Digital microscopes are the new compound microscopes!
While it is not entirely so, the utilization of digital microscopes has immensely risen in the past decade. Students and researchers find it easy to use digital or trinocular microscopes like the Swift SW350T or Swift SW380T to observe specimens.
While digital microscopes come with an inbuilt camera and screen, trinocular microscopes lack the screen. Sometimes, they might have an inbuilt camera, while you mostly have to attach a digital camera to the eye tube yourself. You may also insert the camera into one of the eyepieces.
So, have you found the right microscope digital camera to view bacteria, viruses, and other microbes?
Digital cameras are necessary for the digital, binocular, and trinocular cameras to observe and capture images and videos of the specimen.
The AmScope MU1803 18MP Real-Time Live Video Microscope Digital Camera is one of the best choices for a digital camera for microscopy.
Let us tell you everything you need to know about the AmScope MU1803 Digital Camera.
Table of Contents
AmScope MU1803
| 18 MP resolution | Multiple mounting sizes | Large field of view |
| EDF and Stitching | Windows/ Mac/ Linux compatible | Supports Native C/C++, C#, Twain, DirectShow, and LabVIEW |
AmScope MU1803 18MP Digital Camera Key Features
Though most digital microscopes or inbuilt cameras offer magnification of 1MP, 3MP, or 5MP, including microscopes for coins, the AmScope MU1803 has a highly functional camera with a resolution of 18 MP. It is not very likely to find this kind of high-quality camera in microscopes usually.
It is quite easy to use, and you do not have to be a technical person to attach or operate it. It has user-friendly software and can be connected to any microscope easily.
Furthermore, you may connect the AmScope MU1803 to any PC, laptop, or projector to view the specimen.
There’s a lot more about this digital camera that makes observing germs under a compound or dissecting microscope incredibly simple.
• Multiple mounting sizes
• Windows, Mac OS, and Linux compatible
• USB 2.0 and 3.0 compatible
• Advanced editing features
• Supports Native C/C++, C#, Twain, DirectShow, and LabVIEW
• Larger field of view
Camera Specifications
The camera is 18 MP in resolution and has a CMOS sensor with a 1.25-pixel size. Other specifications of the AmScope MU19803 digital camera include:
- Aptina AR1820 sensor
- 6.14×4.61mm sensor size
- 0.62 V/lux-sec sensitivity
- USB 2.0 and 3.0 connectivity
High Resolution
Typically cameras for microbiology microscopes have a low resolution to produce images. The reason for not having high-resolution cameras lies in the high magnification of microscopes themselves. Hobbyists and students can easily observe samples through 3MP, 5Mp, or 7MP cameras. However, researchers might require a higher resolution to see the specimen in detail.
Thus, The AmScope MU1803 is an excellent choice with an 18MP high-resolution camera. It is suitable for observing 5184 pixels wide by 3456 pixels high photos. A high resolution also ensures you can make large prints without blurring the images.
Video Recording
Some of the digital cameras for microscopes are not the best pick for recording videos. It could be because of inadequate software to record videos besides images. On the other hand, low-resolution cameras also do not produce premium-quality videos to display on a projector or computer.
Besides recorded pictures and videos, you can also stream live videos from this camera to show live imaging of the samples to a large audience. It makes the MU1803 an ideal option for conferences and classrooms.
Windows, Mac, and Linux Compatible
The AmScope MU1803 is an excellent microscope digital camera that you may use for microscopes for electronics or biology, equally well.
As opposed to a few other microscope cameras, it is compatible with all kinds of Windows and Mac OS. You can use it with Mac OS, Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, and Vista, as well as Linux.
USB 2.0 and 3.0 Supportive
Whether you have a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 cable, you can use this digital microscope camera easily.
A USB 2.0 offers transfer at 480 Mbps, and USB 3.0 transfers at the rate of 4800 Mbps. The AmScope MU1803 is compatible with both kinds of cables without the need for any extra accessories. It enables you the ease of use that you always look for in a microscope.
Four Mounting Sizes
What’s better than buying a digital camera that fits numerous microscope models?
AmScope understands microscopes come in different sizes and have specific ports for every model. Thus, you can easily fit this digital camera microscope onto any AmScope microscope or OMAX microscope.
It comes in four mounting sizes, including 23mm, 30mm, and 30.5mm, and the option to mount it into a C-mount. It makes it the best choice of microscope camera with so many unique features and versatility.
Supports Multiple Programs
The device is small but is appropriate for connecting with many software programs, including C/C++, C#, DirectShow, Twain, and LabVIEW. It is highly functional and works perfectly on all kinds of devices.
Editing Software
Have you had a microscope camera that recorded videos and images but did not let you improve them?
You need the AmScope MU1803 18MP microscope digital camera in your life. It is a lifesaver if you do not want to install an extra program for editing your images and videos. The 0.5x reduction lens offers a larger field of view. It enables you to edit images the same way as in Photoshop. EDF (extended depth of focus) and Stitching allow you to edit and merge videos within the camera software.
You can add layers, tiles, and mosaics to your pictures or put your watermark on the images obtained through the compound microscope. The software enables you to adjust color balance, saturation, exposure, orientation, and contrast besides modifying resolution, granulation, and diffusion. Other elements like digital image warping and edge detection help you improve the quality and looks of your images.
Software Specifications
The software can be easily embedded in your computer or laptop to edit and process the pictures. You need to consider the following software specifications:
- Windows, XP/Vista/7/8/10, Mac OS 10.8+ and Linux kernel
- Intel Core2 2.8GHz
- 2GB RAM
- Saves images in BMP, TIFF, JPG, PICT, PTL
- Lifetime free software upgrades
User-Friendly
This microscope is easy to use and does not require technical skills. You can conveniently connect it to the microscope without wondering about many high-tech aspects.
You can effortlessly connect it to one of the eyepieces or the photo port. The USB cable acts as the connector and power source, both. Besides the hardware, the software is also quite easy to understand and use.
Accessories
The microscope camera comes with one 0.5x reduction lens, one 6’ USB cable, two adapters of 30mm and 30.5mm, and one CD containing the software and instructions. What else do you need when buying a camera for a microscope?
AmScope MU1803 Alternatives
Though microscopes like TOMLOV 4.3″ LCD Digital Microscope and Celestron 44340 LCD Digital Biological Microscope have in-built cameras, you need to find a good-quality microscope camera for compound and stereo microscopes.
We have put together some alternatives to the AmScope MU 1803 that you may use in various microscopes.
AmScope MU1000
The AmScope MU1000 is another perfect choice of USB camera for microscopes. It has all the goodness of the AmScope MU1803 along with a better camera of 10MP.
You might be surprised that it is lower in price, costing only $259. You can even checkout some more budget-friendly microscope options under $100 here.
The 10MP digital camera captures pictures and videos and streams live videos. Mount it in any kind of phototube in trinocular among 23mm, 30mm, 30.5mm, and C-mount ocular ports. It comes with two mounting adaptors. The reduction lens provides a wider field of view for better observation.
The user-friendly software is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, Mac OS X, and Linux without any technical complexities. You can also edit and process the images using advanced features, including EDF, Stitching, exposure, and color balance. Furthermore, the software lets you make precise measurements, add watermarks and create notes.
The ports are universal, and you do not have to use any additional accessories to use this simple camera with any microscope, including the Leica A60 F Stereo Microscope.
However, make sure to check the compatibility of the microscope camera to avoid any issues later.
Celestron – 5MP CMOS Digital USB Microscope Imager
If you are looking for a pocket microscope camera that you can easily carry, Celestron 5MP CMOS Digital USB Microscope Imager is perfect.
It is incredibly lightweight, weighing only 0.4 pounds. It simply replaces the eyepiece on the binocular microscope, or you may attach it to the photo port. Connecting the Celestron 5MP to any 23mm or 30mm port will make it an instant digital microscope. This camera is made of rugged aluminum with a CMOS sensor for high-quality, clear images.
You can get high-resolution images and 30fps videos and view them on your Windows or Mac PC anytime. Just install the given software onto your device and edit your images. It has an aluminum collar adapter for a 30mm stereo microscope eyepiece tube.
The best part is that you may also magnify the images up to 30x, which many other cameras do not offer.
However, some observers mention that the sensor maxes out at 2MP (1920×1080).
OMAX 18.0MP Microscope Camera
The next microscope camera on our list is the OMAX 18 MP camera which is among the best microscope cameras.
It is quite a versatile USB camera for microscopes with an Aptina ½-inch CMOS image sensor with a high resolution of 18MP (4912×3684). The videos run at 32.2 frames per second at 1228×922, 18.1 fps at 2456×1842, and 5.6 fps at 4912×3684.
The camera fits a 23.2mm eyepiece and comes with a 0.5x reduction lens to improve the observation quality. You may also use it for microscopes with 30mm or 30.5mm eyepiece tubes or C-mounts for accurate visibility of samples. It has a 0.01mm calibration slide to help you study bacteria, viruses, and germs under a microscope.
Using the OMAX 18.0 MP camera is incredibly simple. Just insert the camera into the eye tube and attach the USB cable to the port.
The packaging contains a 23.2mm to 30mm adapter, a 23.2mm to 30.5mm adapter, a 0.01mm calibration slide, a 0.5x reduction lens, USB 3.0 cable, and a CD containing information and software.
AmScope – MD35A MD35 New Microscope Imager
Besides the high-resolution cameras, the AmScope – MD35A MD35 New Microscope Imager is more suitable when you are looking for a low-budget device.
It is a low-resolution camera with 0.3MP resolution, more suitable for young children and microscopes in schools. The camera is compact and lightweight, making it easy to add to any microscope without needing a tripod. The UVC protocol in this microscope for students and researchers allows you to share the observations with others like a video call. You can use this feature on Windows, Mac OS, and Linus per need without any interruptions. So, record videos or share them live with your audience. The choice is all yours!
It can calibrate the scales at numerous magnifications, making it possible to inspect the specimen at different levels. You can capture and preview high-definition images and videos at the same time. It is the most compatible with Windows, but a Lite version of the software will also capture images and videos in Mac and Linux with limited features.
This microscope camera is more suited to be connected to a binocular microscope, but you may also use it with a trinocular. The added sleeves allow you to adapt it to fit into 30mm and 30.5mm ports.
EyeClops Digital Microscope & Camera
While we mentioned all the high-profile microscope cameras for compound microscopes working, the last one on the list is for children.
Equipping your children with appropriate scientific devices will create interest and curiosity in them regarding science and nature. To ignite the spark, you can get them an EyeClops Digital Microscope & Camera with a built-in color screen.
It is a small, compact microscope camera with a built-in screen for observation. Kids can use it to observe anything anytime and find answers to their questions about their surroundings.
While you may think it is just a toy microscope, it can magnify the samples up to 800x with the inbuilt camera and screen. The body is made of plastic to reduce weight and avoid damage to the instrument.
The EyeClops Digital Microscope & Camera has a built-in 2.4″ color screen for properly understanding the specimen. You can transfer the pictures and videos from the microscope using a microSD card or USB. After examination, you can turn off the zoom/ magnification and use it as a regular video recorder camera.
However, this is not a suitable microscope for children under 5 years. The EyeClops Digital Microscope & Camera is a perfect gift for ages between 6 and 9.
The Bottom Line
AmScope is one of the top names on the list of best microscope brands. The AmScope MU1803 18MP USB microscope camera is one of the prime choices because of its high resolution. You can easily mount it into 23mm, 30mm, or 30.5mm photo ports. It is also easily connectible to a C-mount. AmScope MU1803 supports USB 2.0 and 3.0 for your convenience. You can stream live videos and edit the pictures using advanced editing features like stitching. Also, you get free lifetime software updates without any hassle.
What’s better than a classy, highly-functional microscope camera?
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