Microscopes have helped researchers and students study microorganisms for centuries now. However, it was not as easy to record observations as today. There are several types of microscopes that have advanced massively over the years, providing clearer specimen images. With technological advances, you can now take pictures using smartphones. But how? This article tells you all about it. Keep reading to learn how to take microscope pictures with your smartphone.
Table of Contents
How to Take Microscope Pictures with Smartphone
Using a Smartphone
The simplest way to take microscopic pictures with a smartphone is to place it on the ocular lens. It is a common practice among students as they do not have high-end technical accessories to take microscope pictures with smartphones. Here’s how to take photos with a smartphone without any additional accessories:
- Place your pinky finger on the lower end of the eyepiece to stabilize it when you take pictures.
- Now place your smartphone camera on the eyepiece and get a view of the specimen.
- When you can see the specimen on your smartphone, click on the main image to focus on it. This step makes a major difference if you have an iPhone.
- Next, bring the phone closer to or away from the lens, depending on the field of view you want to capture.
- When the specimen is in focus, start clicking; take as many photos as possible to get that perfect image of your sample.
- Keep your pinky finger steady, not shaking the phone or microscope when taking pictures.
If you are not happy with the results obtained by using the smartphone camera for microscopy this way, you can get a smartphone holder.
Using a Smartphone Holder
Though most students do not know about smartphone holders, they can be game-changers.
Smartphone holders are small accessories you can attach to the microscope’s ocular lens. They enable you to take images without holding the phone for a long time. They are easy to use and light on the pocket.
- Attach the smartphone holder to your microscope’s eyepiece.
- Now mount the smartphone on the smartphone holder.
- Adjust the mount if needed to get a complete image of the sample.
- View the specimen through the smartphone and click as many pictures as possible.
Always remove the smartphone from the mount before you move the microscope to another location or want to change the slide.
Using a Smartphone & Tripod
Did you know you can also use a tripod to take pictures of your microscopic examination? Well, yes, you can!
Tripods are a less costly and more convenient way of stabilizing your smartphone to obtain specimen observations. You can find numerous tripod options in the market to attach your smartphone and take pictures through the microscope eyepiece.
- Adjust the tripod’s height so it can easily reach the microscope’s eyepieces.
- Attach your smartphone to the tripod and check if it can take clear images through the eyepiece.
- Click on your smartphone screen to focus on the specimen image.
- Take pictures or record videos without worrying about blurred results.
Using a Smartphone Adapter
Smartphone adapters are inexpensive devices that help you capture the microscopic observations on your smartphone. It gives you the same images as you would see them. You can use your smartphone’s camera to take photos and videos of your specimen examination. Taking microscope pictures with a smartphone adapter is pretty simple:
- Attach the smartphone adapter to the microscope.
- Connect your smartphone to the adapter.
- Take images of the specimen examined through the microscope.
- Record and save the images and videos on your smartphone.
A smartphone adapter is the best choice for phones with specific lenses and settings to get a clear focus of the specimen.
How to Turn Your Smartphone into a Microscope?
You cannot only use your smartphone to take pictures from a traditional microscope but also turn your smartphone into a microscope itself!
A University of Washington graduate prepared a small lens that lets you turn your smartphone into a handheld microscope. A UW mechanical engineering alumnus, Thomas Larson, developed the Micro Phone Lens. It sticks to a smartphone’s camera without an adhesive and helps you see things magnified on your phone screen. However, it requires an external light source to illuminate the specimen.
Larson said, “A microscope is a tool you can do thousands of different things with, and by making it cheaper, portable, and able to take pictures, you open so many different possibilities that weren’t available before.”
This microscope lens could magnify objects up to 15x, and he has been working on other types of microscope lenses too, to magnify the specimen as much as 150x.
Tips for Taking High-Quality Microscope Pictures with Smartphone
While the quality of the images obtained through smartphone microscopy majorly depends on your smartphone’s camera quality, there are a few more factors:
Adjust Lighting
Photography enthusiasts must know that lighting plays a significant role in determining the sharpness of images; it impacts microscopic photography similarly.
Make sure that your microscope’s light source offers adequate lighting. In case it does not illuminate the specimen properly, add more light. Use a desk lamp or another available light source to shed additional light on your sample.
Check Camera Settings
The camera settings in smartphones depend on their model and specifications. But smartphones like the iPhone and Galaxy are more suitable options as microscope cameras.
Besides adjusting the phone’s focus, check if your camera offers specific features for taking microscopic pictures. Adjust the autofocus, exposure, white balance, and any other available settings to ensure good-quality imaging.
Take Multiple Pictures
As we mentioned earlier, your best bet to get good-quality images is to take multiple pictures. Your mobile phone might lose focus or take blurred photos due to the mobile or microscope’s movement. Thus, it is suggested to always shoot multiple images when taking pictures with a smartphone.
Other Ways to Take Pictures Using a Microscope
Using a Microscope Camera
A microscope camera is one of the best ways to convert your traditional microscope into a digital one.
Microscope cameras often come with built-in software, so you do not have to put much effort into using them. You can find microscope cameras in various sizes with different specifications to meet your needs. Choose the one that suits your requirements the best.
- Attach the microscope camera to the microscope.
- Connect the camera to a computer or digital screen.
- Record the observations from the camera to view later.
Using a microscope camera allows you to get close-up images of the samples. You do not have to hold them with a steady hand or balance the tripod, making them incredibly handy.
However, a microscope camera can be slightly pricey compared to other options.
Using a Digital Microscope
While it is the simplest method to take pictures through a microscope, it is the most expensive. You can find various digital microscopes varying in their design, magnification, or screen type.
The best digital microscopes take away the pain of recording images and videos with an additional device. You only have to plug them into your computer to transfer the photos. Most such microscopes come with USB slots to copy images from the microscope software.
The Bottom Line
Taking pictures with a microscope is not a challenge when you have a smartphone. You can easily take pictures using smartphones by placing the smartphone lens on the eyepiece and focusing the image. At the same time, use a smartphone holder, or adapter or attach your smartphone to a tripod for clear images. These accessories allow you to study and take images of these specimens hands-free. Besides smartphones, you can also use microscope cameras and digital microscopes to record images and videos from microscopes.
FAQs
What device do you use to take pictures from a microscope?
Microscope cameras are the most common device to take pictures from microscopes and record images. You can connect the microscope camera to your phone or computer screen to save pictures.
How does a microscope camera work?
The microscope camera obtains the images from the lens to the camera, allowing you to view them on the screen. The camera magnification and screen imaging may vary in different microscope cameras.
What is a microscope camera adapter?
Microscope camera adapters are typically C-mount adapters, specifically designed for microscopes to improve the focus of the microscope lens. It helps us collect images from the specimen without holding a camera in hand for long.
What makes a good microscope camera?
The quality of a microscope camera depends on various features, including field of view, resolution, image quality, frame rate, etc. They ensure you get high-quality images and videos when obtaining images through a microscope camera.
Which microscope produces the best image?
Electron microscopes have built-in cameras that record images produced by electron bombarding. They have a high magnification and resolution, allowing them to produce in-depth images of the specimens.
Leave a Reply