Choosing Between a Digital Still Camera and a Camera for Microscopy

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Choosing Between a Digital Still Camera and a Camera for Microscopy

If you're trying to decide what type of camera to purchase for your microscope, you are likely considering a digital still camera (DSC). Before you make that choice, take a close look at what our cameras have to offer:

Ease of Setup

Meiji's microscopy camera models come complete with a USB 2.0 cable, installation CD, electronic User’s Guide, microscopy application software, and power adapter (if required). The camera can be set up on a laptop or desktop PC in minutes. Visit our "C"-mount adapters page to determine the appropriate adapter for your microscope, and you’re ready to go.

Software

The INFINITY ANALYZE software package is easy to use and intuitive. It provides all of the camera control functions to create an optimum image, and includes calibration, measurement, and annotation tools, along with a number of image enhancement functions. INFINITY ANALYZE imaging software has over 30 tools developed specifically for microscopy. There is no need to download captured frames from a memory card, as the images are instantly transferred to your PC as they are captured.

White Balance

A critical feature of imaging in microscopy is the proper reproduction of color as seen in the microscope eyepiece. Consumer cameras use an automatic white balance which creates a color cast to an image. Manual white balance is one of the core features of a dedicated microscope camera ensuring proper color reproduction.

Display and Imaging Efficiency

Our USB cameras provide continuous video frames to the PC monitor through a high-speed USB 2.0
interface, offering a full screen video preview on a monitor and a far superior presentation of the final image than you would achieve on the small digital screen on the back of a DSC. The live video mode allows you to quickly frame and focus the camera image. Images can be quickly white balanced, focused and captured without the difficulties presented by the small view screens and limited interface of point-and-shoot cameras.

Dedicated

Meiji's USB cameras are connected directly to the PC. They do not make use of tiny buttons spread across the camera body or have complex layers of menus displayed on a miniature screen. All camera controls are handled through the application panels displayed directly on the PC monitor. Since the camera only functions when connected directly to the PC, and does not include any standard optics, it is far less likely to be borrowed for other use outside of the office, making it a more secure asset in the lab.

Options

Our cameras come in a wide range of resolutions. Choose the camera that best suits your requirements based on the type of microscopy work you perform. Both CCD and CMOS sensor-equipped cameras are available, as well as a cooled CCD camera that provides optimal image quality for low-light applications. Cameras are available in resolutions ranging from 1.3 to 32 megapixels.

Drawbacks of digital still cameras

•Image sensors and IR filters are not chosen specifically for microscopy applications
•They typically require batteries that need replacing or recharging
•The optics are not coated or designed to be used in microscopy applications
•Limited storage space is available on the memory card
•Download is required from the DSC to a PC in order for images to be used
•Tiny buttons and complex layered menus are required to control the camera
•Miniature digital display window to frame and focus images
•DSC cameras are portable and convenient for out-of-office use, from which they may not return