What is the current state of the art professional digital microphotography setup available to image gemstones?
I photograph gemstones and want to know what is the most advanced digital microphotography system available to photograph these most challenging subjects for highest quality. I’m currently using a Nikon Coolpix camera attached to one of the oculars of a Leica microscope. Major drawbacks include great difficulty in critical focusing of tiny blemishes/nicks on stones because focusing is done on 1.5 inch grainy LCD screen on camera. Another drawback is unidirectional lighting coming from bolt on light source on microscope stage-I think I need 360 degree diffused lighting as otherwise some portions of stone are dark with current light setup. I have experimented with other light sources, like pipe type illuminators, but they are too strong and create hotspots in the stones. What is ideal light source–I think it must be diffused and 360 degree surrounding the stone. I’m looking for a dedicated system ideally where camera, scope and light system are made by same manufacturer.
Listen, taking pictures of microbes isn’t going to get you far in life.
