Welcome to Digital-Microscope-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. 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 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 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, the lighter 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. The Sensor Resolution is the total number of picture elements (Pixels) forming the image. Resolution ranges from 0.3 Megapixels (MP) for 640×480 standard video resolution to over 10MP. There is a 4x jump in total pixels from 0.3MP to 1.3MP, roughly double the resolution both horizontally and vertically (0.3 x4 = 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 come 2MP and 3.3MP cameras, which are less apparent improvements over 1.3MP. Eight, ten, twelve MP cameras, again, are improvements over 5MP cameras, but the next big 4x step will require 20MP cameras which will in all probability 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, 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. 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. 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.
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