Rapidly advancing technology has made digital imaging within reach of every microscopist.  There are now so many digital cameras available for microscopy, it's often difficult to choose the right one: still cameras, video cameras, consumer cameras...  At Martin Microscope Company, we spend lots of time testing new digital cameras in order to be able to recommend the right camera for each customer and application.  With this in mind, we have developed the following resources to help in selecting a digital camera for your microscope.  Select from the topics below, or just scroll down.

CAMERA TYPES:

Dedicated Microscope Digital Still Cameras:  Dedicated microscope digital cameras typically cost more for less resolution, but they have the advantage of being directly controlled by a computer.  They typically provide a better preview image, often with focusing aids, and the ability to acquire the image directly into various imaging software though a TWAIN or plug-in interface.  At this time, most 2MP digital cameras output the full resolution image as the preview, while higher MP cameras provide a lower resolution preview than the final still image will be.

Consumer Hand Held Digital Still Cameras:  We at Martin Microscope Company got into the consumer camera arena quite early with the development of our MM99 adapter in 1999, originally for the popular Sony Mavica cameras.  As far as we know, we were the first to make and market a professional microscope adapter for a consumer digital camera.  These cameras offer high resolution still images for very low cost as compared to dedicated microscope digital cameras.  Consumer cameras change very quickly with new models every year.  Scientific cameras just aren't able to keep up.  So, consumer hand-held cameras are recommended for routine micrography, especially as a replacement for instant film.  They are also recommended for their versatility, being useable both on and off of the microscope, and for the ease with which they can be moved from one microscope to another.  The images are normally stored on internal memory cards from which they must be downloaded to the computer.  This can present a problem if the image files need to be named as they are saved, and also may be  inconvenient if the images need to be manipulated or measured immediately upon being captured.  The exception to this is the Canon line of digital cameras that include PC/ Mac control software.

Digital Video Cameras:  NEW INFO on HD VIDEO!  For several years now, we have recommend using a DV camcorder with our MM99 adapter as the easiest way to acquire digital video from a microscope.  With the introduction of the Sony HDR-HC1 High Definition Video Camcorder for around $2,000.00, High Definition video microscopy became affordable for the first time!  We've tested our MM99 adapter with this camcorder and now with the new HRD-HC9 on various microscopes with outstanding results.  Like other DV camcorders that we've used in the past, it can be controlled by a computer via Firewire.  Recordings can be made to the internal DV tape, or captured directly into a computer.  However, we think the primary use of HD video microscopy will be to enhance classroom displays.  The move in recent years from classroom TV monitors to video projectors has greatly increased screen sizes, and meant that standard video microscopy often looks very grainy on a large projection screen.  Now, HD compatible projectors and HDTV flat-screen monitors in conjunction with our MHC999PKG HD video camera package make High Definition classroom displays a great option.  Download sample HD Videos!

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Sensors:  The heart of every digital camera is the Sensor, usually either a CCD or a CMOS type.  All Sensors are analog devices, converting photons into electrical signals.  The process by which the analog information is changed to digital is called Analog to Digital (A/D) Conversion.  This can occur within the Sensor itself, or within the camera, or within the PC, as was the case with older video camera / frame grabber technology.  The Sensor size is another consideration.  The larger the Sensor size (actually the larger the individual pixel size), the more light sensitive the Sensor should be, so larger is better, at least in theory.  Some of the most advanced digital cameras, like the ProgRes C14+,  use a large 1.4MP moving Sensor that scans the image area in up to 36 increments to produce extremely high resolution 12.5MP final images.

Resolution:  The Sensor Resolution is the total number of picture elements (Pixels) forming the image.  Resolution ranges from 0.3 Megapixels (MP) for 640x480 analog video resolution up to an incredible 32MP with the new Lumenera InfinityX-32.  There is a 4x jump in total pixels from 0.3MP to 1.3MP, roughly double the resolution both horizontally and vertically (0.3 x 4 = 1.2), so we can see a vast improvement in 1.3MP cameras over older video resolution cameras.  Images in this category are still relatively small in file size, so are fine for email in jpg format.  Next comes 2MP and 3.3MP cameras which are less apparent improvements over 1.3MP.  When we reach 5MP, that represents 4x the total pixels of a 1.3MP camera (1.3 x 4 = 5.2), so 5MP is the next big leap.  Eight, ten, twelve MP cameras, again, are improvements over 5MP cameras, but the next big 4x step requires a 20MP camera which in most cases exceed the resolution of the microscope optics.  Indeed, we have experienced "empty magnification" even in 8MP cameras.  Generally, higher megapixel images can provide greater detail over a wider field-of-view (which makes them better for lower magnification imaging), allow for cropping more detailed areas of interest, and can yield more accurate measurements.  They can also be used to make larger photo quality (300dpi) prints.  The following chart illustrates this:  

0.3 Megapixel	640 x 480 pixels	1.6" x 2.13" print size at 300dpi	Moticam 480
1.3 Megapixel	1392 x 1040 pixels	3.2" x 4.3" print size at 300dpi	Lumenera Infinity2-1C
2.0 Megapixel	1600 x 1200 pixels	4" x 5.3" print size at 300dpi	Scion CFW-1608C
3.3 Megapixel	2080 x 1542 pixels	5.1" x 6.8" print size at 300dpi	ProgRes C3
5.0 Megapixel	2580 x 1944 pixels	6.4" x 8.5" print size at 300dpi	ProgRes C5
6.0 Megapixel	2816 x 2112 pixels	9.4" x 7" print size at 300dpi	Canon PowerShot S3IS
8.0 Megapixel	3264 x 2448 pixels	8" x 11" print size at 300dpi	Sony Cybershot H9
12.5 Megapixel	4080 x 3072 pixels	10.24 " x 13.6" at 300dpi	ProgRes C14+
32 Megapixel	6464 x 4864 pixels	16" x 21.5" at 300dpi	Lumenera InfinityX-32

Included interface software and compatibility:  This is an area that can play a very important role in selecting the proper camera for a specific application.  This aspect will mainly impact dedicated microscope cameras since consumer cameras usually do not directly interface with a computer (other than to download captured images; Canon cameras are the exception - see below).  All dedicated microscope cameras will include some software for driving the camera.  This will allow a preview image to be viewed on the computer monitor which may be of the full camera resolution or may be a reduced resolution for a faster refresh rate.  The higher the camera's pixel resolution, the more likely that it will have a reduced resolution preview.  We might consider this the camera's video output capability, although the rate at which the preview is output will depend primarily on the exposure time set for a given image, but also on the speed of the computer processor, and the type of connection to the computer (ie:  Firewire, USB2, etc).  Most higher megapixel cameras, because of their lower resolution previews, will offer focusing aids such as a small portion of the image (user defined) at full resolution, or a focus indicator bar.  Common menu controls include exposure time, gain, color balance, and possibly time lapse features.  In many cases the camera can automatically adjust exposure time, color balance, etc, but a manual override is critical for many microscopy challenges.  Other software features might include basic screen calibration and measuring, more commonly on the captured image, but sometimes on the "live" preview image as well.  Some cameras are compatible only with PC's, but most will support Macs.  Finally, basic TWAIN compatibility is desired (for PCs) so that other software like Adobe Photoshop can access the camera interface software and acquire images directly.  Many cameras also include plug-ins for popular image analysis software.  Our current recommended IA software is IMT i-Solution which is compatible with our best dedicated microscopy cameras.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION:  What is the magnification of the captured image?  ANSWER...

FEATURED CAMERAS:

DEDICATED MICROSCOPE CAMERAS:

Jenoptik ProgRes Professional Color CCD Firewire Cameras:

-  Made in Germany by Jenoptik Laser.Optic.Systeme, GmbH
-  Include ProgRes CapturePro software for Win/Mac 
-  Accept standard C-mount microscope adapters

Please visit www.progres-camera.com for more information on these and additional models, or click the model name for more on that specific model from Jenoptik.

Lumenera Infinity Color CCD or CMOS USB-2 Cameras:

-  Made in Canada by Lumenera Corporation
-  Include Infinity Capture and Infinity Analyze for Windows only
-  Accept standard C-mount microscope adapters (except for 4-11)

Please visit http://www.lumenera.com/scientific/index.php for more information, or click the model name for more on that specific model from Lumenera.

Scion CFW Color CCD Firewire Cameras:

-  Made in USA by Scion Corporation
-  Include Scion VisiCapture and ImageJ Software for Win/Mac
-  Accept standard C-mount microscope adapters

Please visit http://www.scioncorp.com for more information, or click the model name for more on that specific model from Scion.

Motic Moticam Color CMOS USB-2 Cameras:

-  Made in China by Motic
-  Include Motic Images Plus Software for Win/Mac
-  Accept standard C-mount microscope adapters

Please visit http://www.motic.com/Products.aspx?r=NA&lang=en&id=144 for more information on Motic cameras, or click the model name for more on that specific model from Motic.

DIGITAL CAMERAS:
(Consumer Hand-Held)

May 1, 2008:  New Camera Packages!

PRICE

      -  Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi 12.5MP DSLR Camera
      -  MM-SLR Microscope Adapter (or MDSLR if available)
      -  T-Mount for Canon EOS
      -  AC Adapter
      -  18-55mm Kit Lens (for off-microscope use)
      -  2 GB Secure Digital Card

This is the first DSLR camera we've tested that we really like for microscopy.  The included EOS Utility software with "Live View" preview mode makes all the difference.  More on DSLR cameras... 

$1,399.00
Recommended

This camera lacks the tilting LCD and software control that we like in the Canon S5, but still works quite well with the MM99 adapter.  The Sony H50 has the tilting LCD, but its 15x zoom lens does not work well with our adapters - too much pin-cushion, and problems with vignetting in some circumstances.  The previous model H9 worked well.  

HD DIGITAL VIDEO:

Sample HD Video Downloads...

PRICE

$1,399.00

(microscope sold separately)

The W4100 HDTV included with this package tested best among HDTV's we've tried so far, but other Sony HDTV monitors and projectors are also available - 
see SonyStyle for other models.  

$3,299.00

$995.00

TEST IMAGES:

DIC

Image Processing and Analysis Software:

Download IMT Software brochure...

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Prices, specifications, and availability subject to change without notice.
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