Real time dSLR microscope focusing

Does anyone have a system where they can focus a microscope attached to a dSLR camera or prosumer digital camera in real time using video output from the camera? If so, what equipment do you have and what do you think of it?

As far as I know, currently only 3 DSLR's have live video output. The Sony R1, Canon 20Da and Olympus E-330. The R1 has a permanent lens and probably won't fit your needs. The 20Da is specially designed for astophotography and has filters that differ from the consumer model 20D. The E-330 is the only consumer model with live video and interchangable lens mount.

Is this better than software with remote camera control?

Hmmm, maybe not. Our coral lab just purchased a Canon 7 MP Powershot and software. It isn't dSLR but it was much less expensive and seems to be working fine. They only have fiber optic lights - no flash - but this is fine for the bleached baby coral skeletons they are currently photographing.

We have a Nikon Eclipse 90i in the lab and it does all of that pretty much, you can stick any type of camera you want on the eyepiece. Not very cheap though, but really nice and you can do fluorescence too.

Bill

Hi James,

Check this out: http://www.amateurmicroscopy.net/

especially the work of Charlie Krebs.

Best,

Tom Stack

http://www.tomstackphoto.com