Digital Camera Microscope Rating

Which digital camera functions best on a microscope?

(Camcorders have not been included in this rating!)

This list is intended to simplify your search for the right digital camera. The main focus is placed on the camera functions required in microscopy. Using an optimal camera will significantly increase image quality and operating speed.

Evaluation key and points to be considered when purchasing a new digital camera.

[Further information on the digital camera microscope ranking]

Order of digital cameras for use on microscopes

Position	Rating	Points	Camera	Megapixels	Lens removable	Automatic exposure control	Mirror lock-up	Live View	Bonus points	Remark
1		12700	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III	21	YES	YES	YES	YES	3000	LiveView / Fullframe / PC Remote Control Software
2		12100	Nikon D3	13	YES	YES	YES	YES	4000	LiveView / Fullframe / PC Remote Control Software / HDMI Video Port
3		11100	Nikon D300	13	YES	YES	YES	YES	3000	LiveView / PC Remote Control Software / HDMI Video Port
4		10900	Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi	12	YES	YES	YES	YES	3000	LiveView / PC Remote Control Software / USB2 Video Streaming
5		10500	Canon EOS 1D Mark III	10	YES	YES	YES	YES	3000	LiveView / Fullframe / PC Remote Control Software
6		10300	Sony Alpha 350	14	YES	YES	YES	YES	2000	LiveView / Rotable LCD Display
7		9900	Olympus E-3	12	YES	YES	YES	YES	2000	LiveView / Rotable LCD Display
8		9500	Sony Alpha 300	10	YES	YES	YES	YES	2000	LiveView / Rotable LCD Display
9		9500	Panasonic Lumix DMC-L10	10	YES	YES	YES	YES	2000	LiveView / Rotable LCD Display
10		9300	Pentax K20D	14	YES	YES	YES	YES	1000	LiveView
11		8900	Olympus E-330	7	YES	YES	YES	YES	2000	LiveView / Rotable LCD Display
12		8700	Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II	16	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	Fullframe
13		8500	Canon EOS 40D	10	YES	YES	YES	YES	1000	LiveView
14		8500	Olympus E-410	10	YES	YES	YES	YES	1000	LiveView
15		8500	Olympus E-510	10	YES	YES	YES	YES	1000	LiveView
16		8300	Samsung GX-20	14	YES	YES	NO	YES	1000	LiveView
17		7900	Leica Digilux 3	7	YES	YES	YES	YES	1000	LiveView
18		7900	Canon EOS 5D	12	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	Fullframe / PC Remote Control Software
19		7900	Sony Alpha 700	12	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	HDMI Video Port
20		7500	Olympus E-400	10	YES	YES	YES	YES	0	-
21		7500	Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi	10	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
22		7300	Sigma SD14	14	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
23		7100	Canon EOS 1D Mark II N	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
24		7100	Canon EOS 20Da	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
25		7100	Canon PowerShot S80	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	2000	optimal objective angle
26		7100	Kodak DCS Pro SLRc	13	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
27		7100	Kodak DCS Pro SLRn	13	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
28		7100	Kodak DCS Pro 14n	13	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
29		7100	Canon EOS 30D	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
30		7100	Canon EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
31		7100	Canon EOS 20D	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
32		7100	Canon EOS 1D Mark II	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
33		6900	Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro	12	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
34		6900	Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom	7	NO	YES	YES	YES	2000	optimal objective angle
35		6900	Nikon D2X	12	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
36		6700	Canon EOS 300D / Digital Rebel	6	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
37		6700	Canon EOS 10D	6	YES	YES	YES	NO	1000	PC Remote Control Software
38		6500	Sigma SD10	10	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
39		6500	Sigma SD9	10	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
40		6500	Pentax K10D	10	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
41		6500	Nikon D200	10	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
42		6500	Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom	5	NO	YES	YES	YES	2000	optimal objective angle
43		6300	Nikon Coolpix 4500	4	NO	YES	YES	YES	2000	optimal objective angle
44		6100	Olympus E-300	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
45		6100	Olympus E-500	8	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
46		6100	Nikon Coolpix 995	3	NO	YES	YES	YES	2000	optimal objective angle
47		6100	Nikon Coolpix 990	3	NO	YES	YES	YES	2000	optimal objective angle
48		5900	Nikon D2Xs	12	YES	YES	NO	NO	0	-
49		5900	Nikon Coolpix P5100	12	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
50		5900	Canon PowerShot G9	12	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
51		5900	Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro	12	YES	YES	NO	NO	0	-
52		5700	Pentax ist DL	6	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
53		5700	Pentax K100D	6	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
54		5700	Pentax ist Ds	6	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
55		5700	Pentax ist D	6	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
56		5500	Canon PowerShot G7	10	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
57		5500	Olympus E-1	5	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
58		5500	Canon PowerShot A640	10	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
59		5500	Ricoh GR Digital II	10	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
60		5500	Ricoh Caplio GX100	10	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
61		5500	Nikon Coolpix P5000	10	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
62		5500	Samsung GX-10	10	YES	YES	NO	NO	0	-
63		5300	Nikon D2Hs	4	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
64		5300	Nikon D2H	4	YES	YES	YES	NO	0	-
65		5100	Kodak EASYSHARE P880	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
66		5100	Canon PowerShot A630	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
67		5100	Nikon Coolpix 8400	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
68		5100	Sony DSC-W100	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
69		5100	Kodak EASYSHARE Z812	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
70		5100	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
71		5100	Nikon Coolpix P50	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
72		5100	Canon PowerShot S5 IS	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
73		5100	Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
74		5100	Nikon Coolpix 8700	8	NO	YES	YES	YES	0	-
75		5000	Sony Alpha 100	10	YES

Which digital camera functions best on a microscope?

This list is intended to simplify your search for the right digital camera. The main focus is placed on the camera functions required in microscopy. Using an optimal camera will significantly increase image quality and operating speed.

Evaluation key and points to be considered when purchasing a new digital camera.

[Further information on the digital camera microscope ranking]

Order of digital cameras for use on microscopes

Position

Rating

Points

Camera

Megapixels

Lens removable

Automatic exposure control

Mirror lock-up

Live View

Bonus points

Remark