Moving the camera from one microscope to another
In the picture below, the camera is installed on the compound microscope and will be transferred to the stereo microscope. The instructions are the same for transferring from either scope to the other.
First remove the protective cover from the microscope mounting tube on the stereo scope. Note that the protective cap should ALWAYS be installed on the microscope if a camera is not mounted.
Second, loosen the mounting screw on the camera adapter. It is best to hold the camera body while performing this step.
Lift the camera and adapter up off of the microscope leaving all cable connected to the camera.
Third, place the camera adapter tube down over the microscope adapter tube. Turn the camera mounting tube back and forth to align the camera with the microscope as best as possible. Tighten the thumb screw on the mounting tube. Don’t over tighten it.
Note that the black camera mounting adapter is screwed into the lens of the Nikon camera. During handling it is possible for the adapter to become loose from the camera and may require screwing back into the camera lens. The adapter should be snugly tightened but not over tightened which could damage the threads.
Taking pictures
Make sure the USB switch box is on position A as shown below.
Turn on the television set power. The television will be used for focusing the microscope. If the screen does not show Video1 in the top right corner, press the Video Mode button on the remote control until you see Video1.
Turn the camera power on by rotating the power switch found on the top of the camera to the A_REC position. The camera will beep and the LCD display will illuminate.
The information shown on the LCD display of the camera should now be visible on the television. If not:
Stop and make sure all cables are connected.
Make sure that the silver colored slider on the head of the microscope, near the oculars is pulled out. The slider on the stereomicroscope is on the left side whereas it is on the right side on the compound microscope.
When the slider is pulled out on the stereomicroscope, the image in the left ocular will be directed up the photo tube. The image seen through the compound microscopes oculars will be dimmed.
Photo
on left shows the slider on the stereomicroscope head. The photo on
the right shows the slider on the compound microscope head.
Note that the camera body may be rotated for easier access to any buttons or for easier viewing.
Below the LCD display is a button marked M-FOCUS. Press the button as many times as needed until the symbol that resembles a mountain appears at the top right corner of the display as well as on the television. This disables auto focusing and the flash.
Place the specimen or slide on the microscope. Turn the microscope light on and adjust the focus of the microscope while observing the image on the television. Note that the image when viewed through the microscope objectives may or may not be focused at the same time as that on the television. It is therefore important to rely only on the television image for proper focusing. When satisfactory focus and illumination have been achieved. Depress the shutter release half way down as shown below. The small green AF light on the top of the camera should turn on and should not blink.. The red light on the top of the camera should not be on. Gently press the shutter release button all the way down being careful to not shake the camera or microscope at all. The camera should beep and an hourglass should appear on the television. The image has been taken and is being stored in the memory card of the camera. Wait for the hourglass to disappear before taking another picture.
Downloading pictures to the computer
If the camera is not turned on, turn it on and allow a few seconds for it to settle. Make sure the computer is running and the USB cable is connected. Turn the USB switch box to the B position as shown below.
In a few seconds, the Nikon View program will automatically run as shown below. If it doesn’t, click on the Nikon View icon found on the desktop.
Use the mouse to click on the yellow box at the lower part of the Nikon View window. This is the transfer button.
The images will begin transferring from the camera to the computer as shown below. Each image will be displayed as a small thumbnail as it transfers. Note that unless changed by the operator, the program has been setup to automatically erase the images from the camera after transferring them to the computer!
After the images are transferred, the Nikon Browser will run as shown below. The images are all stored by default in a folder called Microscope Images. A thumbnail of each image in the folder is visible. From here, you can rename the images, drag and drop them to other folders. Close the Nikon Browser when finished.
Move the USB switch box back to position A when transfer of images is done. Turn the power off to the camera when not in use.
