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#1
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DSLR microphotography
I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope.
To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Robert |
#2
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DSLR microphotography
In article , John A. Stovall
writes On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:39:23 GMT, Volvox wrote: I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Take a look at the Canon 20A. Yes, A not D. http://www.bobatkins.com/photography...l/eos20da.html Mirror lock up and live preview. Canon is known for it's low noise at high ISO's. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/re...0d-part2.shtml First, it's the 20Da. Second, it costs over twice as much as the 20D. Third, it needs to be fitted with an IR filter for most uses; it is optimised for astrophotography and in particular the H alpha IR light. Fourth, Canon state the live preview is only for use with very dim images; I have not seen any information confirming that it can be used in this application (though it would be very good to have it so confirmed). To the OP You will find more information on the web if you search using the correct term, photomicrography. SLRs of any kind (digital or film) are not necessarily the best devices to use for PM work. However, they are perfectly practicable. The Canon 10D and 20D are satisfactory; they have mirror lock-up (which, as you suggest, is essential) and they will meter quite happily when used without a lens fitted. They use a CMOS sensor which has a very good low noise performance. I have used my 10D with extreme ND filtration and 30 second exposures to test this, and the images are perfectly usable. If you are on a tight budget and don't particularly need to use the DSLR for non-PM work, then the 10D has more resolution than you will be able to get from your microscope, and a second hand one will be half the price of a 20D. The 20D will wildly oversample the image and waste resolution. The main drawback I find with a DSLR on a microscope is focussing. The focus screens on most AF cameras are very poor for manual focussing; even using a Canon right-angle finder with 2.5x magnification it is not easy to get really spot-on focussing. In many ways a good compact is easier to use and will give equally good results in most circumstances. I use a Nikon Coolpix 995; the later 4500 may be better (4MP). This family is very popular in the PM community, and you will find plenty of information on the web about using them on a microscope. The video output is very useful for focussing. Tell us what kind of subjects you will be using it for, and what you want to do with the output and we can maybe give more specific help. Also, you will find far more expertise in sci.techniques.microscopy and the Yahoo Microscopes group. David -- David Littlewood |
#3
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DSLR microphotography
I use a Canon Digital Rebel for that purpose. The main drawbacks a
No mirror lockup A very poor viewing screen for microscope work. Otherwise it does a good job. I shoot at ISO 100 and see no sign of noise with exposure times up to about 2 second. Canon makes a electronic remote release that works well but I now use some software that came free with the camera for remote control. Its a better method as I can change the exposure from the keyboard and other functions too. And I get a bigger LCD display, that is full screen on the laptop if I wish. Also I can download the pictures to the laptop as I shoot, and as I run a wireless network, the pictures can be sent to my main computer for processing and printing as desired, a good thing as I shoot RAW. If I was able to do it over again I would get the 20D but I would like very much a DSLR with interchangeable view screens so I could have one that worked better than the one in the Digital Rebel. -- John Passaneau State College Pa. "Volvox" wrote in message k... I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Robert |
#4
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DSLR microphotography
Volvox wrote:
I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) The Olympus E-500 has mirror lockup, which is perplexingly called "anti-shake" in the camera settings. Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. There's a wireless remote sold separately. |
#5
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DSLR microphotography
John A. Stovall wrote:
On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:39:23 GMT, Volvox wrote: I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Take a look at the Canon 20A. Yes, A not D. http://www.bobatkins.com/photography...l/eos20da.html That's 20Da. It's a 20D, hence the D in the Da, with astrophotography features. Christ, it shows the D in the headline of the article you posted the URL to. Gregh |
#6
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DSLR microphotography
Many thanks for useful replies - and so rapid in coming.
I should perhaps have explained that some of the objects I wish to photograph move fast especially at x400 - vibration has been a problem with my 35mm Dynax 5 hence my questions. Often iso 400 is not sufficiently sensitive at x400 to record moving objects at above x100. Yes, indeed, if it doesn't move, iso 200! That is certainly the best way and produced good results. Fuji film particularly good for the purpose, (but now i'm drifting off topic, so apologies to moderator!) Volvox wrote: I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Robert |
#7
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DSLR microphotography
On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 17:31:17 -0800, Kyle Jones
wrote: Volvox wrote: I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) The Olympus E-500 has mirror lockup, which is perplexingly called "anti-shake" in the camera settings. Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. There's a wireless remote sold separately. It's resolution and sensor size would make it the ideal microscopy camera. -Rich |
#8
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DSLR microphotography
Check out this page. The company makes adapters for various cameras
plus optics to replace conventional microscope eyepieces. http://scopetronix.com/ On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 19:09:01 GMT, Volvox wrote: Many thanks for useful replies - and so rapid in coming. I should perhaps have explained that some of the objects I wish to photograph move fast especially at x400 - vibration has been a problem with my 35mm Dynax 5 hence my questions. Often iso 400 is not sufficiently sensitive at x400 to record moving objects at above x100. Yes, indeed, if it doesn't move, iso 200! That is certainly the best way and produced good results. Fuji film particularly good for the purpose, (but now i'm drifting off topic, so apologies to moderator!) Volvox wrote: I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Robert |
#9
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DSLR microphotography
"Volvox" wrote in message k... I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Robert |
#10
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DSLR microphotography
Robert,
Just how much are you prepared to spend? Cheers. Pete "Volvox" wrote in message k... I'm looking around for a DSLR for use with a microscope. To cut down on vibration I would like to have a mirror lock. (I will be using x20 and x40 objectives.) Also a remote shutter release would be an advantage. I have read about iso settinga, and would also think of using a high value setting - say iso 1600. I understand what noise is, but can find little information comparing different cameras in this respect; ie which cameras are more noisy than others. Any suggestions as to suitable models to look at gratefully received. Robert |
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