Jenoptik has quite affordable cameras. Cmos versions are for example CT3 or you can go for color ccd if you have dificult colors. Remember to order correct cmount, which depends on the size of the chip in the camera you choose.

http://www.jenoptik.com/en-digital-cameras-for-microscopy

Mikael,

Could you precise the requirements (resolution, fps)? For many application simply webcam is sufficient. The only thing you need to do is removing lens and IR filter that precedes CCD chip. It is not difficult. This is cheap solution and in a case of saturation and damaging CCD, the camera can be easily replaced.

Normally the C-mount for CT3 is 0.5 or a 0.63 tv lense. I use the cheapest CT3 for mineralogy teaching and it works fine for me.

Thanks for the comments. To be more specific, I think a live resolution of 1280x1024 (or perhaps 1024x768) is the most we need currently, as the teaching lab AV system can't handle better. 24-25 fps would of course be ideal to make the live view smooth and enjoyable and focusing easy (it's a bit difficult to say how low can one go before things start to look nasty).

A good-quality webcam sounds like a clever cheap solution, but how would you mount that on the microscope?

I'll have a look at the Jenoptik models too.

We bought some very affordable priced c-mount cameras from Müller Optronics in Erfurt. The cameras have a metal case and USB connection. We use them as a camera to record standard microscope images from binoculars and microscopes with higher magnification lenses. The cameras start with 1M pixels (140€) up to 10 MP (500€). I like them. for standard tasks.

http://www.mueller-optronic.com/Mikroskop-Zubehoer/USB-Kameras:::8_33.html

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Http://www.amscope.com/highpower-trinocular.html

ICS Capture / www.tribvn.com. It depends on what you mean by several thousands of euros. this one works with Nicon.

I suggest md-130 microscope camera for your routine work

regards

A cheap webcam with good quality is Logitech 9000. Is ok for histology. A special adapter has to be made by a mechanical workshop. A wide field ocular is necessary, the distance to the camera lens is between 1to 2cm, you might try this out. As with most digital cams dust problems appear severe at low light levels, everything has to be perfect clean. A socalled lens pen has microfibers/nanofibers in front, used right you can removeany dust of lens surfaces.

See else The use of webcams in microscopy InFocus Magazine RMS, just type on net.

Else cams sold by Bresser are ready to replace the ocular in any microscope, up to 9mp. Sufficient for most needs, but software often problematic.

See else my website Morten Motzfeldt

We have bought DinoLite cameras for our Histology teaching classes. And they are good enough for the tasks we use them for. Only one must be carefull when ordering the camera. THey have ocularpiece as well as C-mount cameras. Especially when it comes to the C-mount for the color reproduction to be correct one must choose a mounting piece of the adequate optical length.

There are affordable good resolution microscopes with USB connector interface to computer system that can meet your needs, depending on your budget. Simply do a Goggle search for same.

Wow, thanks for all the comments! Dino-Lite looks like a cool solution, but how is the image quality? The sample images on the website aren't too good.

For histology teaching lab the cheapest solution with very good resolution is made by a digital camera (I used Samsung s730 7.2MP 60$) attached on the Konus universal camera adapter (25$) wich is usually used for telescopes (it works fine on the microscope ocular or tripod). The camera is positioned close to the ocular and connected via USB cable to the pc framegrabber or by video cable to the monitor TV for direct live imaging.

Thanks Tanya. How about the "standard" digital cameras like the one mentioned by Salvatore, what kind of software do you use to see the live image on the computer?

Dear Mikael,

there are several free software to capture images from digital sources. The best I usually use is virtualdub for videos and micromanager implemented with ImageJ software for videos and pictures.

Dear Dr. Niku - have a look on Canon 60D with an excellent resolved and very fast live view with reasonable price relation. T2-Adapter is needed and an USB-2 card for fast live view transfer to your PC. Excellent Canon software package for camera guiding via PC.

best regards

Vitus Stachniss

Primarily, I think it depends on the actual microscope you're going to use. What brand is it? Do you have a camera system at your department already (e.g. DSLR cameras) that could be connected to the system using adapters? Also, do you want to produce images for publications as well, or just use it in live-view mode for teaching?