Thanks a lot for all the excellent suggestions. 
We have to align the system at its specific wavelengths because we combine beams using beam splitter.

At this moment, it appears the following approach will work for us:
- Use Logitech C910 web camera and remove IR filter
- connect camera to MacBook Pro
- view image with PhotoBooth
Or use FaceTime and connect with iPad. Thus, we can leave the camera with computer at the position we want to look at, while carrying the iPad around and put in a convenient position for alignment.

With this setup, all components and visible lasers appear in their natural color.
NIR lasers look very bright. We typically shine the laser on a surface (e.g. iris, lens paper). We have to dim the lasers with AOMs to the minimum allowed by our software (ZEN from Zeiss) to avoid saturation of the image. We tried different wavelengths up to 1100nm. Even 1100 nm is very well visible; I would not be surprised if I could go higher.

Thanks for all your help,
Winfried

Winfried Wiegraebe
Head of Microscopy
Stowers Institute for Medical Research

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(816) 926-4415
http://research.stowers.org/microscopy/
http://www.stowers.org/

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craig Brideau
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2014 12:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Webcam as IR finder

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Note that the Chameleon in 'alignment mode' still produces enough power to be an eye hazard, so you have to be careful. The thing I like about using cameras is that you don't risk your eye at all while working!

Craig Brideau

On Thu, Sep 18, 2014 at 9:53 AM, Reto Fiolka <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Dear list,
>
> I have used quite a lot the Find-r-scope that Mike was referring to. 
> If you align setups with NIR light, it is very helpful and I can 
> highly recommend it.
>
> I now use the Miniature IR Viewer from Newport 
> (http://search.newport.com/ ?
> q=*&x2=sku&q2=IRV1-1700), together with a headband to have both hands 
> free. It works, but the device has a silly small battery that is 
> drained rather quickly.
>
> Alternatively, if your setup uses a coherent Chameleon, you can put it 
> in alignment mode. The Chameleon then emits in CW at a low wavelength 
> (~700nm) that can bee seen by eye. I lately use that for alignment 
> purposes, albeit some of the optics may perform differently then they 
> would at the design NIR wavelengths.
>
> Best,
> Reto
>