microscopic pictures please help

Hi All

I have got an interest in fibre technology and was looking at purchasing a microscope in order to examine carpet fibres via a usb onto a lap top computer so that i wouldn't have to remove fibres from ancient carpets for testing. I then thought about the possibility of connecting a microscope or device to my canon EOS 350D.

Does anyone have any ideas regarding this could it be done and if so what would I need to purchase. I really need 500x magnification so that i can view the scales on Wool fibres in particular.

Hope someone has some answers.

Cheers JB

Hi- the highest realistic magnification you can get with a camera mounted lens is 5:1 with an MPE-65 lens - this gives a FOV width of 4.5mm with your camera which is obviously then blown up when viewing on a PC screen. Not sure this would be enough to see scales on the wool fibres though. Otheriwse think you are left mounting the speciment on a suitable microscope.
Brian V.

Using a conventional microscope, you'd need to set up a tripod or copy stand to support the camera on a microscope adapter. You're looking at a high three or low four digit price, I think, and I'd really recommend getting a camera-ready microscope for the job. These will have a separate, vertical, ocular tube for the camera. Because it's vertical, you don't usually need a camera support with lighter cameras. However if you already have access to a microscope of suitable power you should be able to pick up an adapter for somewhere around $50, including a T-mount adapter.

Howevcer you do it, you'll want a right-angle finder as 1) you'll go crazy trying to see into the viewfinder with the scope on a tabl or bench and 2) you'll want the magnification available to enable manual focus with any degree of accuracy.

Thanks for the replies so far So I am really looking at needing to purchase a camera adaptor and a microscope Brian do you know where I could view sample pictures using this type of lens.

Thanks

JB

Something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

This might give you some idea - pic of an orchid petal taken at 4:1 with an MPE-65. You can see the individual plant cells which from memory are around 60microns in diameter.
Not sure what size your wool scales are ?

Brian V.

Incredible petal picture thanks everyone. I have been trawling the internet and been advised by a firm to send them some samples of fibres they will take the pictures using their equipment and return the images to let me see the result if it is OK. I will be looking at around £350s all in. How does that compare to the macro lens Brian.

Cheers JB

LordV wrote in post #5095180
This might give you some idea - pic of an orchid petal taken at 4:1 with an MPE-65. You can see the individual plant cells which from memory are around 60microns in diameter.
Not sure what size your wool scales are ?

Brian V.

Brian. Would the MPE-65 also work with extension tubes? I'm guessing that carpet fibres couble be mounted on a slide, so the DOF factor wouldn't be much of a player here.