convertimate Numerical aperture

Numerical aperture to depth of field

Type a value in NA to get it in µm instantly.

1.302µm

That's about the same as a 40× objective. It can separate detail down to about 423.1 nm.

What it means

How fine can it see?

Resolution figures use green light at 550 nm and the Abbe limit. Shorter wavelengths resolve finer, which is why electron microscopes exist.

The math

How to convert NA to µm

Resolution and aperture are reciprocals through the wavelength: resolution = λ ÷ 2NA, which at 550 nm is 275 ÷ NA nanometers. The collection angle is arcsin(NA).

Example: 0.65 NA = 1.30178 µm.

Every unit

Your aperture in every unit

Tables

NA to µm conversion table

NA to µm conversion table
NAµm
0.04 NA343.75 µm
0.1 NA55 µm
0.25 NA8.8 µm
0.4 NA3.4375 µm
0.65 NA1.30178 µm
0.75 NA0.977778 µm
0.85 NA0.761246 µm
0.95 NA0.609418 µm
1.25 NA0.352 µm
1.4 NA0.280612 µm
µm to NA conversion table
µm to NA conversion table
µmNA
0.281 µm1.39903 NA
0.352 µm1.25 NA
0.609 µm0.950326 NA
0.761 µm0.850137 NA
0.978 µm0.749915 NA
1.3 µm0.650444 NA
3.44 µm0.399855 NA
8.8 µm0.25 NA
55 µm0.1 NA
344 µm0.0399855 NA

Quick answers

Quick answers

How many µm is 1 NA?
1 NA is 0.55 µm.
How many µm is 10 NA?
10 NA is 0.0055 µm.
How many µm is 0.65 NA?
0.65 NA is 1.30178 µm.

The units

About these units

Numerical aperture (NA)

The sine of the collection half-angle, times the refractive index.

Depth of field (µm)

How thin a slice stays in focus at once.

Learn more about aperture units

Keep going

Related conversions