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Thrifty Thursday: The Magic DNA Machine

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Thrifty Thursdays feature photographs taken with equipment costing less than $500.

[Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3]

Captured with an inexpensive Panasonic point-and-shoot camera, the above photograph of a thermal cycler is beyond the abilities of standard professional-grade SLR equipment. At least, not without a lot of creative lens-stacking with aftermarket parts.


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How can this be?

Small digicams have small diameter lenses. This property is normally a liability, as small lenses aren't as sharp and don't let in as much light. But miniaturization does confer an advantage. Objects photographed close-in through these tiny lenses consequently appear larger than they would if shot from the same distance with a larger diameter SLR lens. Thus, the little camera has a peculiarly bug's-eye view. Not only is this perspective unattainable with off-the-shelf professional gear, the sheer bulk of my pro gear means I can't even get a lens into position to attempt the top photo. A little camera fits in little spaces!

A camera with an even smaller lens- say, an iPhone- provides an effect yet more exaggerated than these. But cell phone cams are for another post.

Alex Wild is Curator of Entomology at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studies the evolutionary history of ants. In 2003 he founded a photography business as an aesthetic complement to his scientific work, and his natural history photographs appear in numerous museums, books and media outlets.

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