Hi all,

I am looking for some "toy" advice and also a funding source for teaching/research equipment in the $30K range.

I find my department (and I) desperately needs a GOOD camera setup on a petrographic microscope for taking thin-section images. Can you recommend (A) a setup that you have that works really well for you, and/or (B) where to find financial support to buy such equipment? (the university financial situation is dire and our institutional tech support dried up a few years ago.)

If I were to estimate something on the high-cost end, I am thinking like $30K for a new bad-ass scope + camera + new computer dedicated exclusively to the photo aspect of the system.

However, if there is nowhere to turn for funds that are on that scale, we do still have tech/ed grants that are $5K. and we do have petrographic scopes, so if you know of a camera setup that is closer to $5K, please let me know!

thanks so much for your help.

Elisabeth