This description of the use of the CoolPix and Olympus Student Microscope was initiated by Mr. Justin Makii. Subsequent modifications were done by RDM.

I. Setting up the Microscope:

1.) Set up microscope on firm flat surface.

2.) Clean optics.

3.) Establish Kohler illumination

II. Preparation for the Camera:

4.) Clean slides being used so you can do a proper white balance if necessary.

a) If images look as though they not capturing what is there, then perhaps a white balance adjustment is in order.

b) The camera has several white balance settings since the light emitted by the microscopes is tungston incandescent there are two options available to us that will maximize picture clarity.

c) The Coolpix defaults to Auto White Balance which means that the camera attempts to automatically adjust the white balance to suit lighting conditions. Try this first but don't be surprised if you are not satisfied with the results.

d) More satisfactory results will probably be achieved if you manually capture a white balance reference before capturing your image. See page 101 of the manual for a description on how to do this. It is important that you have the microscope optics adjusted exactly how you want them to capture your image before capturing a white balance reference. If you change optical settings of your microscope or are looking at a specimen for which the mounting medium is significantly different you will need to capture a new White Balance Reference.

1. Camera in Auto mode

2. Translate slide to clear, clean area away from your specimen but under the coverslip and mounting medium

3. Select Menu, then Scroll (v) to A and Select (>)

4. Scroll (v) to White Bal. Preset and Select (>)

5. Scroll (v) to Measure and Set (>); The Camera will capture the White Balance Reference and Store it in Memory.

6. Select Menu to exit the Menu

7. Translate slide back to your specimen, and capture your image.

NB. If the camera is turn off, then back on, it defaults to Auto White Balance. You can reset it to the previously used White Balance Preset by:

3. Select Menu, then Scroll (v) to A and Select (>)

4. Scroll (v) to White Bal. Preset and Select (>)

5. Scroll (v) to Cancel and Set (>); The Camera will restore the previously used White Balance Reference in Memory.

III. Interfacing the CoolPix with your Olympus Microscope:

BE VERY VERY CAREFUL WITH BOTH THE CAMERA AND THE MICROSCOPE!

THESE ARE EXPENSIVE AND FRAGILE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (SEVERAL $K EACH) - MISSUSE BY YOU DEPRIVES YOUR COLLEAGUES IN FUTURE! ABUSE BY YOU DEPRIVES YOU OF REPLACEMENT COSTS IMMEDIATELY!!

1.) Make sure camera is OFF, in an upright position with the lens facing away from you.

2. Slip the Fixed L connector over the bottom left base of the camera.

3. Holding the mount with your left hand, gently tilt the camera forward until the camera lens slips into the round hole of the mount. Be careful not to snap the camera mount by pushing too vigorously!

4. Push the Hinged L connector down to fit snugly around the camera viewfinder.

Attach the microscope eyepiece attachment to the camera making sure camera is off while you do this..

Connect camera to microscope using attachment

a.) The arrow on the flash card access cover should be pointing toward the ground.

Connect AC adaptor to wall then plug into camera.

Turn camera on making sure that the dial setting is on "auto" and the flash is off

Taking pictures:

1.)

To tam the flash off go to the three buttons below the LCD (Liquid Crystal

Display), click on the button with the lightning bolt and eye below it (the button

in the middle). Press this button until a lightning bolt inside a circle appears.

Once a slide is loaded, make sure you have the proper condenser numerical operative

selected for the magnification you are using. There should be two pieces of tape

designating which position the Condenser diaphragm should be at. The closest to the

right is for I0x Objective lens while the tape to the left is for 40x Objective lens (the one

without the red).

2,) When using the lOx objective lens, it helps to zoom in completely toward the subject.

This allows a clearer and larger area to be seen in the viewfinder. Also, check the margins

of the viewfinder for blurriness make corrections if possible. To gain the clearest image

make sure digital zoom is not being used. The digital cannot be turned off. However,

simply by paying attention to the LCD while you are zooming so that there are no

numbers to the immediate right of the T. The digital zoom isactivated when the right

arrow is held in for about two seconds. Once the optical zoom is maxed out (i.e. the zoom

bar on the LCD is all the way to the right) you have to click the right arrow key (which is

the T option for zooming) this will show a number next to the zoom bar. The zoom is a

four step zoom so you can click four different magnifications (1.25, 1.6, 2.0, 2.5).

However, the idea is to not use this so if you see one of these numbers zoom back or turn

off the LCD monitor by pressing in the top arrow two times. (Digital zoom does not work

while the LCD monitor is off)