Abstract: A universal adapter system having a video camera mount and a digital camera mount for attaching a video camera and a digital camera to a single port of an optical observation device, such as a standard microscope, that allows for simultaneous video and digital camera imaging. An example digital camera mount includes a C-clamp attachment for attaching a standard, off-the-shelf digital camera and a sleeve attached to the adapter housing that allows use of an extendable zoom lens of the digital camera. The adapter may provide increased capabilities by use of a rotatable portion to allow positioning of the digital camera relative to the optical observation device, a parfocal zoom lens for simultaneous zoom adjustment of video and digital cameras, an auxiliary zoom lens, a fine focus adjustment for adjusting the video image independent of the digital image, a smartphone adapter, a Toric reticule and a light filter.