If you own an Olympus BX series microscope and want to capture images or video from your samples, adding a camera is often easier than you might think. The following video shows the steps using an Olympus BX40, but the same process works for basically any Olympus BX microscope.
Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrt0F4HBO7w
What You Need — Beam Splitter + Camera Adapter + Camera
To convert your BX microscope into a digital imaging station, you generally need three components:
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A beam splitter (trinocular or camera port) — this diverts part of the light path to the camera.
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A camera adapter/tube — connects from the microscope’s camera port to your camera’s sensor.
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A camera — either a dedicated microscope camera (CCD or CMOS) or a consumer digital camera compatible with the adapter.
These parts are commonly referred to as “tucks,” “adapters,” or “camera tubes,” depending on your configuration. With the right combination, you can capture brightfield, phase contrast, fluorescence (if the microscope supports it), or even polarized images — depending on your optics.
Why It’s Worth It (and Why We Recommend Doing It)
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Installing a camera on a BX microscope is straightforward. Once you have the beam splitter and adapter, hooking up and aligning the camera usually takes only a few minutes.
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You can document your observations: photos and videos of your slides, samples, or live-cell cultures — useful for records, sharing results, teaching, or documentation.
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It extends the usefulness of your existing BX microscope. Instead of needing a separate imaging system, you convert what you already own into a powerful digital microscope.
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The “tucks,” adapters, and cameras we offer are high-quality, made to fit Olympus BX series scopes, and designed for reliable alignment, consistent illumination, and clean imaging. We highly recommend them for anyone wanting to upgrade their BX.
Scope Compatibility — Why This Works for Almost Every BX Mic
Although the video uses an Olympus BX40, the approach applies to most (if not all) microscopes in the BX line. The BX series was designed with modularity in mind: trinocular ports, standard c-mount or adapter-mounting interfaces, and beam-splitter compatibility. That means as long as your BX has a camera port (or a removable eyepiece head), you can adapt it for a camera with the right components.
Want to Upgrade Your Microscope?
If you’re ready to add imaging capability to your BX — whether for brightfield, phase contrast, fluorescence, or other purposes — check out our selection of beam splitters, adapter tubes, and microscope cameras here:
[Insert your product listing link for beam splitters, adapter tubes, and cameras]
Final Thoughts
Upgrading an Olympus BX microscope with a camera is a simple, cost-effective way to bring digital imaging into your lab or classroom. It’s a practical DIY enhancement that gives you documentation capability, easier sharing of images, and extends the lifespan and utility of your current microscope. With the right beam splitter, adapter, and camera, most users can do the install themselves — no specialized training needed.