1. What is Camera Resolution in Microscopy?

Camera resolution in microscopy (cam_res) represents the size of each pixel in the specimen plane, calculated by dividing the camera's pixel size by the total magnification of the microscope system.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the camera resolution formula:

Where:

• \( cam\_res \) — Camera resolution (μm/pixel)
• \( pixel\_size \) — Physical size of camera pixels (μm)
• \( mag \) — Total system magnification (unitless)

Explanation: The formula shows that higher magnification results in better resolution (smaller value), while larger pixels result in poorer resolution (larger value).

3. Importance of Camera Resolution

Details: Proper camera resolution is crucial for capturing fine details in microscopy. Resolution should be at least 2-3 times smaller than the smallest feature you want to resolve.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter pixel size in micrometers (μm) and total magnification (including any camera adapters). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Where can I find my camera's pixel size?
A: Pixel size is typically listed in the camera specifications, often in micrometers (μm). For example, common values are 3.45 μm or 6.5 μm.

Q2: What is total system magnification?
A: It's the product of objective magnification, intermediate optics (if any), and camera adapter magnification. For example: 40× objective × 1.5× adapter = 60× total.

Q3: What is a good camera resolution value?
A: Ideally, cam_res should be ≤1/3 of your desired spatial resolution. For example, to resolve 1 μm features, aim for ≤0.33 μm/pixel.

Q4: Does pixel binning affect resolution?
A: Yes, binning combines pixels, effectively increasing pixel size and thus increasing (worsening) cam_res.

Q5: How does this relate to Nyquist sampling?
A: For optimal sampling, cam_res should be ≤ half the optical resolution limit of your microscope (Nyquist criterion).