Microscope Museum

Collection of antique microscopes and other scientific instruments

Camera lucida Wollaston-type

This Wollaston-type camera lucida is a scientific drawing instrument dating from the second half of the nineteenth century. The camera lucida is an optical device designed to assist accurate drawing by allowing the user to see both the specimen and the drawing surface simultaneously, with the two images optically superimposed. The principle of the camera lucida was first described by Johannes Kepler in 1611, although practical instruments were not produced until the early nineteenth century. Numerous designs were subsequently developed, with the Wollaston type becoming one of the most widely adopted. Invented and patented by Wollaston in 1807, this version uses a specially shaped prism positioned above the observer's eye. By looking through the edge of the prism, the user sees the reflected image of the specimen while simultaneously viewing the drawing paper directly, making it possible to trace the specimen with remarkable precision. The camera lucida quickly became an invaluable tool for scientists, naturalists, and artists, and was soon adapted for use with microscopes. Early microscope-mounted versions consisted simply of a prism fitted to a replacement eyepiece cap, allowing microscopic specimens to be drawn with greater accuracy before the advent of photomicrography.