HD Camcorder for use with a microscope for the bargain price of EUR 79.00
AIPTEK HD camcorder beats many professional video cameras
The AIPTEK POCKET DV AHD C100 camcorder records top class HD videos (1280 x 720 pixels) through the microscope for just EUR 79.00 (September 2009). The camcorder has a 5 million pixel sensor, a USB2 connection and an HDMI port. The videos can be saved onto a memory card (SD, MMC or SDHC). In addition, the camera is also ideal for use as a video camera for monitoring purposes. The camcorder has an HDMI interface that transmits the digital video signal to the HD monitor or HD television screen. The HDMI connection makes it possible to transfer the camera’s high image quality to the screen. Unfortunately, many other video cameras only have AV interfaces instead of HDMI. Since the AV interface is an analogue interface, the image quality that it offers is not as good.
Not all HD camcorders are suitable for microscopy. In the case of high quality camcorders in particular, the non-removable zoom lens reduces the quality of the image. In order to keep costs down, the AIPTEK POCKET DV AHD C100 camcorder is equipped with a very simply constructed lens with a fixed focal length. This situation can only be beneficial when the camcorder is used on the microscope, as the fixed minimalist lens barely reduces the image quality. When it comes to image quality in video mode, the AIPTEK HD camcorder is far superior to many professional USB/firewire microscope video cameras. A higher image reproduction rate is achieved thanks to the higher bandwidth of the HDMI interface in comparison with USB2 cameras. For further information, see: USB (universal serial bus) video cameras in microscopy – quite simply far too slow!
The LM universal filter adapter for compact cameras with stand sockets and an LM digital adapter are required for attaching the camera to the microscope.
LM universal filter adapter datasheet [DFA]
The camcorder described above can be ordered from Conrad.de (http://www.conrad.de), item no. 952065-62. .
Conclusion: A simple HD camcorder for only EUR 79.00 delivers fabulous video pictures and is even better than many professional video cameras.
The videos were saved to the memory card in HD quality (1280 x 720). For the internet, the resolution was reduced to 720 x 576 pixels and the image quality (bit rate) was decreased. In photo mode, the HD camcorder is able to take photographs up to a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1920 (5 megapixels).
Video: Ciliates (ciliata / infusoria) under the microscope
Please download the free Adobe Flash player to view the video.
| Ordering code | Product description | Price | Price | Available | |
 | DA37LC | LM Digital Adapter with integrated plan achromatic hard-coated optic with C-Mount microscope thread (25,4mm) and M37 thread Data Sheet | Euro 545,-- | US $ 697.6 |  |
 | DFA | LM Universal Filter Adapter with M37 thread for digital compact cameras, camcorders, HD camcorders and webcams with a standard camera stand socket Data Sheet Operating Instructions Info2 | Euro 139,-- | US $ 177.92 | |
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