Saturday 2 April 2016

Digital Microscope Camera

For Capturing the Image from Microscope we have to take the help of the Microscope Camera which comes with various price tag depending upon the type ( CMOS or CCD or Cooled CCD) and application. In most of the Bright-field application  we use CMOS or CCD  Microscope Cameras.

2MP Cam3MP Cam

There are few points to be considered prior to select a microscope camera most of the time people think that a camera with high Megapixel is a better choice and they are not always right.

I am briefing the points that is to be considered prior to select the Microscope camera :

1) Pixel size of the sensor :  The the bigger the pixel size of the sensor the more details will be capture and the image will be better hence a sensor with 6.5 micron x 6.5 micron will have a better image quality than a 2.2 micron x 2.2 micron pixel size sensor.

2) Size of the sensor :  Size of the sensor is one of the main criteria to have a better image that is to say a 1/2 inch CMOS camera sensor will have better image than a 1/3 inch CMOS sensor.

3) Signal to noise ratio : The higher the value of signal to noise ratio the better the Image quality.

4) Frame rate : The frame rate of a microscope camera should be more than  16 fps ( Frames per second ) as value less than this will give jumping image / flicker. With higher Megapixel format the frame rates goes on decreasing.

5) Application : What is the application for which you would like to buy a camera  
a) If its Bright field Microscope then a choice of CMOS or CCD camera will do.
b) If it is a Fluorescence or Dark field or low light application then Peltier Cooled CCD is a better choice.

So next time when you go for a purchase of microscope camera do not get confused as 1.3 MP can have better Image than a 16 MP Camera provided the 1.3 MP camera has - Larger sensor  format than 16MP, Higher pixel size, higher frame rate and higher signal to noise ratio.

So a 1.3 MP camera may cost Higher than a 16 MP camera because of the above specifications.


Sunday 27 March 2016

Microscope Care & Servicing

 Microscope Servicing
Since Microscope is an optical instrument  and has Lenses made up of glass should be handled carefully and should not be dropped or slammed. Dust and fungus are the main problem for microscope or any optical instruments as such.

Following precautions should be taken to keep a microscope in good working condition.

1) Never keep the microscope in a humid place - Fungus grow rapidly under damp condition.
2)  Protect microscope from dust when not in use always cover the microscope with a dust cover.
3) Periodic servicing is to be carried by authorized service engineer never ever try to service the microscope of your own if you are not trained to do so because the optical alignment are critical and if disturbed will disturb the image quality the power supply section of advance microscopes has high voltage.

Microscope Servicing Kit ( Components )

The following mainly make up for your microscope servicing 

1)   Lens cleaning solution - You can have some from the store or if not you can use Ethanol  ( Ethyl Alcohol ) .
2)  Blower - Pneumatic blower
3)  Cotton buds
4)  Tweezers 
5)  Tools as per the requirement 
6)  Collimators for alignment ( If optical alignment is disturbed ) 

If you are not confident you can ask for the help from your supplier of  Microscope or can Contact Us

LEVENHUK - Student Microscope with Dual Illumination

You must have seen  many Advanced Microscopes which have both Incident as well as Transmitted illumination but with a big price tag attached to them.

What if you just want to have a similar type of Microscope to study insects ( Incident Illumination ) or Thin section of leaf, stem or Microorganism in pond water ( Transmitted Illumination ) and you do not want to burden your pocket as the Magnification is is just less than 600X ? 

Then I would recommend you to have a Microscope as the one that is shown on the left side this Microscope is from LEVENHUK, USA and the price is comfortable its Rs. 7,800/- + Taxes.


Specification of the LEVENHUK Dual Illumination Microscope :
  • Eyepiece   : WF 10x, 15xH
  • Objective : 4x, 10x & 40x Achromatic Optical Lenses
  • Stage        : Clip on Stage for sample holding
  • Focusing Knob
  • LED Illumination with intensity control switching between incident and transmitted light or both used together.
  • Disc Diaphragm 
  • Power Supply : Battery  1.5V x 3 or Mains Adapter I/p : 110V-230VAC , O/p : 5V DC