Area of a Microscopic Field of View

 

magnification factor =

= (magnification of the objective lens) * (magnification of any attachment if any, else 1)

 

NOTE: The magnification factor does not include the power of the ocular eyepiece.

 

radius of the microscopic field of view in millimeters =

= (eye piece field-of-view number) / (2 * (magnification factor))

 

where:

• The eyepiece field-of-view number is written on the side of the eyepiece (for example: 20, 22 or 25).

 

area in microscopic field of view in square millimeters =

= ( π * ((radius)^2))

 

Alternatively the radius can be directly measured using a special slide with an etched ruler marked in microns.

Microscope	Field of View Number for Standard Eyepiece	Area in square mm with 40x Objective
Leica	20	0.20
Nikon	22	0.24
Olympus BH2	20	0.20
Olympus BX40	22	0.24
Zeiss	20	0.20

from Table 2, page 936.

 

number of fields required to examine a given area in square millimeters =

= (area in square millimeters to examine) / (area of a microscopic field in square millimeters)