How to Calculate Microscope On-Screen Magnification

A common question when viewing a microscopy paradigm on a large screen is: What is the full magnification I am viewing on my monitor?" In club to correctly summate the answer to this question, we must know the answer to the post-obit four questions.

  1. What is the microscopes objective'south magnification?
  2. What is the c-mount adapter's magnification?
  3. What is the diagonal measurement of the monitor in mm?
  4. What is the size of the camera sensor in mm?

Microscope Objective Lens

The microscope objective lens magnification is printed on the side of the lens as shown in the image at left (1). If y'all are using a stereo microscope the objective lens value would exist printed on the zoom knob or on the objective turret that is turned to change the microscope magnification.

Microscope C-Mount AdapterThe microscope c-mount adapter (2) is the piece used to connect the microscope and the microscope camera. The c-mountain adapter volition accept a number printed on the side of it. In the paradigm at right, the c-mountain adapter has a 0.5x lens built into information technology.

Monitor Diagonal MeasurementThe next number we need to make up one's mind is the diagonal measurement of the monitor in mm (iii). Typically a monitor's measurement is provided in inches. Nosotros will just simply convert the inches measurement to mm. For example, if y'all are using a 19" monitor, multiply this number by 25.4 to convert it to mm. nineteen" x 25.iv = 482.6mm diagonal monitor measurement.

Camera Chip Sensor SizeThe final number we will demand in guild to determine the on-screen magnification is the size of the camera sensor in mm (four). The size of the sensor differs slightly from the size of the flake, then the all-time way to find this number is to use the nautical chart located below. The microscope camera sensor sizes are listed at the top of the chart, and the corresponding diagonal sensor size in mm is shown below.

Sensor
ane/4"
1/3.2"
1/3"
1/2.5"
one/ii"
ane/1.8"
two/three"
 Diagonal (mm)
  4.00 v.68
half dozen.00
vii.18
8.00
viii.93
11.0

The formula for computing microscope on-screen magnification is:

Full Magnification = Optical Magnification ten Digital Magnification

How is optical magnification calculated? This i is fairly unproblematic.

Optical Magnification = Objective Magnification x C-Mount Adapter Magnification.

If we employ our examples shown in a higher place from (i) and (2), we would calculate 4 x 0.5x = 2.

What well-nigh digital magnification, how do nosotros calculate this?

Digital Magnification = Screen Size / Sensor Size.

If we are using the 19" monitor nosotros mentioned earlier, to catechumen this to mm we multiple 19 x 25.4 = 482.6mm screen size.  For this instance, permit's say we are using a microscope camera with a 1/two" photographic camera sensor in it. Based on the chart above nosotros would calculate digital magnification by using 482.6mm / viii.00 = threescore.325.

Now we can find the total on-screen magnification by multiplying optical magnification x digital magnification. In our example ii x threescore.325 = 120.65x on-screen magnification.

If you take questions regarding calculating on-screen microscope magnification contact Microscope Earth and nosotros volition be happy to assistance.