582Top-quality C-mount adapter solution 0.5x for attaching C-mount cameras to Olympus 42 mm phototubes
To make the best use of the roughly 1/2" sensor size on C-mount cameras, we recommend using an LM adapter solution with adjustment optics. This top-quality adapter solution features an integrated plan-achromatic optical system. It is made of CNC machined, turned aluminium and has an optical factor of 0.5x. With this optical adjustment, the field of view in the photograph is the same size as that you see through the eyepieces, in a rectangular format with no peripheral darkening. If you used a C-mount connection with a factor of 1x, i.e. without optical adjustment, the field of view in the photograph would be 50% smaller (see image):
Comparison of field of view fov c-mount cameras adapter integrated adjustment optics
This image shows very well just how much an adapter without adjustment optics crops the field of view. Our adapter solution for standard C-mount cameras with integrated adjustment optics provides the largest possible field of view.
A large number of Olympus microscopes have a phototube with an internal diameter of 42 mm.
Examples for some of these microscopes are:
Upright laboratory microscopes:
- AX70
- CKX31, CKX41
- CX 21, CX40, CX41
- BX 40, BX41, BX45, BX50, BX51, BX52, BX 61
- FV1000
Inverse laboratory microscopes:
- IX50 / IX70
- IX51 / IX71 / IX81
Stereo microscopes:
- SZX2, SZX7, SZX9, SZX10, SZX12, SZX16
With our LM adapter solution, a wide range of C-mount cameras can be attached to these phototubes in just a few quick and simple steps. Our adapter, which is a perfect fit for the sensor sizes shown in the table below, reduces field of view by 50%. This optical adjustment is necessary to ensure that the camera’s sensor is used to optimal capacity and that the section of the image in the eyepiece will match the field of view represented by the camera.
| Type | Aspect ratio |
Diagonal size [mm] |
Width [mm] |
Height [mm] |
| 1/2,7" | 4:3 | 6,7 | 5,3 | 4,0 |
| 1/2.5" | 4:3 | 7,1 | 5,7 | 4,3 |
| 1/2,3" | 4:3 | 7,7 | 6,2 | 4,6 |
| 1/2" | 4:3 | 8,0 | 5,4 | 4,8 |
| 1/1.8" | 4:3 | 8,9 | 7.1 | 5,3 |
| 1:1.7" | 4:3 | 9.5 | 7.6 | 5.7 |
The adapter and C-mount camera form a compact unit and can be used on a wide variety of microscopes without any difficulty.
Adapter solution for the eyepiece tube
With our adapter solution, it is also possible to attach C-mount microscope and industrial cameras to the microscope’s eyepiece tube in a few quick and easy steps.
As an alternative to C-mount cameras, we recommend modern DSLR (digital single lens reflex) or DSLM (digital single lens mirrorless) cameras because their sensors are much larger and will therefore give you substantially better image quality. Especially at low levels of magnification and also when used with a stereo microscope, the larger sensor format with a higher number of pixels has significant advantages.
You can find more information about camera selection on our two info pages camera recommendation and camera ranking. On request, we will also be happy to advise you individually.
05.03.2021| Ordering code | Product description | Price | Price | Available |
 CMOUNT05x_42mm | LM C-Mount adapter magnification factor of 0.5x for Olympus phototube with 42mm inner diameter. Special hard anti-reflection plan achromatic coating optic Data Sheet0 Info1 | Euro 1289,-- | US $ 1366.34 |  |
 RelayLens05T | LM digital relay lens adapter with a magnification factor of 0.5x for 23.2mm eyepiece or phototube. Special hard anti-reflection plan achromatic coating optic Data Sheet0 Operating Instructions1 | Euro 1369,-- | US $ 1451.14 | |
 TUST30S | Tube adapter 30mm for LM Digital Adapter with 23.2mm tube Data Sheet0 Operating Instructions1 | Euro 239,-- | US $ 253.34 |  |