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Camera recommendation: Which camera is best suited for use with a microscope?

Digital system cameras and single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) with interchangeable lens mounts deliver excellent image quality at an economical price.

The MICRO TECH LAB team spends a lot of time testing digital cameras to assess their suitability for use in microscopy. To give our customers and readers the benefit of our experience, we publish test reports outlining the results of our tests on our website free of charge. In our camera ranking, we evaluate the cameras we have reviewed. For custom advice on which camera would be best for your needs, please contact us.

We offer adapter solutions for connecting a wide range of digital cameras, such as mirrorless system (DSLM) cameras, commercially available DSLR cameras, special-purpose microscope cameras, high-speed cameras, industrial C-mount cameras, cameras with interchangeable lens mounts and microscope C-mount cameras, to microscopes. 

For challenging imaging tasks (fluorescence microscopy, low-light imaging, slow motion or time lapse shooting, etc.) and excellent image quality, we recommend current system cameras or DSLR with a full-frame sensor. These powerful cameras are equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

In the price range up to EUR 1,000, Canon currently has the most to offer. Canon cameras are excellently suited for microscopy, and the software for remote control from a PC, Mac or smartphone is included when the camera is purchased.

There is also a wide selection available in the price range below € 1,000. These cameras are very well suited for microscopy applications, and the software for remote control from a PC, Mac or smartphone often comes included with the camera purchase.

We do not recommend any compact cameras at this time, because they generally cannot be used satisfactorily for microscopy.

The following aspects are particularly important for use on a microscope:

Another important aspect to consider when working with a microscope is the compatibility with various camera control software programs. Both Canon and Sony provide a convenient, easy-to-use software for controlling the camera remotely from a PC or Mac in Live View, which comes included with the camera purchase. With Nikon, the software is not included in the price of the camera but must be ordered separately (for about € 150).

Breakdown of camera models and price categories:

A) Cameras on the used market

1) Budget-priced older DSLRs below EUR 300 on the used-camera market

Older DSLR cameras, which can be bought at bargain prices on the used-camera market, are often quite well suited for use with a microscope. You just need to make sure that the camera has a good sensor, Live View mode with magnifying function and can be controlled remotely from the computer.

Canon: EOS 40D (2009) , EOS 50D (2008), EOS 60D (2010), 500D (2009), 550D (2010) , 600D (2011), 650D (2012), 700D (2013), 1000D (2008), 1100D (2011), 1200D (2014), 1300D (2016)

Nikon: D7000 (2010), D7100 (2013)

Sony: Alpha 5000 (does not support Live View with remote software! (2014)

2.) Pre-owned quality cameras for up to € 1,000
Those willing to put in some effort may even find some great deals on premium full-frame cameras on the secondary market.

Canon: EOS RP (2019), EOS R (2018), EOS 6D (2013)
Sony: Alpha 7 II (2015), Alpha 7S (2014), Alpha 7R II (2015)
Nikon: D800 (2012)

B) New cameras

3.) Cheap cameras in the price segment up to EUR 400 or EUR 650

For basic tasks, older, more affordable entry-level cameras with a large APS-C sensor (such as the Canon EOS 2000D (2018) / 4000D (2018), which do not have an articulating screen) produce great results and have a better sensor quality than most C-mount cameras.

Mid-level cameras such as the Canon EOS 250D (2019)/ 800D (2017)/ R50 (2023) or R100 (2023), or the Sony Alpha 6000 (2014) or Alpha ZV-E10 (2021), which come with a high-quality APS-C sensor and an articulating screen, are available for under € 650. Panasonic and Olympus also offer some interesting cameras in this price range, for example the Panasonic Lumix G DMC-G70 (2015) or Lumix DMC-G81 (2016), or the Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV (2020).

4) Medium price segment up to EUR 1,000

Canon:EOS RP (2019),  850D (2020), EOS R10 (2022)

Nikon: D7200 (2015), Z30 (2022), Z50 (2019), Z fc (2021), D610  (2013),  D800 (2012)

Sony: Alpha 6100 (2019), Alpha 6500 (2016), Alpha 6400 (2019), Alpha 7II (Vollformat; 2015)

5.) Upper-range price segment between EUR 1,000 and 2,000

Canon: EOS 80D (2016), EOS 90D (2019), EOS 6D II (2017), EOS R (2018), EOS R6 (2020), EOS R7 (2022), EOS R8 (2023)

Nikon: Z5 (2020), Z6 (2018), Z6II (2020)

Sony: Alpha 6600 (2019), Alpha 6700 (2023), Alpha 7C (2020), Alpha 7III (2018) 

 

6.) Top-shelf cameras with a full-frame sensor; these are aimed at professional users and come with a price tag of EUR 2,000 and up.

Nikon: Z-Serie (Z7) (2018), Z8 (2023), Z9 (2021), D850 (2017)

Canon: EOS 6D Mark II (2017), EOS 5D Mark IV (2016), EOS R5 (2020), EOS R3 (2021), EOS R6 II (2022)

Sony: Alpha 9 (2017), Alpha 9 II (2019), Alpha 9 III (2024), Alpha 7S II (2015), Alpha 7S III (2020), 7R (2013)/ 7R II (2015), Alpha 7R III (2018), Alpha 7R IV (2019), Alpha 7RV (2022), Alpha 1 (2021), Alpha 7C II (2023)

 

7) Special section films 4K / 6K / 8K videos: 
Special cameras are used especially for long-term recordings in 4K or even 6K resolution. For customs reasons, many DSLR and system cameras have an artificial limitation of the recording time of 30 minutes. The following cameras are also excellent on a microscope:

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and 6K (4K from around EUR 1,300)
RED Scarlet Camera
GoPro Hero 7 Black (2022)
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 (from around EUR 1,200) (2021)

The following mirrorless system cameras have an 8K video function and have become extremely interesting alternatives for professional film cameras: 
Canon: EOS R5 (2020)
Sony: Alpha 1 (2021), Sony Alpha 7RV (2022)
Nikon Z9 (2021)

8.) Special section slow motion cameras with interchangeable lens mount

The following cameras are suitable for use for slow motion effects on the microscope. The recorded frames per second (fps) are decisive: 

9.) Cameras compatible with focus stacking using the Helicon Remote software

Using a motorised focusing rail and a compatible digital camera enables the fully automated creation of large stacks containing more than 100 images. For controlling the camera and the focusing rail, we recommend the Helicon software, available for both PC (Windows) and Mac IOS platforms. It is comprised of two modules.

The Helicon Remote software controls the focusing rail (z-axis) and the camera. It allows the user to tether the camera to a computer and to control both the camera and the focusing rail when working in Live View. After the stack has been created, the individual images can be processed with the Helicon Focus software to create one composite image with better image quality and incredible depth of field.

A wide range of cameras are compatible with the Helicon Remote software. Click here for a list of compatible cameras: https://www.heliconsoft.com/supported-cameras/

For our proprietary specialised digital microscopes (LM macroscope and LM photomicroscope), we suggest the StackShot motorised focusing rail alongside the Helicon Software for optimal results.

01.01.2015 Update:27.04.2024