The table below lists known camera lens mounts by name, register (Flange Focal Distance), and mechanical description. The table can be sorted by any of these parameters by clicking the sort icons in the table header. The data in this table has been compiled from a variety of sources including our own pages, the Cornell University camera mount list, and William-Jan Markerink's lens flange distance table. See the Links section below for some of our sources.

Stereomicroscope

New Zealanders are only too aware of how devastating a major earthquake can be. Professor Dave Prior and his group are looking for clues to how and why earthquakes happen. In the article Squishy rocks and earthquakes and the interactive From mountains to microscopes, follow Dave and the team as they collect rock samples from deep in the Alpine Fault (Westland) and see how microscopy of rocks can shed light on the history of movement in the fault.

Some lens manufacturers specifically design lenses to be relatively easy to convert to any one of several different proprietary mounts.[1]

Our microscope resources invite students to share in the sense of wonder that scientists have felt for centuries looking through the microscope. We look at the diversity of objects on the microscopic scale and introduce several New Zealand scientists who use microscopes to explore the things that interest them. At the same time, we show how microscopes themselves have evolved to look more and more closely at the world around us.

microscope中文

Dr Bronwyn Lowe describes her use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to explore harakeke leaves. Bronwyn found that different harakeke varieties have differently patterned waxes on the leaf surface. She also explored the distribution of fibre (muka) in the leaves of different varieties.

Electronmicroscope

The student activities provide plenty of hands-on experiences. Modelling animal cells in 3D imitates what can be seen under high-resolution microscopes. Using lolly slices to build 3D images and Using shadows to build 3D images model how scientists interpret microscopic data. Ferns under the microscope demonstrates how increasing the power of magnification leads to much greater detail. For younger students use the Making a simple microscope activity – it uses accessible technology to increase students’ ability to observe closely.

MicroscopeParts

This SEM image of tin spheres of various sizes (used to calibrate the microscope) was taken by Liz Girvan. It won an image competition in Otago and has attracted worldwide interest.

Most lens mounts fall into one of several categories of mechanical operation: threaded screw, bayonet, or breech lock. A few additional variations or combinations are rarely used such as multi-start threaded screw mounts. The primary motivation for the proliferation of lens mounting systems and the incompatibility between different manufacturers' mounting systems is vendor lock-in; the desire to force a consumer to continuing buying hardware of a given brand by assuring their hardware will not be compatible with other brands.

Associate Professor Tony Poole shares his story about the primary cilium, a structure of the surface of cells that seems to monitor what’s going on in the cell surroundings. This elusive structure was first tracked down using microscopes, and many aspects of how it works remain mysterious. In the article A closer look at the cell’s antenna, see how Tony is using microscopes to build a 3D computer model of the primary cilium.

Microscope

We live in a beautiful world – and that beauty and complexity extends far beyond what humans can see unaided. From plant and animal anatomy to cells and proteins and even down to the level of atoms, there are worlds within worlds of detail to be explored on the microscopic scale.

History ofmicroscope

Dr Rebecca Campbell (University of Otago) discusses the importance of fluorescent molecules in confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (‘confocal microscopy’) of cells. She explains how green fluorescent protein (GFP) from jellyfish can be used to make specific neurons glow green.

This table necessarily lacks detail that has important implications. As an example, both Nippon Kōgaku and Cosina have made specialist lenses popularly termed "Nikon F mount" that are much as described below but extend backward so far that the camera's mirror must be locked up; this in turn (i) limits the usable "Nikon F mount" cameras to those that have mirror lock-up and (ii) means that the resulting combination is no longer a SLR. Therefore the table should only be taken as an introductory guide to which lenses work with which bodies.

At the University of Otago, Dr Bronwyn Lowe and Māori weavers have been working closely together to explore several properties of harakeke (New Zealand flax). In the article Harakeke under the microscope, learn about the differences between harakeke varieties on the microscopic scale and explore how mātauranga Māori (traditional Māori knowledge) can shed light on scientific research.

Compoundmicroscope

How to usemicroscope

Microscopes are the tools that allow us to look more closely at objects, seeing beyond what is visible with the naked eye. Without them, we would have no idea about the existence of cells or how plants breathe or how rocks change over time. Our understanding of the world around us would be severely limited – and this is why many scientists see microscopes as the most important scientific instrument there is.

Our microscope resources emphasise the link between microscope technology and the science that microscopes have helped uncover. The activity Which microscope is best? is a good starting point for learning how specialised microscopes can help answer different scientific questions.

Using the earliest microscopes, scientists glimpsed a world of unimaginable complexity – and they wanted to know more. To satisfy this urge, microscope technology became more sophisticated over time, letting us look more and more closely at objects. We’ve been able to ask more specific questions about the object we’re viewing: What does its surface or internal structure look like? What is it made up of? How does it change over time? For each of these questions, specialised microscopes have now been developed that can provide the answers.

In contrast to camera manufacturers' desire for incompatibility, consumer demand for interchangeability has driven the development of lens mount adapters and interchangeable mount systems by third-party lens manufacturers. In principle a mechanical lens mount adapter can be created for a camera with a given register (aka Flange Focal Distance or FFD) that will mount lenses designed for cameras of any greater register. Adapting a lens designed for a smaller register either (a) requires an optical adapter (which lowers image quality), or (b) prevents focussing beyond a certain distance. (Even with a greater register, there may be mechanical limitations.)

Dr Rebecca Campbell is studying a small group of brain cells (GnRH neurons) that control fertility. Learn about her remarkable discoveries about how these cells interconnect – all done using microscopes of course!

A lens mount is a mechanical and also sometimes an electrical interface between a camera and a lens that allows cameras to have interchangeable lenses. Still and motion picture cameras, as well as other optical equipment, use lens mounts. Some are unique to a particular device or manufacturer (and protected by patent); for some, the patent has expired; and others again are designed to be shared by cameras from multiple manufacturers.

The Exploring with microscopes – question bank provides a list of questions about microscopy and places where their answers can be found. The questions support an inquiry approach.