# Cameras and Magnification

A common issue when using cameras in microscopy is matching the FOV (field-of-view) of the camera with that of the eyepieces. When addressing this issue, it will help to understand the difference between magnification and FOV, and why cameras do not add magnification.

## Magnification and Field of View

Magnification: the process of enlargement; increasing the apparent size of an object's image, as through an optical system.

Field-of-view (FOV): the viewable portion of an object, as seen by the observer.

Two of the most important factors in microscopy are magnification and field-of-view (FOV). The two measurements are often calculated to be inversely-proportional, where increase in magnification results in decrease in FOV. Since eyepieces are designed to project an image of a relatively consistent size onto your eyes' retinas, higher magnifications will be progressively confined to a smaller FOV. This is why any change in FOV is seen as a change in magnification. Despite this perception, the two characteristics are not mutually dependent.

A microscope's FOV at any magnification is limited by a number of factors, including the objective lens, the tube-diameter of the microscope's internal optical-system, and the eyepieces. The eyepieces are typically the determining factor, which is why they should be marked with a field-number (FN), which represents the diameter of the field-stop (aperture), and therefore the FOV. Substituting a camera for eyepieces changes the most-limiting factor to the size of the image-sensor (or film, if you're so inclined). Changing any of these factors can alter the FOV without having any effect on magnification.

## Cameras and Eyepieces A rectangle's diagonal and a circle's diameter

Since digital cameras use rectangular image-sensors, and eyepieces are round, there is no direct equivalence when it comes to FOV. The best we can do is choose the most comparable dimensions, which is still a bit subjective. I choose to use the sensor's diagonal, because it would span the diameter of a containing circle. Calculating the diagonal requires a nostalgic revisiting of the Pythagorean Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2, where a is the sensor's width, b is the sensor's height, and c is the sensor's diagonal. Pythagorean Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2

Finding the image-sensor's diagonal will give you a rough idea of how the image will compare in size to your eyepieces (using the field-number). If you are determined to see the same FOV when using a camera and eyepieces, then you should consider using eyepieces with field numbers comparable to the image-sensor's diagonal. One accessory that will make this easier is a reduction lens.

## Reduction Lenses

When using a camera with an image-sensor smaller than your eyepiece field-number, it is common to use a reduction lens, which reduces the size of the image projected by the objective lens, so it will better fit the sensor. The rule-of-thumb for choosing a reduction lens is to match the lens' magnification (which would be fractional, ie. 0.5X) to the die-size of the image sensor. The die-size, which represents the size of the entire sensor-die, is not the same as the size of the photo-sensitive portion of the sensor, so it will not match the listed dimensions which are used for calculating FOV. The die-size is often represented as a fraction, such as 1/1.8". As confusing as this may seem, it's nevertheless an industry-standard. So a 1/1.8" sensor is best-paired with a 0.5X reduction lens, and a 1/3" sensor with a 0.3X lens. Image-sensor's of 1" or larger are in a different category, and would not use reduction lenses, unless the microscope's FOV exceeds 1", which would be rare.

While using a reduction lens can help maximize the FOV of the camera, it still does not mean that the camera's FOV will match your eyepieces.

## Monitor Magnification

When viewing a camera's image on a monitor, the image-magnification is based on the relative size-difference between the camera's sensor and the monitor. To calculate the amount of magnification, measure the width or diagonal of the image on the monitor, then divide that number by the same dimension of the camera's sensor. So if a camera's image-sensor has a 1/2" diagonal, and the on-screen image has a diagonal of 23", then the monitor-magnification (mm) would be 46X. This only works if the entire image produced by the camera is seen on the monitor. If only a portion of the image is viewable, then the on-screen image will have to be reduced in size until it is fully visible.

To calculate the overall magnification with a microscope, multiply the objective magnification (mo) by the monitor-magnification (mm), as well as any auxillary lens, such as a reduction lens (ma).

(mo) x (mm) x (ma) = m

20 x 46 x 0.5 = 460
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