Medical Specimen photography?

[tjrenegade]

Does anyone have any experience with this? Its similar to a copy stand setup. I am trying to help my wifes lab come up with a better system than what they are using which is a point and shoot mounted on a homemade copy stand using ambient (Florescent) light. They are having some glare and color issues.

I am thinking they are better off with an SLR and a macro lens than the PS or maybe a hi-resolution video camera they can capture stills from.

the other issue is the camera needs to be either remotely operated or sealed so that when tech use it with gloves on the camera will not get all gooey and gross...for lack of a better term.

Any input is appreciated.

[DrPablo]

Most video cameras give you very low res stills.

You can put a cheap color-correction filter in front of the lens to deal with the fluorescent lights. Just a magenta gel filter would work. You could probably find one at KEH.com for cheap. Or get a magenta gel sheet to put over the light -- same effect (Rosco makes some cheap color-correction gel sheets that they sell at most online photo stores). The glare has to do with the direction of the light. If it can be illuminated from the side, or a diffuser of sorts can be put over the light (even just a plastic tupperware) then it probably won't glare so much.

[tjrenegade]

Thanks the glare and color are the least of the problem. I know those are easily fixed my bigger issues are simple to operate remotley if possible and decent resolution. The commercial produced systems are using high end video but the system are in the 24K range and I have a 15K budget....

[airfrogusmc]

Get a light stand and a good macro lens.

[kuma1212]

For basic gross (meaning not sliced and prepared to examine under the microscope...whole different set up required for microscopic photography) pathology specimens, any basic camera body with a macro lens and ring flash should be sufficient. I would post some, but the photos I have are probably a little too gruesome. Maybe try a 100 2.8 macro or a 60 2.8 macro.

[tjrenegade]

For basic gross (meaning not sliced and prepared to examine under the microscope...whole different set up required for microscopic photography) pathology specimens, any basic camera body with a macro lens and ring flash should be sufficient. I would post some, but the photos I have are probably a little too gruesome. Maybe try a 100 2.8 macro or a 60 2.8 macro.

Thank you thats the kind of input I needed....I didn't even think of a ring flash! Yes Gross photography is what they are doing is a pathology lab.

[SwingBopper]

Canon 40D and some others in the EOS line can be remotely controlled from a laptop USB or wireless. You can see the image on the laptop, adjust & shoot. Get one with the macro and the ringlight and you're good to go.

[Tixeon]

You might consider a good heavy Copy Stand to go with the above suggested Ring Light. I use an older Beseler CS-20 that is cabinet mounted & would be excellent for specimen photography. The trouble with most of the newer ones is that they are single column & not as sturdy as the twin girder type (CS-20). Good luck...

[Oneslowz28]

I have used my laptop to control one of my 30D's for astrophotography. I have even extended the usb cable 20 feet and controlled the cam from the inside of my warm home.

[airfrogusmc]

You might consider a good heavy Copy Stand to go with the above suggested Ring Light. I use an older Beseler CS-20 that is cabinet mounted & would be excellent for specimen photography. The trouble with most of the newer ones is that they are single column & not as sturdy as the twin girder type (CS-20). Good luck...

I always use a copy stand. We had one set up in patholgy.

[Tixeon]

I can't imagine working without the Beseler CS-20. That sucker will hold an RB67 steady as a rock.

[tonylong]

For remote operations, Canon DSLRs have both a shutter release cable connection and the ability to control from a computer via either a USB connection or special wireless adapters, so you have all those abilities with DSLRs.

P&S cameras don't, as a whole, have cable release connectors (at least the ones I've used don't) but some do have the USB remote-contol capability. I know my old S3 IS came with Canon remote control software that worked quite well and has pretty advanced quaisi-macro capabilities. I say "quasi macro" because true 1:1 macro is not possible with these cameras. If you need macros approaching life-size you really will need a DSLR and probably a dedicated macro lens (more efficient than a telephoto lens with extenders or closeups).