C-Mount Adapter (0.05x) with Adjustable Focusing Ring (Fits 23.2mm I.D. Trinocular Tube)
A C-mount adapter for your microscope without a lens in it, is merely a connector for your camera. What you'll get is a "direct image" on the monitor screen, which is more magnification than what is seen in the eyepieces due to the inherent magnification with image sensors and microscopes. While this arrangement is fine for some users, others require an image on the monitor that looks more like the Field Of View, or FOV, that is seen in the microscope eye tubes.
To compensate for too much mag or to match the microscope FOV, one can use c-mounts with reduction lenses in order to adjust the field of view seen on the monitor. The reduction lens you require will depend on the chip size of your camera so if your camera has a 1/2" image sensor, you'll want the 0.45X c-mount. See the table for other adapter suggestions. Experienced users have an assortment of reduction lenses to accommodate different situations or specimens as c-mounts are relatively inexpensive.
Meiji Techno America introduces new Focusable and adjustable C” mount adapters.
As one can see, image sensors in cameras are actually quite small. The smaller the sensor, the more inherent magnification. The larger the sensor, the better the resolution with less magnification.
As image resolution is most desirable in all microscopy applications, 1/4" chips are just not well suited for microscopy while the 1/2" and 2/3" chip cameras strike a better balance between magnification, resolution and the size of the virtual image that the camera is seeing which to the eye appears much like a flashlight beam.
MA151/35/05F | 05X C-mount adapter with focusing ring fits 23.2mm I.D. trinocular tube |
MA151/35/037F | 0.37X C-Mount Adapter with Adjustable focusing ring fits 23.2mm I.D. |
MA151/35/075F | 075X C-mount adapter with focusing ring fits 23.2mm I.D. trinocular tube |
Camera Chip Size | Suggested Adapter |
1/4" | 0.265 or 0.3X |
1/3" | 0.3X |
1/2" | 0.45X, 0.5X or 0.6X |
1/1.8" | 0.45X, 0.5X or 0.6X |
2/3" | 0.7X |
Instructions for Installation:
STEP 1: If your microscope has a trinocular tube first remove the plastic cap to allow C” mount installation, Since most C” mount adapters directly screw onto the camera female threads you can simply screw the camera directly on the C” mount threads.
STEP 2: After installing the C” mount adapter to the camera, drop the camera with the reduction lens directly into the trinocular port. It should slide in without issue.
Focus the image on your Microscope eyepiece till the image is sharp to one eye. The next step is to adjust the Gold ring on the Focusing C” mount until the image is in focus on the screen or monitor.
STEP 3: To focus through the trinocular port (simul-focal models only), simply turn the middle portion of the focusing C” mount. Otherwise, you will need to focus it individually by moving the adapter North-South.