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LM microscope adapters: Canon’s new midrange DSLR camera, the EOS 80D, is a perfect fit for microscopes!
DSLR Canon EOS 80D mounted on C-Mount microscope phototube

The new APS-C sensor Canon added to its EOS 80D sports a respectable 24 megapixels and uses the manufacturer’s CMOS Dual Pixel technology. Light sensitivity, as expressed by the ISO number, ranges from 100 to 16,000, and can be expanded to 25,000 in manual mode. This capability alone makes the camera an optimal fit for low-light microscopy applications, such as fluorescence microscopy. An especially important feature for our purposes is that the shutter can be released without a lens attached, because only the camera body is needed for photomicrography applications. In our tests, we connected the camera body to one of our LM digital adapters using a C-mount connection.

front view of Canon EOS 80D

At an introductory price of around EUR 820, the EOS 80D is perfect for amateur and professional photographers alike. The camera body is sealed against dust and water. During testing, we noticed immediately that the camera's standard operating procedures are unchanged: using it is still relatively simple, which means that even non-experts can capture quality images without a steep learning curve.

The large 7.7 cm (3'') tilting and rotating touchscreen display, which offers a resolution of 1.04 million dots, is another of the camera’s much-appreciated features.
Canon EOS 80D APS-C sensor tilting display

From a video perspective, the EOS 80D also includes an HDMI port to export the Live View feed to an external monitor or projector. Additionally, the free version of Canon’s EOS Utility software that accompanies the camera allows users to control all camera functions remotely from a PC/Mac.
Canon EOS Utility Software APS-C camera  

Canon EOS 80D hdr mode in live view

Notably, the camera also features a built-in Wi-Fi module which enables the EOS 80D to connect to smart devices using the Canon Camera Connect app. Since the app connects to the camera wirelessly, users can transfer images and video recordings for live display on a smartphone or tablet. This new development is certainly a big plus when giving presentations.

1.) Select a network
Canon EOS 80D select a network

2.) Connect the camera to your iPad
Canon EOS 80D connect camera to iPad

3.) You can now adjust your camera settings remotely and share pictures wirelessly.
Canon EOS 80D APS-C camera connect adjust camera wireless

Canon EOS 80D tablet connection live view

The EOS 80D records video in full HD resolution at rates of up to 60 frames per second and in MP4 format. The frame rate for continuous shooting is seven frames per second.

The signal-to-noise ratio is also very good. Our temperature test showed that after 30 minutes of Live View operation, the sensor temperature of the EOS 80D was just 33 degrees, which compares very favourably to the performance of Canon’s top-of-the-line EOS 5D Mark IV.
Canon EOS 80D sensor temperature

And like its “big sister” (the 5D Mark IV), Canon’s EOS 80D features the Silent LV Shoot mode.

Canon EOS APS-C silent lv shoot mode

A common concern among photomicrographers is the possibility that the mirror could affect image quality negatively. However, since the Live View mode is typically used to capture images, the mirror is always folded up, which prevents shaking or vibration and thus does not degrade image quality. Users who choose not to work in the Live View mode can utilise the camera’s mirror lockup feature.

Canon EOS 80D mirror lockup      

Canon EOS 80D APS-C sensor mirror lockup

The EOS 80D’s HDR mode is another exceptional feature, which merges multiple exposures into a single HDR image. This is a particular benefit when dealing with heterogeneous microscope specimens of dissimilar thickness, such as insects (thicker bodies, very thin wings).

Use of the EOS Utility software:
Canon EOS 80D Use of EOS utility software

Canon EOS 80D HDR mode DSLR

White balance is easy to adjust using the eyedropper symbol in the Canon EOS Utility software. Just click on the white background to set a white balance.
Canon EOS Utiltiy software

Canon EOS Utility remote software live view

Switching to Live View mode and using the Magnify button (which toggles between 1x, 5x and 10x) makes it easy to home in on the precise focus.
Canon EOS Utility software magnify button live view
Especially important for professionals giving presentations and/or engaging in discussions that include the use of Live View images is that the power saving mode on the Canon EOS 80D can be disabled completely. This means no more worries about the camera automatically shutting down in mid-presentation.
power save button at Canon EOS 80D     

Canon EOS APS-C DSLR auto power off

The image below shows the camera connected to the microscope using a C-mount adapter solution for a C-mount camera port with a 1x optical factor. Notably, this type of connection does not have a reduction lens.
LM Digital Adapter with Canon EOS 80D on Fotoport

For microscopes not equipped with a photo tube, our adapter can also be used to connect the camera to the eyepiece tube – and the optical quality of the images is as good as that achieved using the photo tube solution. By adding just a few accessories, this solution can also be used on the C-mount connection.
Canon DSLR connection to the eyepiece tube with lm digital adapter

In summary, the Canon EOS 80D provides:

Conclusion: The Canon EOS 80D is a great, uncomplicated camera with an excellent price/performance ratio. It is packed with professional-grade features and is equipped with a sensor that is only slightly smaller than that of its big sister, the EOS 5D Mark IV. Overall, the EOS 80D is a very good choice for microscopy and macroscopy applications. Particularly worth mentioning is the camera’s versatile and very beneficial swivel screen, especially when the EOS 80D is not tethered to a computer or tablet.


New LM Digital Adapter for: Canon EOS R3 / Canon EOS R6 Mark II / Canon EOS R8 / Canon EOS R5 / Canon EOS R6 / Canon EOS R / Canon EOS Ra (Astro) / Canon EOS RP / Canon EOS R7 / Canon EOS R10 / Canon EOS 1D X Mark III / Canon EOS 1D X Mark II / Canon EOS R100 / Canon EOS 1D X / Canon EOS 90D / Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / Canon EOS 6D Mark II / Canon EOS M6 Mark II / Canon EOS 250D / Canon EOS 850D / Rebel T8i / Canon EOS 6D / Canon EOS M200 / Canon EOS 5DS R ( without low-pass filter) / Canon EOS 80D / Canon EOS M50 Mark II / Canon EOS 5DS / Canon EOS M50 / Canon EOS 70D / Canon EOS 200D / Canon EOS 800D / Rebel T7i / Canon EOS 77D /