Attaching Nikon DSLR to Amscope t340b

[Jcoogler]

Hey everyone! I got my first compound scope today, and I’ve been looking at everything I can think of under it. I’ve seen tons of diatoms and rotifers, and countless things I can’t identify yet. I took some photos by holding my phone to the eye piece but I want to get better photos with my camera. I have a Nikon d7500 I would like to use but I don’t know what I need to actually attach it to the trinocular head. Can anyone help me with this? Here are a few things I’ve seen so far

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[blekenbleu]

A camera with its lens over an eyepiece is called afocal and can be one of the better options,
because many microscope objectives depend on a matching (compensating) eyepiece to correct optical distortions.
One challenge is finding a good quality optic for your t340b photo tube that is also a good match for its objectives.
If those objectives require little correction, then
some aftermarket eyepieces with high relief can be more comfortable for viewing,
then use one of the original 10x eyepieces in the photo tube.

This video shows some afocal mounts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXAE-CLXGUE
You can also search this board for other afocal mounting options.
search.php?keywords=afocal

This video reviews a common DSLR adapter with marginal optical quality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju8rgeJr3bI
Note that his Olympus microscope has objectives known to depend
rather strongly on eyepiece (and photo relay) optics for corrections.
This video addresses optics matching (around 18:20/23:21):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWiyPY6pwCM

Otherwise, if upper portions of that photo tube are removable, then it may be possible remove the DSLR camera's lens
and get its sensor at objectives' (or tube lens') focal point, which is roughly an inch (2-3cm) below the top of the photo tube.
To relatively cheaply and easily anchor the sensor at that correct distance may involve:

• an adapter from microscope trinocular port to e.g. T2 or M42

• M42 extension tubes and focusing helicoid

• T2 (M42) adapter to camera lens mount

This video describes a DIY adapter for direct focus of objectives on camera sensor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVgYuPVrCuY
Not all trinocular head photo ports are so flexible, and he custom 3D prints an adapter
instead of combining separately sourced parts.

[Scarodactyl]

I think you have written 'objectives' in a few spots where you meant 'eyepieces.'

Amscope sells a simple 2x adapter for dslrs, and the same one is available from other sellers on eBay (marked ndpl-1(2x)). It is OK.

[blekenbleu]

[duplicate deleted]

[blekenbleu]

I think you have written 'objectives' in a few spots where you meant 'eyepieces.'

Oops, you are correct; it has been edited.. Thanks!

Amscope sells a simple 2x adapter for dslrs, and the same one is available from other sellers on eBay (marked ndpl-1(2x)). It is OK.

That sounds like the ticket; do you happen to know if much correction is involved?

[Scarodactyl]

It is one of those 'eh, probably good enough' solutions. It's used across a range of unrelated systems. It's really unclear which of these systems even have eyepiece corrections, and if they do whether the eyepieces they're sold with necessarily match. Amscope support sure doesn't know. Afocal might yield better results but it is also challenging to DIY as a first timer (though a 3d pritner does make it a lot easier).

[blekenbleu]

Afocal might yield better results but it is also challenging to DIY as a first timer

@zzffnn reported positively about afocal Nikon D500 APS-C with 35mm Sigma prime lens
viewtopic.php?p=120120#p120120
as did @hans with a Nikon DX 35mm 1:1.8G lens
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=12353&p=101016&hil ... al#p101016
.. but those require some clamp for the trinocular photo tube.
Since ndpl-1(2x) addresses mechanical as well as optical interface, it is an easier option.

[Dubious]

...
Amscope sells a simple 2x adapter for dslrs, and the same one is available from other sellers on eBay (marked ndpl-1(2x)). It is OK.

https://amscope.com/products/ca-nik-slr

Probably your best readily available option if you want to use the trinocular port. And if you get it from a vender offering returns, you can also send back if you don't like the results. You will need to set your camera in EFCS mode, but your camera supports that.