Microscope Phone Adapter
Microscopy cameras for taking images of the slides you’re studying are exceptionally sophisticated nowadays. From faster sensors, a choice of megapixel options, and of course, easier to use and cheaper software capabilities.
But what if you want to take images with your smartphone? Many smartphones today offer excellent photographic abilities. Most people want to use their smartphones to take pictures and videos.
It’s definitely possible to take images and video through the eyepiece of a microscope. By utilizing the smartphone’s camera optics and the microscope’s optics, you can take excellent photos, known as afocal photography. This method has two drawbacks: first, the camera alignment must be spot-on, and you don’t want any ambient light leaks.
To counteract these two negatives, all you need is a microscope phone adapter. In this guide, we have listed a choice of the best cell phone microscope adapters that will suit all budgets.
So, if you want your photos and videos to be crystal clear and sharply in focus, let’s get things underway with our list of best microscope phone adapters.
Our Top 5 Best Microscope Phone Adapters
1. Swift Microscope Lens Adapter
The Swift Microscope Lens Adapter has two size variations for the external diameter of the microscope’s eyepiece: 26mm and 28mm.
Aligning the smartphone adapter with the microscope’s eyepiece takes practice and patience; it can be a little time-consuming, and it’s the same whichever adapter you are likely to choose. There is a way of getting this job done a lot more quickly, and that’s buying a spare eyepiece for your microscope and fitting the adapter onto that eyepiece.
When you want to take pictures or videos, you will swap out the eyepiece on your microscope for the one with the adapter already fitted. It’s a lot less frustrating and time-saving doing it this way.
The Swift adapter adjusts to hold any smartphone on today’s market comfortably sized between 49mm to 88mm wide and 95mm to 155mm long.
One word of advice for you when using the adapter is to use the phone’s magnifying app and not the camera app. Using this app will enable you to adjust the contrast, brightness, and zoom feature, which gives you more flexibility than a camera app (you cannot take video with the magnifying app, though).
Key Features – Swift Microscope Lens Adapter:
- Available in Two sizes: 26mm and 28mm
- Works with any smartphone 49 to 88mm wide and 95 to 155mm long
- Soft padding cushions the phone
- Excellent quality all-metal construction
- Straightforward to fit
2. Gosky Microscope Lens Adapter
If you want to take a microscope and make it digital for a small amount of money, you can’t do better than the Gosky Microscope Lens Adapter. This type of adapter is excellent for taking images without the hassle of a computer or digital camera; you have to be careful not to rock the phone when you’re pressing the camera shutter; other than that, it’s an excellent piece of equipment.
The adapter is compatible with any smartphone in size range of 2.2 inches up to 3.9 inches wide; however, the phone camera needs to be in the center or just off-center.
The adapter’s body is made from high-strength plastic and protecting the phone from any damage are high-density EVA pads.
The lens quality is particularly good with slight chromatic aberration, and the magnification is ideal. If you choose to, you can download a program that will allow you to live stream the images from the phone directly to your PC.
The great thing with this type of phone adapter is you can sit around with the kids, and everyone can see the images altogether; there’s no need to trade turns with the eyepiece.
Key Features – Goskey Microscope Lens Adapter:
- 23.2mm eyepiece barrel. Works on microscopes with a 23.2mm optical tube
- Made from high-strength plastic
- Compact and lightweight
- Suitable for phones from 2.2 inches up to 3.9 inches wide
- High-density EVA pads protect the phone
3. Gosky New Version Microscope Lens Adapter
This microscope phone adapter is an updated version of the Gosky microscope adapter; you get an updated metallic microscope eyepiece with a wider field of view and high durability materials for a little extra money.
You’ll find the adapter will work on microscopes with a 23.2mm optical tube or 23.2mm eyepiece barrel. Should you be uncertain of the size of your microscope, you can measure the inside diameter of your microscope’s tube.
The adapter comes equipped with a 20x ocular lens and an o-ring seal to ensure a tight fit. It is compatible with all phones from 2.2 inches up to 3.9 inches.
The adapter is very straightforward: quick alignment and connection to a smartphone.
Key Features – Gosky New Version Microscope Lens Adapter:
- Weighs 7.4 ounces
- Dimensions of 7.13 x 5.04 x 2.83 inches
- Works with microscopes having a 23.2mm optical tube
- High-density EVA pads to protect the phone
- Compatible with phones from 2.2 to 3.9 inches wide
- Built-in WF 10x eyepiece
4. Vankey Bluesky V1 Cellphone Adapter Mount
The Vankey Bluesky V1 Cellphone Adapter Mount is compatible with eyepieces with outer diameters of between 28 to 47mm (1.10 inches to 1.85 inches), which means it will fit most microscopes.
Choose this adapter if your smartphone is between 2.08 and 3.66 inches. If you have a bulky phone case, it’s better to remove it before fitting it into the adapter. The adapter has ultra-soft EVA pads that will prevent any damage to your phone.
The adapter’s body is high-quality zinc alloy with a clamp of high-strength PA plastic, solid build quality, and ultra-lightweight.
Overall you’ll find the adapter to be highly sturdy and will hold the phone firmly in position while you snap images of your slides.
The manufacturers offer a 2-year warranty and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Key Features – Vankey Bluesky V1 Cellphone Adapter Mount:
- High-quality zinc alloy
- Soft EVA pads to hold the phone
- Clamp made from highly durable plastic
- Will fit phones from 2.08 inches to 3.66 inches
- Weighs 6.5 ounces
- Manual focus
- Will work with eyepieces from 1.1 to 1.85 inches
- 2-year manufacturers warranty
- 90-day money-back warranty
5. Solomark Microscope Lens Cellphone Adapter
The Solomark Microscope Lens Cellphone Adapter will comfortably fit all smartphones between 2.2 inches to 3.9 inches wide. It will work on microscopes having a 23.2mm optical tube or 23.2mm eyepiece barrel.
Always measure the inside diameter of your microscope’s optical tube if you’re unsure if the adapter will fit correctly. There is also a WF16X microscope eyepiece built into the adapter.
The lens of the adapter is adjustable to allow for the different camera positions on modern smartphones, and it can be a little tricky, requiring some patience; once in place, though, it holds the phone very securely for taking snaps and videos.
The adapter is an excellent choice and will save a serious amount of money on expensive digital cameras.
Key Features – Solomark Microscope Lens Cellphone Adapter:
- Works on microscopes with 23.2mm optical tube or 23.2mm eyepiece barrel
- It weighs only 4.2 ounces
- Dimensions of 6.85 x 4.41 x 2.44 inches
- Built-in WF16X microscope eyepiece
- Will fit phones from 2.2 inches to 3.9 inches
Conclusion
If staring through a microscope for a long time gives you problems, you can always leave the adapter connected to the microscope and simply view your slides, etc., on the smartphone.
Using a microscope phone adapter is an inexpensive way of turning your microscope into a digital one plus without the inconvenience of involving a PC or laptop.