The Leica IC90 E: Versatile HD camera for stereoscopic microscopes
The Leica IC90 E is an innovative solution for digital image capture in stereoscopic observation. Designed to integrate seamlessly with Leica M-series microscopes, it adopts a "sandwich" configuration, fitting directly between the tube and the optical support without the need for additional adapters. This design ensures balanced light distribution between optical observation and digital capture, while maintaining optimal image quality thanks to an internal video magnification of 0.5x.
Equipped with a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor, the camera can capture high-resolution still images up to 3648 x 2736 pixels, with a colour depth of 24 bits. It supports JPEG formats for images and MP4 for videos, ensuring compatibility with scientific documentation standards. Image quality is enhanced by the ability to fine-tune settings such as white balance, exposure, gain, brightness and gamma, either in automatic or manual mode.
The Leica IC90 E stands out for its flexible connectivity. In USB mode, it connects directly to a PC or Mac, allowing the use of Leica Application Suite (LAS 4.9 / LAS X 3.0) software for Windows and Leica Acquire (version 3.3 or higher) for macOS. This mode offers complete control of the camera via software, ideal for research or teaching environments. In HDMI mode, the camera operates independently, displaying live images on an HD screen and recording data directly to an SD card. This mode is particularly suitable for presentations or environments without a computer. Finally, Ethernet mode allows integration into a local network, with remote access from a computer or mobile device connected to the same network, facilitating sharing and collaboration.
The camera is equipped with a mode switch andLED indicators that signal operating status and active mode. It also offers customisable user settings, such as histogram display, menu display time, hand/foot button configuration and overlay selection. These options allow the user experience to be tailored to the specific needs of each application.
An optional infrared remote control allows remote operation of the camera in HDMI mode, with access to menus, image capture, video recording, and navigation of files recorded on SD card. A hand/foot switch is also available as an accessory, providing convenient control for essential functions.
The Leica IC90 E is designed to meet the demands of professional environments, including clean rooms. It operates in a temperature range of 10 °C to 40 °C and can be stored between -20 °C and 55 °C. It supports relative humidity from 10% to 90%, non-condensing, and can be used at altitudes up to 2000 metres.
With its compact dimensions (Ø52 mm, height 133.3 mm) and weight of 600 g, it can be easily integrated into any Leica optical system. Its power consumption of only 4 W makes it an efficient and economical solution for capturing high-definition images in laboratories, educational institutions and industrial environments.
