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Important Notice to users of Nikon Microscopes Digital camera Control Unit DS-L2

January 23, 2008

NIKON CORPORATION

Thank you for choosing Nikon Microscopes.

Nikon has recently discovered that Nikon Control Unit DS-L2 for DIGITAL SIGHT series digital cameras for microscope has two kinds of program malfunction as summarized below.
Problem 1. The DS-L2 creates image files dated wrong when they are captured in February of a leap year.
Problem 2. The DS-L2 calibration in the tool menu does not recognize the correct relay lens magnification and the scale data given by calibration turns out to be wrong.

Please see below for further details and correction procedures.

Nikon regrets any inconvenience this matter may cause and we appreciate your continued support of our products.

Details of those problems

Problem 1:

When you capture images on the DS-L2 during February 1st thru 29th of a leap year (*1) (*2), image files are dated wrong as follows.
Image file captured on February 1st: It is not dated, or dated totally different.
Image file captured on February 2nd-29th: The date attached with the file is one day before.
When folders are created on the DS-L2 during February 1st thru 29th of a leap year, the same problem will occur.
The problem is limited to the date and not with image files themselves.

  • (Note *1) : The upcoming leap year is year 2008.
  • (Note *2) : If the date and time setting of the DS-L2 you have is not correct,
    the same problem will occur during February 1st thru 29th that you set in the unit.

Problem 2:

Calibration in the tool menu can't recognize a correct relay lens magnification as follows.
* When you use the calibration function by inputting object/relay lens magnification data, the calibration does not recognize the correct magnification from the relay lens and the scale data given by calibration turns out to be wrong.
* When our Nikon Microscope Eclipse 80i/90i (*3), Eclipse LV series and Multizoom AZ100M are connected to the DS-L2, the DS-L2's calibration automatically recognizes object lens magnification and you should be able to get the scale data only by inputting the relay lens magnification.
However, for the same reason, the scale data after the calibration turns out to be wrong in this case too.
* The problem does not happen when you use manual calibration mode.

  • (Note *3) : When you connect your camera to the back side of the 90i DIGITAL IMAGING HEAD "DIH-E/M",
    the problem doesn't happen since the magnification of relay lens is unchangeable.
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Object products

Problem 1:

* The problem happens with all the units of the DS-L2 which have a firmware version 1.00 to 3.10 installed.
* If the new firmware version 3.21 has been downloaded from the Nikon website and has been installed in your DS-L2, the problem does not happen.

Problem 2:

* The problem happens with all the units of the DS-L2 which has a firmware version 3.10/3.20/3.21 installed,
including the cases where the firmware has been downloaded from the Nikon website and is installed in your DS-L2.

  • (Note *4) Procedures on how to check what version firmware is installed in the DS-L2
    1) Enter the SETUP menu by clicking "SETUP" tub at the menu of the DS-L2.
    2) The version information is shown on the lower right portion of the "Power On Settings" menu.
    3) The first 3 alphabets represent the firmware version.
    e.g. If DS-L2 Ver=321.xxxx.1798.071221" is shown, the firmware version is Ver.3.21.
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Procedures to fix those problems

A new firmware (DS-L2 Version 3.22) will be released on the Nikon website.
Please download it and install it to your DS-L2.
The URL is as follows.

We have two kinds of downloader options. One is a downloader which needs to be done via a network, and the other option is a downloader using USB2.0.
If you have difficulty in installing by downloader, please contact your nearest Nikon representative or our customer service center shown below for support.

* The problem happens with all the units of the DS-L2 which has a firmware version 3.10/3.20/3.21 installed,
including the cases where the firmware has been downloaded from the Nikon website and is installed in your DS-L2.

  • (Note *4) Procedures on how to check what version firmware is installed in the DS-L2
    1) Enter the SETUP menu by clicking "SETUP" tub at the menu of the DS-L2.
    2) The version information is shown on the lower right portion of the "Power On Settings" menu.
    3) The first 3 alphabets represent the firmware version.
    e.g. If DS-L2 Ver=321.xxxx.1798.071221" is shown, the firmware version is Ver.3.21.

For more information, please contact Nikon or Local Nikon Sales Representative:

In the Americas

Nikon Instruments INC.
1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747-3064, U.S.A.
Tel: +1-631-547-8500 Fax: +1-631-547-0306

In Europe

Nikon Instruments Europe B.V.
Laan van Kronenburg 2,1183 As Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Tel: +31-20-44-96-222 Fax: +31-20-44-96-298

In China

Nikon Instruments (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
26F, Hang Seng Bank Tower, No.1000 Lujiazui Ring Road,
Pudong New District, Shanghai 200120, China
TEL:+86-21-6841-2050 FAX:+86-21-6841-2060
Beijing Branch TEL: +86-10-5869-2255 FAX: +86-10-5869-2277
Guangzhou Branch TEL: +86-20-3882-0552 FAX: +86-20-3882-0580

In Korea

Nikon Instruments Korea Co., Ltd.
1F, Yuk-In B/D, 996-16, Daechi-2Dong,
Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, South Korea 135-502
TEL: +82-2-2186-8400 FAX: +82-2-555-4415

In Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, India

Nikon Singapore Pte. Ltd.
80 Anson Road, #10-01/02
Fuji Xerox Towers
Singapore 079907, Singapore
TEL: +65-6559-3618 FAX: +65-6559-3668

Other Asian Countries, Middle-East, Oceania, etc.

NIKON CORPORATION
Sales Dept., Bio Science Division, Instruments Company
Shin-Yurakucho Bldg., 12-1, Yurakucho 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8331 Japan
Tel: +81-3-3216-2375　FAX:+81-3-3216-2385
Sales Dept., Industrial Instruments Division, Instruments Company
Shin-Yurakucho Bldg., 12-1, Yurakucho 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8331 Japan
Tel: +81-3-3216-2384 FAX:+81-3-3216-2388

NIKON CORPORATION

Bio Science CS Engineering Section Quality Assurance Department, Instruments Company
Tel: +81-45-853-8524 9:00am - 5:00pm weekdays (JST)
For out-of-hours support, contact us by e-mail.
e-mail: support@tpro.nikon.co.jp
  • *Organization name of Nikon Corporation was revised on May 22, 2009.
  • *Sales Dept., Bio Science Division, Industrial Instruments Company moved office on May 6, 2010.
  • *Nikon Instruments (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. moved office on July 12, 2010.