"Bobs Experiment"

The following article was recently submitted to Lens Adapter.net by Bob Armstrong a well known professional "Digiscoping" photographer residing in Alaska. The article discusses Bob’s introduction to iPhoneography with an Apple iPhone 4S and iTouch camera attached to the eyeppiece of a Kowa Spotting Scope as well as to a 2 inch eyepiece Leica Spotting Scope with the IPhone LE-Adapter Sleeve.

* See PHOTOGRAPHING NATURE IN ALASKA BY ROBERT H. ARMSTRONG

CSU Stanislaus Botany Image Collection
Steve Wolf - CSU Stanislaus
 (Steve's website contains images taken with the LE-Adapter)

I use a Nikon 990 digital camera and trinocular compound and dissecting scopes with wide field eyepieces. The camera is attached to the scope via a LE-Adapter available at http://www.lensadapter.net .  If you don't have a trinocular you can just mount the camera on one of the eyepieces. Below is a photo of the set up I use. I find it much easier to work via a TV monitor. I use the video out from the camera into a TV with an RCA jack. This way you see everything that appears on the camera LCD. I also recommend using the AC adapter, otherwise you run through batteries very quickly and the LCD times out. You must use the Nikon remote to eliminate camera shake. You can't use the self timer because that only works in macro mode. I shoot in the infinity mode and focus via the microscope. You do not want the camera to try to focus because it rarely gets it right. I mostly use the program mode (A-REC). Vignetting is a common problem.

You can reduce it in two ways: 1. use the optical zoom 2. use a relatively large aperture (small f-stop). Take several photos of each slide and slightly vary the microscope focus each time. This is one of the main advantages of a digital camera, not having to pay for film and developing! For "web publishing" I take the photos at 1024 x 768 and crop them to 800 x 600. I save in jpeg format with medium compression. Microscope lamps vary considerably and the color temperature changes depending on how high you turn up the lamp. Play with the white balance and light levels. Once you find the most accurate stick with those settings.

  Mav Magazine has reviewed the LE-Adapter. See what they have to say. URL - http://www.mav-magazine.com/Jun1999/LE-Adapter/index.htm

  Robert Shull, Director of Veterinary Medical Education at the University of Tennessee recently sent some photos he has taken with the Casio QV 8000 coupled to a microscope. The Mast cell and Blastomyces yeast pictures are taken at 800x!!!! Click Here to view some incredible microscopic images.

  University of Florida
Researchers, extension agents and software developers with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences developed the Distance Diagnostics and Identification System, or DDIS, to speed up identification of plant and animal physiological disorders.

Photo (Right) is Mavica FD-91 coupled to microscope using the LE-Adapter.

Photo ( Left) Fungal Body
from a Mildew Spore

  E-Adapter Review by Michael Oates
Michael Oates, a well known Amateur Astronomer, has recently completed a evaluation of the LE-Adapter coupled to his Mavica FD-91. Click HERE to view his recommendation and lunar landscapes. URL - http://www.ph.u-net.com/mavica/le-adapter/

"Your LE-Adapter has been an invaluable addition
to my surveillance equipment"
Fred Waters Investigations

The following is a partial list of companies/institutions
who have purchased the LE-Adapter: