Microscopic photos

[elegance coral]

What is the most inexpensive way to take photos of microscopic life? I have a microscope but have no way of photographing what I'm looking at. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

["Umm fish?"]

I don't think "inexpensive" and "photomicroscopy" are ever uttered in the same sentence. That said, there are some things you can do.

What kind of microscope do you have? Binocular? Trinocular? The easiest thing is if you have a trinocular 'scope, of course. There you have the extra eyetube just for the camera. But, there are adapters made to take the place of one of the eyepieces in a binocular or monocular 'scope, too. In those cases it's just not as easy for you to see what's going on while you're taking photos.

Then it's just a matter of getting adapters to mate camera and scope together. What kind of camera do you have? I have a DSLR. I managed to find an adapter that would take trinocular port to a T-mount. From there, there are T-mount adapters to fit most SLRs.

I had an extra computer sitting around and my DSLR came with software that enables the computer to control the shutter release. That really helps to keep the whole setup from shaking while taking the photograph.

So, if you have any more specific questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them for you.

Good luck!

 

[Scythanith]

I use a Zeiss stemi 2000-c for work. It is a seteroscope with a third ocular opening specifically designed for a camera. When it comes time to take a picture, just focus and snap it! I use a canon A610 with it and instead of using a computer to operate the shutter I just set a 2 second timer. You could also use a remote shutter control. You can make anything work as long as you can remove the objective from the eye tube. You then find the proper adapter and step down rings for your camera and voila, Microphotography!

Cheers,
Scott

 

[megaspoot]

I used one of those microscopes sets you get when you are a kid. And a point and shoot camera.

 

[elegance coral]

How did you do it? Did you mount the camera to the microscope or did you just hold it? This sounds like something I can do on my budget. Killer pic!

 

[Scythanith]

A fossilized fish tooth from the Colorado Grp of the western Canadian sedimentary basin. It's ~90-105 million years old. It measures ~ 1/4mm or 250um.

One of the hundreds of aphids we found in our Broccoli at a work camp.

Head of some compund eye'd creature I found while analyzing soil samples for wheat midge.

 

[anguswu]

Here is a clever micro photo camera. Check it!
http://www.x-loupe.com.tw/feature/e_feature04.htm

 

[roblack]

Wow, that's amazing!

 

[Rosseau]

Cool stuff Scythanith.

 

[Dusko]

I use this DIY method.
http://diymacrolens.blogspot.com/

These are just few photos I did using this method;
Female Cyclops approx 1mm

Caridina multidentata zoea approx 1mm

Fresh water leach with baby leaches

Kind regards, Dusko.

 

["Umm fish?"]

I honestly had never seen anyone try that without an adapter. Here's one for a Canon:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=197010&is=REG

 

[Rosseau]

slow internet tonight.. double post.

 

[Rosseau]

and a third way. Pringles Can!

http://www.photocritic.org/2005/macro-photography-on-a-budget/

Though, this is all really moving away from photomicroscopy.