Using Field Digital Microscope Cameras Effectively

Cameras are increasingly moving outdoors where they are often used in different fields such as petrography and geological research. Microscopes are often used on site when it is necessary to view specimens immediately while digital microscope cameras are added if documentation of the images is required. The use of field digital microscope cameras is also necessary if it is not possible to transport the actual specimen from the site. To ensure that images of the specimens are captured, digital microscope cameras are used. For field work, field digital cameras are exceptionally useful for taking high quality images.

Applications for field digital microscope cameras
There are many fields of study that require the use of digital microscope cameras. These include forensic science, metallography, metallurgy, paints and coatings. In all these, the field digital microscope camera can provide a tool to capture, store and edit enhanced images of a specimen. Cameras intended for field use are built to be durable against transport and wear and tear. Although equipped with sensitive optics, these digital cameras are sturdy enough to withstand the handling during on site work.

Using field digital microscope cameras
One thing to remember about digital microscope cameras is that they are part of a whole system, including the microscope and accessories used as attachments. Field digital microscope cameras are used in conjunction with field microscopy. Unlike regular cameras, digital microscope cameras are not equipped with conventional lenses. Instead, they are equipped with CCD chips. CCD chips are charge coupled device sensors that convert the analog optical image from the microscope image to the electronic image for the monitor screen. This conversion from analog to digital is also referred to as the A/D conversion.

A/D conversion involving field digital microscope cameras can happen in three locations – the camera, the camera’s sensor and the PC, in case it is being utilized. This means that image quality will depend a lot on the optical capability of the microscope. The better the microscope’s capability to produce clear images, the better the results of the images that will appear in the digital camera. The digital microscope camera’s sensor will also contribute to the quality of the image. The bigger the size of the sensor, the more it will be sensitive to the light. Bigger sensors can scan the specimen image in larger increments, allowing operators to produce images with very high resolutions.

Image quality
Field digital microscope cameras can produce high quality images, especially if the camera’s sensor provides for higher pixels or resolution. The more pixels there are both vertically and horizontally, the sharper the image, even when it is enlarged. However, high megapixels do not always assure high resolution images as the final result. If the digital camera’s resolution is too high and the microscope’s optics is too low, the result will be an unsuccessful attempt at producing a clear image.

Illumination outdoors
There are different types of microscopy illumination techniques used for microscopes, including polarized light, bright field, transmitted light and reflected light, among others. These are used depending on the requirement of the observer and on the type of material being viewed. If the type of microscopy used with a certain specimen is not appropriate, this will affect how the digital microscope camera will record the image.

Because field digital microscope cameras are used outdoors, specimens are often viewed in less than ideal conditions. This requires a source of lighting other than natural light. Microscopes often use battery powered light sources such as LED lamps or fiber optics. However, for higher magnifications, high intensity lighting is usually required for picture clarity. Otherwise, built-in lighting should offer sufficient illumination.

Compatibility and interface software
The field digital microscope camera can be a very effective tool in producing sophisticated images and one of the best ways to do this is to connect the camera to a computer monitor for viewing. This makes it necessary that the accompanying software and the camera’s compatibility with the rest of the system should be considered. This will allow you to choose the appropriate digital microscope camera with existing equipment.

Field digital microscope cameras come with software to allow the operator to manipulate the cameras when installed on the microscope, so it’s important that the video output should be checked. Connection with the computer can be achieved using a USB port or a firewire. Another consideration is the computer. The onboard RAM will do much for image quality and also for downloading and storing the files. Check your computer’s storage capacity if it will suffice for the kind of image capturing you will be using the digital microscope cameras for.