SPECTROSCOPES disperse visible light into its component colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Various combinations of colors in the spectrum, including dark and bright lines and bands provide an enormous amount of information about the source of the light or a substance through which the light has passed. Gemologists and geologists use spectroscopes as the most important tool for determining the nature and purity of gemstones and minerals. Chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists use them to identify inorganic and organic chemicals. Physicists and astronomers look at spectra to study the structure of the universe and the nature of atoms and stars. Photographers use them to analyze various filters and illumination sources.

SPECTROGRAPHS are instruments which allow a photograph of a spectrum (spectrogram) to be taken for record keeping and more detailed analysis. But, aside from scientific and educational purposes, color spectrograms are simply gorgeous to look at.

THE GRISM SPECTROGRAPH is an affordable, high quality instrument which allows photographs of spectra to be taken with any digital SLR camera. Attach it to the filter thread in front of your camera lens, then just point at a light source, focus with the camera lens, and shoot like any other photograph. In fact, since the camera is actually focused on the spectrograph's slit, there is no need to refocus regardless of the distance of the light source, and no need to refocus on very faint objects.

THE GRISM SPECTROGRAPH can also be used as a SPECTROSCOPE for direct visual observation. The focus is fixed, but a  FOCUS ADJUSTING LENS (see the diagram among the photos) accomodates photography and direct viewing for normal vision. Corrective glasses may be used if necessary. For photography, focusing is accomplished with the camera's lens.
 
THE GRISM SPECTROGRAPH has a transmission DIFFRACTION GRATING laid over the long side of a prism. The word GRISM comes from "grating" over a "prism". The diffraction grating disperses the light into a linear spectrum in which all colors are equally spread out, while the prism angles the grating for a straight-through light path.

The LINEAR SPECTRUM makes it possible for users familiar with image processing (cropping and resizing) to calibrate an accurate wavelength scale for spectrograms in the visible light region. An INSTRUCTION CD provided with the GRISM Spectrograph includes directions and two detailed scales.

THE GRISM SPECTROGRAPH is also capable of photographing spectra far into the Infra-Red region. For this purpose, digital cameras can be modified by removing the internal UV-IR blocking filter. However, linearity of the scale begins to fail in the Infra-Red.

The INSTRUCTION CD provided with the spectrograph includes a detailed spectrograph Instruction Manual, a black and a white wavelength scale for the visible light region,  Wavelength Scale Calibration Instructions, and a lengthy article on the Basic Theory of Spectroscopy written on the high-school level. It includes numerous spectrograms taken with the GRISM Spectrograph. The CD itself is an excellent educational tool for introduction to spectroscopy for students and adults alike.

If you are a teacher, the GRISM Spectrograph can give your highschool and college students in many fields of science hands-on experience with spectroscopic material analysis, image processing, and wavelength calibration.

THE GRISM SPECTROGRAPH comes with LENS ADAPTERS which allow it to be attached to camera lens filter threads of 42mm, 49mm, 52mm, and 58mm diameter which are the most common on modern DSLR camera lenses as well as the older Pentax, Canon and Nikon lenses. If your lens filter thread is smaller than 42mm, you will need a STEP-UP adapter ring. If it is bigger than 58mm, you will need a STEP-DOWN adapter ring in order to attach the spectrograph. These adapters are available on eBay at very reasonable cost.

Please see all photos above before making a purchase, and read at least the Instruction Manual in detail before attempting photography.

Camera, lens, and tripod are not included.

Lens Adapters will vary from the photos depending on availability.

We will promptly refund your purchase if you receive an item which is not as described providing the item is returned in the original condition. Buyer pays shipping and insurance.

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We have received several inquiries regarding the nm range of this spectrograph. The spectrograph is intended for visible light. However, the exact range depends on the camera sensor and the focal length of the camera's lens. With unmodified DSLR cameras and 50mm lenses, the range is approximately 390-685nm. The spectrum will be linear up to 660nm. Cameras modified by the removal of the internal UV/IR block filter will be a little more sensitive in the UV, but a lot more sensitive in the IR. A 50mm lens will display IR spectrum up to 710nm. See the Chlorophyll absorption spectrum among the photos which was taken with a modified camera. Shorter camera lenses will display smaller images which extend farther into the IR. Programs such as RSpec can be used to precisely calibrate nonlinear spectra above 660nm.