Olympus DP11-N Microscope Digital Camera w/ Hand Switch Controller RS-232C

Olympus DP11-N Microscope Digital Camera w/ Hand Switch Controller RS-232C

The Olympus DP11-N is a compact digital microscope camera designed to mount directly onto an Olympus microscope's camera port and capture still images to removable memory cards. It features an integrated color LCD display on the front panel for reviewing and managing stored images, and connects to a separate hand switch controller for one-hand operation during microscopy sessions. This listing includes the camera body, the Olympus hand switch controller, an AC power adapter/charger, and an RS-232C interface cable. Lens is not included.

Specifications & What's Included

• Model: Olympus DP11-N
• Manufacturer: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. — Made in Japan
• Power: 6.5V / 1.5A DC (via included AC charger)
• Memory card slots: CompactFlash (CF) and SmartMedia (SM)
• Interface: RS-232C (DB-25 connector on rear panel)
• Video output: Composite Video Out (RCA) on rear panel
• Front panel: Color LCD display with card management menu (Select All, Clear All, Date/Time, Card Index)
• Rear panel: Power button, Video Out, DC power input (6.5V/1.5A), RS-232C port
• Hand switch controller: Full-function Olympus controller with MODE, AE LOCK, EXPOSE, ERASE, SET/OK, MENU, PREV/INFO, PROTECT, PRINT, INDEX, EXP ADJ buttons; SM/CF card selector; LCD frame counter display
• Includes: Hand switch controller, AC charger, RS-232C cable
• Lens not included

Applications

The Olympus DP11-N was designed for scientific and clinical microscopy documentation — attaching to the camera port of Olympus upright and stereo microscopes to capture still images directly to CompactFlash or SmartMedia cards without requiring a connected PC. This made it a practical tool in pathology labs, research institutions, and quality control environments where images needed to be recorded and reviewed at the microscope itself. Images stored on the memory card could then be transferred to a PC via the RS-232C interface or by direct card reading for annotation, archiving, and reporting. The hand switch controller allowed the operator to manage exposures, auto or manual recording modes, image review, and card functions without looking away from the eyepiece. The DP11-N dates from the early-to-mid 2000s era of dedicated microscope cameras, before USB and FireWire digital cameras became the standard solution for microscope imaging. It remains a straightforward, self-contained imaging solution for labs still running compatible Olympus microscope platforms.