Analyze Your Application's Needs

A micro-zoom video inspection system is ideal for projects that require precise measurement and inspection of small to mid sized objects such a single circuit or engine component as compared to a circuits board or engine block which would more appropriately call for a macro inspection system. Once you have determined that a micro-zoom video inspection system would best serve your project's requirements, a series of questions will help you to refine your equipment search.

Inspection Requires Flexibility

When considering a manual or motorized video system to inspect for defects or anomalies, be sure to consider the full range of sizes, lighting requirements and zoom levels needed to measure and inspect all of your parts.

1. Check the Field of View for your parts

Be sure to evaluate the area of the part or the largest feature of a system that you will need to see on the monitor screen at one time (Lowest Magnification). The field of view refers to the maximum stage area that a camera can view at one time without movement or focus of any sort.

2. Determine the viewing resolution you require for your part(s).

Note the smallest feature required to be viewed in its entirety at one time (Highest Magnification). Resolution can be understood as the inspection system's ability to accurately reproduce the level of detail of each part.

3. Determine the working distance and depth of field your project requires.

How Do I identify my required working distance?

The working distance is the equipment's required distance between the part and the lens that allows the operator to view the part in focus.  

What is the Depth of Field?

The depth of field is the difference between the the closest and the farthest distance that a part may be moved under the lens without going out of focus. Most inspection systems have a macro lens (low magnification) with a very high depth of field (more room for hands).

Field-of- View vs. Depth of Field

Macro Lenses generally have a wide field of view. This allows the operator to see more of the part at one time in focus. Again,  Field of view is the total area visible on the screen (x,y) and depth of focus is the distance along the optical axis that the image definition can be maintained without refocusing.

What About Camera Sensor Size?

All cameras have a fixed sensor size ¼", 1/3", ½", 2/3" etc. This means that no matter how large the image is at the sensor plane, the camera will only "look at" the portion of the subject equal to the sensor size. What the camera sees is the field-of-view.

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