Budget microscopy imaging options - Need some help and info asap (Aug/17/2010 )
Our lab is looking at options for taking simple brightfield images of our cell cultures. We have a Nikon TS-100f inverted microscope. I got a quote from the Nikon rep for a camera, controller unit, software etc. and the total was close to $9000! Does anyone have any tips for a lower-cost option? I've seen some mounts to attach a (relatively) inexpensive digital camera to the 'scope, but I'm not sure what sort of camera would work best.
Any help or tips you can render are appreciated, thanks.
-Metcarfre-
Metcarfre on Tue Aug 17 21:29:11 2010 said:
Our lab is looking at options for taking simple brightfield images of our cell cultures. We have a Nikon TS-100f inverted microscope. I got a quote from the Nikon rep for a camera, controller unit, software etc. and the total was close to $9000! Does anyone have any tips for a lower-cost option? I've seen some mounts to attach a (relatively) inexpensive digital camera to the 'scope, but I'm not sure what sort of camera would work best.
Any help or tips you can render are appreciated, thanks.
You should be able to find or make an extension tube (hollow tube, just to make the camera focus when the image is focussed down the eyepiece) and attach a simple "point and shoot" camera of an SLR with a screw thread inside the lens mounting. It helps if you can find one with self timer and/or remote so as to not get camera shake when you depress the shutter button.
-bob1-