- There are two types of microscope camera chips. CCD (charge-coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image sensors are found in microscope cameras.
- CMOS sensors are created on established silicon processes in high-volume wafer plants that also process related chips. This allows the CMOS chip to be produced more extensively and thus generally results in a lower cost for CMOS cameras. The CMOS manufacturers lack the process for adding color filters and more advanced optical packaging techniques that the CCD sensors offer. The CMOS camera is recommended for routine documentation and educational microscopy needs.
- CCD sensors consist of a large number of light-sensing elements arranged in a two-dimensional array on a thin silicone substrate. CCD sensors provide a higher-quality image and perform better in low-light conditions. The CCD camera is recommended for microscopic images that need to be published, darkfield or epi-fluorescence work, or situations where a higher quality image is desired.
- Pixel size is another area where image quality can vary. Confusing as it might be, all 2.0 mega pixel cameras are not created equally. In recent years pixel size has gotten smaller, resulting in higher quality images. When digital cameras were first introduced 10-20 micron (giant) sized pixels were common.
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