Development of a low-cost microscope using a DVD optical pickup head

This paper presents a novel, low-cost microscope using the DVD optical pickup head (OPH) of an obsolete computer. This system utilizes two optical lenses in the DVD OPH, for easy adjustment of the magnification and focusing, as well as a retractable light path, which allows users to explore the fundamental components of microscopy. Performance analysis of the developed microscope presents magnification and resolution measurements of approximately 152 and 161 lines/mm, respectively, when the ocular lens is located 20 cm from the CCD.