FAQ: I am unable to obtain equally focused images through the camera and eyepiece

ID206

FAQ: I am unable to obtain equally focused images through the camera and eyepiece. There are a few millimetres between the two focal planes!

If the focal planes of the specimen differ widely (> 10 mm) between the camera display (through the phototube) and visual observation via the eyepiece, your instrument has a C-mount connection that differs from the general standards. Dental and operating microscopes in particular sometimes have C-mount connections that are incompatible with standard C-mount connections.

The above illustration shows a setup in which the two optical paths (eyepiece and phototube) are aligned differently. If the image through the eyepiece is focused, the image that the camera sees (through the phototube) is blurred. By turning the micrometer screw it is possible to ensure that the camera also sees a focused image. This process is known as defocusing. It changes the distance (h) between the object and the eyepiece. This difference should be corrected for reasons of optical quality.

The C-mount connection is a standardised connection that has been designed for video cameras. Using this connection makes it possible to attach cameras made by different manufacturers to phototubes. The thread is imperial (inches) and has an external diameter of 25.4 mm. The distance from the camera’s sensor chip is known as the flange focal distance (or flange-to-film distance) and is set at 17.52 mm.

Possible solution:

We have developed a focusable LM Universal Adapter, which compensates the deviation of the instrument. For extreme differences you have the possibility to use a 5mm C-Mount extension.

Update: 04.04.2011

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Related Links

C-Mount: Depending on the size of the CCD chips there are being offered different C-Mount lenses like e.g. C-Mount Adapter 1x, C-Mount Adapter 0,63x, C-Mount Adapter 0,50x or

C-Mount Description

It is essential that the C-mount connection has a factor of 1x and does not have any inbuilt optics.

FAQ: I use an LM digital adapter with a C-mount connection on a microscope with a phototube and C-mount port connection with a factor of 0.5x (or 0.3x or 0.63x).

LM Microscope Adapter, Microscope coupler , Relay Lens

FAQ: I would like to use a digital SLR camera on my microscope’s eyepiece tube. Isn’t the camera too heavy for the tube?

FAQ: Which adapter solution would you recommend for me? Fitting the camera to my microscope’s eyepiece tube or its phototube?

New LM Digital Adapter for:

Canon EOS 1D X / Nikon D4 / Canon EOS 1D Mark IV / Canon EOS 60D / Canon EOS 600D / Sony NEX-5N / Nikon D3S / Canon EOS 5D Mark II / Canon EOS 7D / Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital / Pentax K-5 / Sony Alpha 55 / Sony Alpha 580 / Sony NEX-C3 / Sony NEX-7 / Sony Alpha 65V / Sony Alpha 77V / Nikon D3x / Canon EOS 1100D / Nikon D7000 / Sony Alpha 33 / Sony NEX-5 / Sony NEX-3 / Sony Alpha 35 / Olympus E-5 / Pentax K-r / Canon EOS 1D Mark III / Nikon D5100 / Nikon D700 / Nikon D3 / Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 / Olympus E-30 / Olympus E-3 / Olympus E-620 / Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III / Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i / Sony NEX VG10 / Olympus E-600 / Nikon D300S / Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 / Pentax K-x /

High-end intermediate optics for connecting microscopes to:

digital compact cameras
digital SLR cameras
digital camcorders
video cameras
professional studio HDV camcorders

[Further information amd prices]

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Special mounting media for microscopy

Tips and tricks to connect your digital camera and to process digital images

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