OPERATING NOTES FOR THE LEICA MICROSCOPES AND CAMERA
Shut-down computer when not in use. This may improve long-term camera performance.
Camera
• DFC500 with 12MP 2/3" CCD chip and Bayer color filter.
• The camera can be used with either microscope.
• The camera connects to the computer by a Fire wire cable and has no power switch. The
camera LED light indicates the status as follows:
o LED is red when PC Powers up or camera is first connected.
o LED turns green, then flickering orange as LAS opens, as it opens to the Acquire tab.
o LED turns green in all LAS tabs apart from Acquire, where it is flickering orange.
o LED goes green and back to orange a few times as you Acquire an image.
o LED remains green when LAS is closed.
• To transfer the camera between the two microscopes:
1. File > Exit LAS (do not quit the entire program)
2. Configuration > Hardware Configuration; select correct configuration.
3. File > Exit (fully quit program; this will turn the camera off)
4. Loosen the set-screw that holds the camera in place.
5. Carefully move the camera over to the other microscope, making sure the Firewire cable
does not get caught on the monitor.
6. Tighten the set-screw to thumb tightness.
7. Place dust cap on the empty port of the other microscope.
Camera Trouble-shooting
• If saving photos at high resolution, do not put too many photos in a folder, as the camera will
take a long time to save.
• The LAS will crash if photos have too long an exposure, due to issues with the DFC 500
camera. In general, take exposures <800 ms.
Stereomicroscope
• Leica M165C with 0.63x and 2x objectives
• Base plate has several options: polarized, glass, or black/white for picking. These plates are
exchanged by pressing on the lower rim to lift the plate out.
• The entire square black plate can be removed and replaced with a large glass plate. This is
done by loosening the back screw with a coin and pressing on the back right corner to lift the
plate out.
• Use care when moving the plates. If working with rock samples, use and index card between
the sample and the plate to protect it from scratches.
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