New Stereo microscope with digital imaging capabilities, configured and delivered to Eckerd College USA.

Best Scientific recently finished the configuration, build and supply of a Nikon SMZ800 microscope package, for the Marine Science program at Eckerd College Florida USA.

Configuration brief:

The college requested assistance with configuration and procurement of a full photomicrography system including, Stereo microscope, camera adapter, and camera. It was to be tailored towards successful imaging of single cell, deep sea organisms.

It was advised desirable that the system supplied needed to be intuitive to operate, and if possible multipurpose, so it may benefit a range of other disciplines and departments. A DSLR camera was indicated as advantageous to the wider college community, so integrating one into the microscope would be key. Optical performance and ergonomic features were also deemed integral to configuration.  

It was also established that the institution had existing light sources at their disposal, so Best Scientific would need to accommodate and retrofit any proposed solution around this existing equipment. Thus, allowing more resources to be put into the microscope, coupler, and camera package.  

Solution Summary

After evaluating a few different products from our portfolio of manufacturers, I recommended a Nikon SMZ800N stereo microscope configuration, Canon 2000D DSLR APS-C camera, and our own 1.6x Camera coupler Assembly.

Parts Selection and rationale:

The Nikon SMZ 800N has the modular P-IBSS2 beam splitter available, which provides digital imaging capability with flexibility. It can be orientated to either the left or right eye and has two options of light split (0/100 or 50/50) As you can see on the image it sits nicely under the binocular head and keeps the system lower profile. The P-IBSS2 photo port is also flexible in that it can accept a multitube of camera couplers with Nikon’s LV-TV tube incorporating a 38mm ISO industry standard interface. This allows integration of a larger sensor cameras such as DSLR’s which some stereo microscopes do not accommodate due to incorporated, lower magnification fixed ports. All these aspects combined with the standard features of the microscope (explored further below and on product listing) formed the basis of the system.

• 8:1 Zoom ratio with 1-8x magnification configured
• Binocular head with 20° inclined tubes and interpupillary adjustment.
• 10x Eyepieces with dioptre adjustment.
• Wide Field Plan 1x objective with 78mm working distance.
• C-PSN Plain stand (Illumination by client) 
• Expandable with large range of modular parts

The Canon 2000D (Rebel T7) Was selected as it’s moderately priced but highly regarded APS-C larger sensor camera. This gave the multipurpose advantage to Eckerd as it can be easily removed from the microscope and used in the field with a lens as usual.

Best Scientific camera coupler. This consisted of a rare two-part combined coupler for further functionality.

Firstly, a reprojected 1.6x large format camera adapter. Integrated into the system as it’s one of our most flexible camera coupler solutions. This optic provides efficient coverage of the DSLR’s 26.8mm diagonal sensor providing sensor specific imaging. This is where the image diameter provided by the optic is appropriately sized to closely match the diagonal measurement of the sensor. In this case 28mm ø optic onto a 26.8mm diagonal sensor is Sensor Specific. No vignetting and very little FOV loss. The 1.6X coupler was also included with a quick release thumb screw interface. Meaning the camera and coupler can be removed and placed into other microscopes 23mm or 30mm ø eyepiece holes very quickly. Enabling imaging via other machines even if they don’t have photo ports.

Secondly our direct 1x Coupler was installed to complete the two-part combination. This provides a low-profile C-Mount via the 38mm ISO interface. This means the user can attach virtually any C-Mount camera they have available to them.

Results and Conclusions:

Best scientific were able to build the whole system (minus lighting) for Eckerd which was a pleasure to put together. It was built in house and checked for quality before safe repackaging and shipping to Florida. Remote product support was on hand from Best Scientific should it be needed providing piece of mind for the client.

If more resources had of been available I would have selected a camera with an articulated screen for direct and ergonomic display for the microscope user. With the fixed screen the user has to get up and down to view the image on the camera, as it’s orientatated upwards. The movable screen available on a lot of Canon models alleviates this.

Contact us with information of your project, and Best Scientific will evaluate our portfolio and configure a solution to your application. All described and detailed into a no obligation quotation for your consideration.