C-Mount Camera Microscope Adapter
- Field of View (F.O.V)
A practical guide to captured image area, sensor size, relay lens zoom and displayed magnification.
With a C-mount microscope camera adapter, the most useful question is usually not only “what is the relay lens magnification?” but “how much of the eyepiece image can the camera capture?” The captured range depends on multiple factors, including the camera sensor size, relay lens zoom setting, microscope optical path and the eyepiece field number.
Q: What is the magnification of the NY-CZ built-in relay lens?
The magnification of a relay lens can vary in practical use because the final image is affected by camera sensor size, monitor size, print size and the optical conditions of the microscope system. Therefore, describing the adapter only by a single magnification number can be misleading. In practical terms, it is more important to understand what percentage of the image seen through the eyepiece can be captured by the camera.
Field of View Depends on Several Combined Factors
3 factors that affect Shooting Range
Eyepiece view:
the starting visual field that the operator sees through the microscope eyepiece.
Camera sensor size:
the sensor format determines how much of the projected image can be captured. (Various sizes are available, ranging from approximately 1/3 to 1/1 inch.)
Relay lens zoom:
higher zoom narrows the captured area, while lower zoom increases the captured area. (NY-CZ magnification ranges from 0.35× to 0.7×, with a 2× zoom ratio.)
The illustration above summarizes these factors in one image. High magnification zoom decreases the coverage area, while low magnification zoom increases it.
How to Read the Eyepiece Field Number
Example: Olympus Eyepiece GSWH10X/22
- GSWH: model name
- 10X: eyepiece magnification
- 22: eyepiece field number, meaning an approximate field diameter of φ22 mm
The camera image range is compared against the area visible through a 10X eyepiece.
Check the field number of the specific eyepiece model. It can differ even when the eyepiece magnification is the same.
Common field numbers are often around 18-22 for higher-magnification systems and around 22-27 for wider-field microscope systems.
Peripheral image quality from the objective lens can be more distorted or less sharply focused than the center area. For camera adapter selection, it is important to consider not only the maximum visible range, but also the usable image area that can be captured with acceptable quality.
Adapter coverage and image quality may vary depending on the microscope model, optical path, objective lens, camera sensor size and camera settings. The information on this page is a practical guide and may be subject to change for improvement.
Displayed Magnification and Calculation Method
Displayed magnification is an approximate value. It changes with the objective lens, relay lens setting, camera sensor format, monitor size and output display method.
| Calculation Example | Value |
|---|---|
| Sensor format | 1/2 inch |
| Monitor size | 17 inch |
| Adapter | NY-CZ with max. 0.7× zoom |
| Objective lens | 20× |
| Approx. LCD displayed magnification | 20 × 0.7 × (17 ÷ 0.5) = 476× |
This value is an estimate for display comparison. It should not be treated as a calibrated measurement value unless the entire imaging system is calibrated with a stage micrometer or equivalent reference scale.