don't know what extra equipment i need to connect the camera and microscope to give the best quality images and video.

Any suggestions or advice is much appreciated as i don't really know where to start.

My camera is a Panasonic G80, I also have a Sony A7 and a Sony RX100 but would prefer to use the G80, unless there are any advantages to using the others.

Thanks for reading, hopefully i've managed to add a couple of pictures of my microscope.

[Ichthyophthirius]

Hi,

An afocal adapation is the best solution for Leitz http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=38487

For a m4/3 camera, choose a prime lens between 30 and 40 mm for the camera and a 10x Leitz Periplan eyepiece.

Before we start, you should test if the eyepiece adapter ("photo tube") on top of your trinocular head has the correct hight. Use a microscope objective 4:1 or 10:1 and bring a slide into focus through the binocular tubes. Then take one of the eyepieces from the binocular and put it into the photo tube.

The slide should be in focus in all three eyepiece positions at the same time. If that is the case, the photo tube has the correct hight.

Regards, Ichty

[Sinar]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, i've just done the test as you suggested and when i put the eyepiece in the photo tube it is just very slightly out of focus, it requires just very small movement using the fine focus knob to get it in to focus.

I have the 20mm and 45mm prime lenses for my M43 camera, nothing in between, i have a zoom that would cover between 30-40mm but it would just be a kit zoom with variable aperture.

Julie

[Ichthyophthirius]

Hi Julie,

It seems that the photo tube has the correct length.

The adaptation would be similar to this http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=38487 in principle, have a read through it.

For m4/3, the ideal magnification factor of the adapation is about 1.2 (for APS-C it's about 1.6). This captures a field number (FN) 18 field of view from edge to edge. Calculation:

Magnification = eyepiece magnification x (camera lens focal length/250 mm)

1.2 = 10 x 30 mm/250 mm

For a 10x eyepiece, the ideal camera lens would be a 30 mm. I don't have this system so I can't make any recommendations. The Panasonic 30/2.8 Macro tested well
https://mikroskopie-forum.at/index.php/ ... z-Diaplan/
http://www.lenaturaliste.net/forum/view ... 53#p116053
but is expensive. You could try an old 28 mm wide angle lens http://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c ... rettyPhoto as they are quite cheap.

Alternatively, try a Periplan 6.3x eyepiece (170 mm version) https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -454570774 together with your 45 mm :

1.134 = 6.3 x 45 mm/250 mm

but I have no experience with it, I'd have to try it yourself.


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Then you need to make a mechanical connection between the Leitz photo tube and your camera. For that you need a clamp adapter for 25 mm outer diameter tubes like:

- Zeiss "47 60 01" https://www.ebay.de/itm/Fototubus-Rings ... 2255362714 together with a Zeiss dovetail adapter https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/43-5mm-micro ... 2926906087 and a step ring connecting to your camera lens filter thread
- Asahi/Pentax microscope adapter https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mem ... 48806.html or similar

or: Get around this by mounting your camera on a copy stand http://www.photoinfos.com/Mikroskope/Mi ... op-001.jpg

Regards, Ichty

[Sinar]

Thanks for all the information,it’s very helpful.

[Pau]

Hi Julie, welcome aboard!
The 45mm will crop a bit too much while the 20mm very likely will show corner vignette. Both may work but within their limitations. The Sigma 30mm seems the best option for 4/3 sensors, see http://www.savazzi.net/photography/zeissadapter.html and http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?p=99265

You can also take in consideration Periplan eyepieces with other magnifications to be paired with your lenses like 12.5X or 6.3X

The formula to calculate the relay magnification of afocal systems is:

(eyepiece magnification) X (camera lens FL) /250

To adequately capture a field matching the eyepiece view the recommended total relay magnification is about:
For FF 2.5X, for APSC 1.6X and for 4/3 1.2X for microscopes with eyepieces with 18 or 20mm FN

The zoom would or would not work, this is difficult to predict without testing, short range zooms are more likely to work than big range ones. being in principle less convenient than primes.

[Sinar]

Thanks, I think I’ll start with the lenses I’ve got, perhaps using lower magnifications and cropping out the vignetting using the 20mm in photoshop.

I do have 28mm Sony FE lens, I could get an adapter to mount it on my M43 camera.

I can’t seem to find any periplan eyepieces other than 10x but I’ll keep my eyes open on eBay.

[Pau]

I can’t seem to find any periplan eyepieces other than 10x but I’ll keep my eyes open on eBay.

If you use ebay.com in place of ebay.co.uk and mark worldwide option you'll see some of them, this kind of items are much more abundant at the US and Germany (just tested)

[Sinar]

Thanks

[Sinar]

I've spent the last couple of days trying out different camera and lens combinations and i'm getting best results with my Sony A7 and 55mm lens.

I have been putting the camera near the eyepiece using a tripod, which works but is quite cumbersome. Is there any kind of tube i can get to attach the camera to the trinocular eyepiece, the camera lens has a 49mm filter thread.

[Pau]

Yes, FF with a 55mm lens seems a good combination with a 10X eyepiece, close enough to 63mm, maybe you could get some corner degradation and/or vignette but just cropping a bit will deal with.

You need some kind of tube that clamps on the microscope phototube and screws at the camera filter thread. There are several possible solutions:

- This one will work for sure: http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... 647#224647
The Zeiss clamp part is easy to source at ebay, like
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-Microsco ... :rk:6:pf:0
It clamps over the 25mm upper part of the phototube, you also need a Zeiss dovetail to thread adapter, some spacers and a thread adapter to your lens thread, take a look at this similar thread: http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... 268#242268 and the links inside

- https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zeiss-Microsco ... rk:26:pf:0 ,more expensive, you only need the upper part, it clamps over the 40mm part of the phototube...and also the adapters like in the former one.

- Leitz adapters, take a look at: http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?t=38487

[Sinar]

Brilliant thanks.

[Pau]

Julie, to be sure of the solution you want to implement first take some measurements: I said that the upper portion of the tube diameter is 25mm and its lower part 40mm, I'm almost sure but would be convenient to check them.

Also be aware that the Zeiss dovetail at the thread I linked about a Zeiss Jena microscope is different of the Zeiss West I propose. rafcamera makes the right adapter https://www.rafcamera.com/microscope-do ... -5mm-to-t2, you would need the adequate T2 tubes and T2 to your lens thread adapter.

[orangetang]

Julie, did you ever have luck with this method and this scope? Would love to see some images and the setup if you have.

I'm currently looking at an SM-LUX to purchase as a 1st scope and also do some photomicrography with it.