Taking Photomicrographs Using My Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera

If you want to take some photographs and videos of microscopic features you are examining under a microscope lens, a simple digital camera is all you need.  No need to have very expensive special equipment to capture beautiful images.

As a malaria microscopy validator I need to record still photos of my findings to be included in the report. I have done these simple steps and techniques in the validation of microscopy results from in vivo therapeutic studies of antimalarial drugs.

JoPas in action

Below is the list of materials and equipment you will need:

1. A compound microscope
2. Digital Camera
3. Specimen in a glass slide
4. 2 stable chairs with backrest

In order to capture a clear photomicrograph shot, the position and level of your digicam must be stable. You can use two chairs with backrest in order for you to have a good control in positioning the digicam. Rest your hands on top of the backrest as seen in the figure below.

Once the specimen is in focus under the microscope, level your digicam lens to the light coming out from one of the eyepiece.  You must be aware of the microscope's eye point or point of focus so that it would be easier to get the distance the camera must be from the eyepiece.  You can check this out by holding a piece of blank paper above the eyepiece.  You will see a light or image projection on the paper.  Move the paper closer or farther from the eyepiece until it is in focus.  That distance is the microscope's eye point.

light projection shown is not yet in exact focus

the exact microscope's eye point showing a clear light projection

Once you see the light or image projection on the display or screen of the camera, lower the digicam slowly until reaching the focal point.  Be sure to keep the position of the image projection at the center of the display as you lower the camera. You will notice that the diameter of the image projection is increasing until the whole field of view is in focus.

From there use the zoom function of the camera until the image fills the entire camera's display.  Once adjusted, click the shutter slowly.  You can reduce blurring by setting the self-timer to [2sec] and turning off the flash.  Press the shutter button and hold the camera steadily.  It takes a little practice to hold the camera steady, so take enough shots to make sure you have good ones with the right lighting and focus.

There you have it.  You can now transfer the images into your computer and edit them to your desired appearance.