Leica Understanding Photo Tubes and C-mounts for Optimal Microscope Performance

Photo Tubes and C-mounts

Application

All Leica DFC cameras are equipped with a standardized C-mount interface. In turn, the C-mount adapter for the respective trinocular tube is connected to this interface. This adapter creates a solid mechanical connection between the microscope and camera and ensures opti- mum rendering of the microscopic image on the image sensor of the camera.

Usually, the ideal is for the digital camera to capture as much of the field of vision as possi- ble, while excluding as much of the black edge of the field of vision as possible. To do so, the magnification factor of the C-mount adapter must match the image format of the sensor as closely as possible (see table).

If there is unwanted shading at the corners even with a compatible C-mount adapter installed, it can be corrected using the "Shading function" of the camera software.

Alternatively, you can also use a C-mount adapter with higher magnification. This primar- ily avoids the critical border area of the field of vision and concentrates on the center of the field of vision.

Camera	optimal	suitable
	(large	(smaller
	image field)	image field)
DFC295	0.5×	0.63×
DFC290 HD
DFC425	0.5×	0.63×
DFC425 C
DFC495	0.63×	0.8×
DFC500	0.63×	0.8×

Cameras from third-party suppliers

In addition to Leica DFC cameras with the stan- dardized C-mount interfaces, you can connect third-party cameras to the microscope using a T2 bayonet adapter. To do so, instead of the C-mount adapter, simply use the correspond- ing SLR adapter with T2 connection. However, these third-party cameras are not integrated into the Leica Application Suite and have to be operated using the corresponding software from the camera manufacturer.

The Leica digital cameras are detailed in a sepa- rate user manual along with instructions for their assembly and use.

Leica M-series User Manual 45