Since our microscopes use a standard webcam chipset, they will automatically install default webcam (UVC) drivers when plugged in to a host device. They can be used with any webcam app, including the ones built-in to most operating systems.
Some features of our microscopes aren’t available in some webcam applications. We designed our USB microscope software package, Plugable Digital Viewer, specifically for use with our microscopes. This enables features such as resolution switching, video processing amplifier control, and the capture button to be utilized.
The new KoPa AIR digital microscope camera is a USB digital microscope that offers both WiFi and USB live image output with up to 5.0 megapixel USB resolution, and live (40 FPS) streaming WiFi at 1280 x 960 resolution. The camera has a full suite of auto and manual controls in the USB software as well as the free, downloadable KoPa Vision App.
Setup Instructions
Windows
macOS
Chrome OS
Linux
Android
iOS (Not supported)
Windows
Plugable Digital Viewer is designed specifically to work with the microscope. This package works with the following Windows releases (Windows 10 S mode and Windows RT not supported).
- Windows 10
- Windows 8/8.1
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP SP3
Note: Windows versions 8, 8.1, 10, and 10 in S Mode include a built-in camera application that works well with the microscope.
Mac
Plugable Digital Viewer is available for macOS/Mac OS X. There are two different versions depending on what OS version you are running.
macOS 10.13.4 and above
Mac OS X 10.5.x to macOS 10.13.3
Note: The built-in Photo Booth application works well with the microscope, though images are mirrored left-to-right.
Chrome OS
Our microscopes can be used with the default Camera app that comes with Chrome. Google provides an excellent usage guide, linked below.
In the Camera app, you may need to select the ‘Switch Camera’ button next to the red ‘Capture’ button. Some Chrome machines with built-in cameras may need to have the device pointer changed. This can be done by going to Settings > Advanced Settings > Privacy > Content Settings > Camera, and change the device in the dropdown to “USB Microscope”.
Linux
We have tested our microscope with many Linux distros utilizing either the Cheese app or GTK+ UVC Viewer. These can either be installed by searching by app name through the app store in your Linux distro (if available), or by using the following terminal commands.
GTK+ UVC Viewer
“sudo apt-get install guvcview”
Cheese
“sudo apt-get install cheese”
Android
Using the microscope on an Android device requires an OTG cable. We recommend the app CameraFi 2, available on Google Play.
Note: Android support is on a case-by-case basis. Device manufacturers must have support for USB Video Class devices built-in or this will not work.
iOS
Usb Microscope Camera Software For Mac Pro
iOS is not supported. iOS hosts specifically do not work with standard external USB Video Class devices.