3Gen DermLite FOTO Digital Epiluminescence Microscopy System

Description

Foto X is the universal dermoscopy lens that attaches to virtually any digital SLR camera, compact point-and-shoot, mirrorless system camera, even a smartphone, and exceeds our long-running DermLite Foto in most every way. Housed in a durable CNC-machined aluminum unibody and built around the proven optics from the previous model, Foto X provides both polarized and non-polarized lighting at the push of a button, four brightness levels and a 4-level charge indicator. Perhaps best of all, it has its own on-board lithium-ion battery that provides comparable run time as the outgoing model, eliminating the external battery pack. Foto X may even be charged during use, allowing infinite operation at any of the three lower brightness levels. The new, extremely durable bayonet spacer design, with its removable snap-on glass faceplate, allows for quick focusing and even ("semi") non-contact dermoscopy with the faceplate removed: Reducing skin contact to outside the periphery of the lesion site is an especially useful capability when imaging vascular structures where the slightest topical pressure would alter lesion appearance. To assist your institution's infection control measures, Foto X is compatible with IceCap, disposable covers that simply snap over the unit's faceplate spacer. Foto X may be attached to your camera or smartphone either magnetically (using any of our MagnetiConnect adapters) or via its standard 37 mm threaded connection, enabling the continued use of any camera adapters that are compatible with the outgoing DermLite Foto. Key benefits: Durable aluminum housing Polarized and non-polarized via button push Four brightness levels Four-level charge indicator Automatic shutoff to save battery life Contact & non-contact dermoscopy Snap-on faceplate with 10 mm reticle Use with virtually any camera, smartphone or iPad, This product is ISO certified. Intended Use: This device is intended for medical purposes to illuminate body surfaces. It is used for non-invasive visual examination of intact skin. This battery-operated product is designed for external examination only within professional healthcare facilities by medical professionals. Review: Fragile, contact switch loosen over time, not a lifetime product - I have both DermLite FOTO, recently bought Dermlite II Pro used as backup. Dermlite FOTO was working well with Coolpix 4500 and Eye-Fi card with Compact Flash-SD card adapter, until my MA pushed the Compact Flash in the wrong way, bent several pins of the Coolpix 4500, rendering the Coolpix 4500 and 2 SD cards useless (I tried formatting the Eye-Fi cards, didn't know the pins were bent). Now I am on the quest for a Nikon Coolpix 4500 substitute with SD Eye-Fi card usability. Getting back to DermLite FOTO, I've had it for at least 10 years, started to loose contact after 5 years, the plastic piece holding the glass has all its retaining plastic clips broken, now being held together by Scotch Tape, the residue free kind. It still works OK, had to get the 8.4V battery from remote control airplane websites and soldered onto the Powerpack, the switch on DermLite FOTO is flaky, but still working. Now onto what do I think is the best camera to go with DermLite FOTO. I bought the Nikon 1 J1, very clear lens, but it's a 40.5 mm ring, needed a 40.5mm-37mm stepdown adapter to fit onto DermLite FOTO, and the zoom is operated by turning the ring around the lens. I'm used to the zoom button controlled by my right thumb. Then I bought the Sony Cybershot kit at Delasco to fit with Dermlite II Pro HR. Weak, not quite the clarity of DermLite FOTO. Image is kind of fuzzy. I suspect the Sony Cybershot lens is not the best. DermLIte II Pro HR has a 28 mm adapter size, so I had to get a 28 mm filter adapter to attach it to the Sony Cybershot. I wasn't going to try to fit the Sony Cybershot onto Dermlite FOTO, the size going from 37 mm down to 28 mm doesn't make sense. So I got the Olympus E-pl5 micro 4/3 with kit lens 14-42mm with lens filter size 37 mm. Great fit, works great, but still I have to zoom in and out by rotating the lens ring. Finally, I got the Panasonic Lumix Lx7, got the filter adapter, was able to twist out the distal end ring with a wide rubber band and a jar opener, fitted the Dermlite FOTO onto the the lens adapter, and now I'm able to zoom in and out with my right thumb. In conclusion, I think the Panasonic Lumix Lx7 is the best fit for DermLite FOTO. Images are clear as ever, albeit it only gets to about 3.8x (I haven't played with digital teleconverter mode yet, I assume it has one), Lumix Lx7 is the camera to get for the DermLite FOTO if you are willing to do some modfication. P.S. I also bought a Canon G12 a while back to fit with DermLite FOTO, I was quite frustrated with its focusing and image clarity, corners were signficantly out of focus, pictures were fuzzy, I tried to do manual focus, but just gave up on it. I would be skeptical of the Canon G15 setup, probably it has the same lens setup, just don't expect too much if you do get Canon G15 setup with DermLite FOTO.