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Rob Phillips Group - Gel Camera

We use a Sony Cybershot digital camera for taking pictures of EtBr-stained gels in lab. Here are the instructions:

  1. Center your gel under the camera using the rubber pieces
  2. Find the computer that has the memory card, delete the pictures
  3. Right-click on the icon and select "eject", wait for it to finish working
  4. Put the card in the camera, turn it on
  5. Check settings:
    • Wheel is set to "M" for manual exposure
    • On screen: f2.8 - ISO100 - FINE/2560
    • Focus set to "manual" on the lens barrel
  6. Use the ridged black focus ring on the lens to adjust focus to 0.32m
  7. Select a desired exposure time with the little wheel (1-5"). Note: numbers without the second marks indicate fractions of a second!
  8. Press wheel down to adjust the exposure time
  9. Turn on the timer by pressing the down arrow
  10. Turn on the ultraviolet lamp
  11. Zoom with W and T on the lens barrel (halfway is good)
  12. Press the trigger and stand back
  13. When the camera displays "processing" or a final image you may turn off the lamp to prevent photobleaching
  14. Set the wheel to play mode to inspect your image, take more if necessary
  15. Turn off camera, look at pictures on computer