iPad Air 1 Cam/Cmpd Microscope Adapter

This adapter slips firmly onto the camera end of an iPad Air 1 and the barrel slips over the ocular of the microscope.  As a result, the camera of the iPad is lined up with the image from the microscope, allowing the user to take pictures and video of the specimen on the microscope stage.  The ocular of the microscope must be 28 mm in diameter.  Successful image magnification at any microscope objective setting can be achieved by zooming in using the iPad screen.  This is demonstrated in the sample pictures.

 

I have ordered several of these for my own lab and they work quite well.  

 

It is recommended that a rubber band be used as a cost effective method of keeping the adapter secured to the iPad and therefore properly lined up with the iPad camera.  I could make a larger adapter that can be used without a rubber band, but that would be more material and therefore it would be more expensive.  But relatively speaking, it would still be less expensive than any digital camera that attaches to the microscope and sends the image to a laptop or iPad!

 

Please note, as with all things, there are variations between microscopes.  I recommend purchasing 1 test product to make sure it works with your brand and model of scopes.  This particular product was made using a Wolfe brand microscope and there were variations in the ocular between 2 scopes of the same model!  The adapter still worked for both, but one worked when the ocular was fully inserted into the adapter, and the only worked when the adapter was slightly pulled away from the eyepiece.  It may also be a good idea to turn the light intensity down with the diaphragm to reduce overexposure.