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In a confocal image the magnification depends on the objective magnification and the area scanned on the sample.  There is of course an 'ocular' or transfer lens but that is not variable and thus is included in the calibration of the system.  So when you 'zoom' in a confocal image you are just scanning a smaller part of the field of view.  The system should still always give you the correct magnification, but since this is a digital image the appropriate units are pixels per micrometre (or the converse, the size of a pixel).  Every confocal microscope will give you these figures.  You should check once in a while, of course, using a standard specimen such as a stage micrometer.  

							Guy

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicola Green
Sent: Friday, 16 August 2013 8:57 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: magnification

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Hi
This is probably a very foolish and basic question, but I am going to ask
it any way and just apologise for my ignorance as a biological specialist
using a confocal microscope.

In microscopy I would generally multiply the objective lens magnification
by the ocular lens (often 10x) to get the total magnification of an image.
I want to know if this also applies for the confocal microscope or is the
light path such that the objective magnification is the only one relevant?
If I do need to include additional magnification what would these
magnifications be, are they dependent upon the system being used (LSM 510
META)  or is there a standard magnification?

Thanks for your help in clarifying this for me.

Regards
Nicola