Consumer vs. Scientific Digital Cameras

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2004

Journal Title

Microscopy and Analysis

First Page

25

Abstract

This article discusses a few key concepts of digital cameras, optics and associated software to illustrate scientific and economic differences between consumer and scientific digital cameras for scientists. Consumer digital cameras have gone from low resolution curiosities to very capable, high resolution, low-cost cameras. Depending on the intended use, consumer digital cameras could have a place in the scientific market. Consumer digital cameras typically have a resolution of 2 to 5 megapixels per image, are portable, take pictures remote to a computer, and can be bought cheaply at any electronics store. Scientific grade cameras are more expensive, at least initially. But let’s consider the scientific issues in camera selection and the true cost of the cameras in relation to image capture time.

Keywords

Digital cameras, optics, image processing

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