Video Microscopy for Teaching: Optimizing the Field of View

Robert A. Wyttenbach

https://doi.org/10.59390/XOIG7838

ABSTRACT

Whether teaching online or in person, video microscopy can demonstrate and document procedures such as dissection and electrophysiology. Such videos can streamline in-person lab work or make online material more interesting and lifelike. Microscope video can also be streamed live over Zoom or other services for live online demonstration. It can be difficult, however, to match a microscope and camera such that the field of view (FOV) captured by the camera encompasses the entire FOV seen by the microscope user. Standard recommendations usually give a camera FOV much smaller than the user’s FOV. This paper explains how to work with three variables (camera sensor size, microscope coupler magnification, and ocular diameter) to achieve a good FOV match.