The basis, a normal UV table (312 nm wavelength), which is also the most expensive part.
On top of that we place a plastic box.
The Nikon Coolpix 990
On top of the box we place an orange filter.
Now you just have to insert the lens of the camera and take the picture.
That's a picture we have taken. Click on it to open a high res version.
Well, maybe "system" is a little bit far reaching… After we realized how expensive even the simplest documentation systems are, we decided to give it a try and make our own. Luckily, we have a very helpful technician, and so we ended up with a nice looking apparatus.
A very helpful website on how to make your own gel documentation system is the one by the Hirsh lab at the University of Virgnia. Our system is still "young" and we will add some improvements.
We use a normal UV table. This is the same table which is also used if somebody just wants to check a gel or cut out some pieces of a gel. If somebody intends to take a picture, a plastic box is placed on top of the UV table. On the top of the box, there is a rectangular opening in which we can fit a holder for an optical filter. We use an orange filter from Hoya, but other brands are equally suitable. Through this filter, the picture is taken. For a start, you can probably work also without any filter.
The camera we use is a Nikon Coolpix 990 (3 megapixels). This camera is not produced anymore. You might be able to find a used one on ebay. The camera has some convenient features. First, its screen can be tilted. Like that, you don't have to bend over the box when taking a picture. Second, the whole optical machinery is inside the camera. There is no zoom that moves out. Like that, you can place it just in front of the filter. Third, the lens protrudes a little bit which allows you to fit it nicely into an opening which is then tightly closed.
To take a picture, you have to disable all automatic features and switch off the flashlight. The picture shown here maybe a little bit dense, we are still working on that. In fact we are just too lazy to play around with the camera settings (although it could be done), because the pictures we get are good enough for most purposes. A UV ruler besides the gel helps to focus.
Data are then transferred mechanically to a computer: We just take out the memory card and walk back to the office. All further editing is done there. A nice program which comes for free is Gimp.
Tell us what you think of our system! Tell us also if you miss any details on this page.