Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

Do you have any microscopy questions, which you are afraid to ask? This is your place.
Post Reply
Message
Author
chhejr
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:05 pm

Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#1 Post by chhejr » Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:16 am

I have a Nikon SMZ-10 stereo microscope, and I recently purchased an Amscope MU503B digital camera to attach to it. I used a 1x metal adapter that screwed into the digital camera on one end and on the other end the adapter properly slid into the SMZ-10 stereo microscope's camera port (it says D10NLC on the adapter). Unfortunately though when I focus on something while looking through the binoculars (it uses 20x/12 eyepieces) the camera image is not in focus too.

My problem is that I want them to be both in focus at the same time, but I don't know what attachment I need to achieve this. Does anybody have any idea of what I will need to purchase, the model #, and/or where I can buy it?

Dubious
Posts: 426
Joined: Sun May 09, 2021 7:55 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#2 Post by Dubious » Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:11 am

Are you using the .5x reducer that comes with the MU503B?

Scarodactyl
Posts: 2775
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:09 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#3 Post by Scarodactyl » Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:13 am

Another question to get out of the way, are your eyepieces set up to be parfocal throughout the entire zoom range?

chhejr
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:05 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#4 Post by chhejr » Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:09 am

Dubious wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:11 am
Are you using the .5x reducer that comes with the MU503B?
I'm not sure exactly. I first tried attaching the camera by screwing a silver metal attachment directly into the camera as shown in the pictures below.
20211221_202342.jpg
20211221_202342.jpg (24.83 KiB) Viewed 2654 times
20211221_202400.jpg
20211221_202400.jpg (61.63 KiB) Viewed 2654 times
20211221_202438.jpg
20211221_202438.jpg (85.55 KiB) Viewed 2654 times
20211221_202520.jpg
20211221_202520.jpg (68 KiB) Viewed 2654 times
This fit on the microscope nicely but the focus didn't match what was seen in the binoculars. Next, I removed a metal painted column attachment on the microscope camera port and attached a fixed microscope adapter FMA050 that came with the camera to the camera and then pushed it into the camera port as shown. This improved things so that the binocular's focus and camera's focus was closer together but still not perfect. Also shown in the second post below are the three accessories that came with the camera. I'm not sure, is the .5x reducer that you were refering to the same as the FMA050?
20211221_203435.jpg
20211221_203435.jpg (57.29 KiB) Viewed 2651 times
Last edited by chhejr on Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:16 am, edited 3 times in total.

chhejr
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:05 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#5 Post by chhejr » Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:11 am

Scarodactyl wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:13 am
Another question to get out of the way, are your eyepieces set up to be parfocal throughout the entire zoom range?
I don't know if they are parfocal or not. Below are two pictures of them. I just insert them directly into the eyepiece with no other thing attached.
20211221_203735.jpg
20211221_203735.jpg (25.55 KiB) Viewed 2653 times
20211221_203743.jpg
20211221_203743.jpg (8.86 KiB) Viewed 2653 times

chhejr
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:05 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#6 Post by chhejr » Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:15 am

Scarodactyl wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:13 am
Another question to get out of the way, are your eyepieces set up to be parfocal throughout the entire zoom range?
Here are the three pieces that came with the camera.
20211221_203604_HDR.jpg
20211221_203604_HDR.jpg (21.37 KiB) Viewed 2650 times

Scarodactyl
Posts: 2775
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:09 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#7 Post by Scarodactyl » Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:35 am

To clarify, when you zoom in and out does the image remain in focus? If not the position of the eyepieces needs to be adjusted a bit.
Using a 0.5x eyepiece adapter as in the second setup is probably the way to go. If you're lucky the camera can be made parfocal by raising the adapter just a little (easy), vs needing to sit lower (mechanically impossible).

chhejr
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:05 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#8 Post by chhejr » Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:15 pm

Scarodactyl wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:35 am
To clarify, when you zoom in and out does the image remain in focus? If not the position of the eyepieces needs to be adjusted a bit.
Using a 0.5x eyepiece adapter as in the second setup is probably the way to go. If you're lucky the camera can be made parfocal by raising the adapter just a little (easy), vs needing to sit lower (mechanically impossible).
No. When I turn the focus knob the image focus changes. The image doesn't remain in focus. Moving the focus knob raises or lowers the stereo microscope thus moving the focal point. What can I purchase that would fit this microscope that could either raise the adapter a little bit or where can I get a 0.5x eyepiece adapter that would fit?

Scarodactyl
Posts: 2775
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:09 pm

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#9 Post by Scarodactyl » Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:38 pm

chhejr wrote:
Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:15 pm
No. When I turn the focus knob the image focus changes.
You'll want to fix this first, since it will affect your camera too and it's a big quality of life improvement. Put something flat with an easy to see pattern under your scope in the center of the field of view*. Close one eye. First zoom in to maximum magnification and focus the image in that one eye with the focus knob. Then zoom out and refocus the image by adjusting the eyepiece focus using the knurled ring around the ocular. Zoom in again, adjust the focus via the focus knob if needed, and then zoom out and readjust the eyepiece a bit if needed. Then, while still zoomed out, adjust your other eyepiece so the other eye gets a focused image as well. Your scope should now remain in focus at all zoom settings. Once that's in place, then you can adjust the position of your camera to match.


*The smz10 is not well corrected for planarity at minimum magnification so the edges will not remain in focus at low mag vs high mag regardless. That's just how it is, don't worry about it.

janesbenth
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 1:31 am

Re: Focus Question About Stereo Microscope Camera

#10 Post by janesbenth » Tue Jul 12, 2022 1:34 am

No. Changing the focus of the image causes it to shift. The picture loses focus. The stereo microscope's focusing point can be changed by adjusting the focus knob. 0.5x eyepiece adapter that might fit this microscope. Besides, thanks a lot for your sharing. Keep posting please.

Post Reply