MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Hope I am in the correct area to ask these questions! I have just purchased an Olympus CX31 RBSFA (not new but in as new condition) binocular microscope and would like to be able to use for Dark field viewing and would also like to use my Canon EOS 450D camera with the microscope. I am very pleased with the microscope, images being excellent.
I have spent many hours on the net trying to find information on both issues with no clear solutions. There is no tray below the condenser to fit a filter so is there any other Dark field option? Clearly I am a novice and do not want to spend a fortune but would like to like to find the most effective solutions.
Again I hope I am in the correct area of the forum to ask beginners questions.

The other darkfield option is generally a paraboloid or cardioid condenser. Is the cx31 abbe condenser permanently fixed?

There should be some way to position a mask for darkfield, but you may need to get creative.

Here is the approach I took for one of my scopes. Maybe it will inspire you.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3606

Good luck

Depending on the your condenser:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264308894870
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264513413914

Thank you all for your response to my question regarding Dark field use. The Microscope has a fixed Abbe condenser (Abbe condenser, with built-in daylight filter) As I am sure you have guessed I am a complete novice and have much to learn. So any help and advise will be much appreciated.

I'm also interested in using a DSLR with a microscope...its common in astronomy to start with a DSLR, so I'm wondering if the same is true here. Sorry, just learning

Nothing wrong with fitting a DSLR, if you know how to do it but DSLRs are kind of a hybrid camera, with one of the grandfathered designs within the concept being totally unsuited to taking photos through a microscope. The mirror and reflex mechanism. It's there because as photographers transferred over from using film cameras, it was still desirable to view through the lens but in the case of a microscope camera, you don't do that. Having an articulating screen or being able to link to a remote screen or phone is much more convenient, unless you have a fetish for climbing stepladders, so as time marches on, especially on March 4th, mirrorless cameras will take over for microscopes. They are also lighter, with lower vibration, so are more practical for not particularly rigid set ups.........I do understand that people become attached to the camera that they have, though, or plain do not want to fork out dough for a new camera.