The high-quality live video microscope uses a microscope camera to provide real-time video directly to a TV or LCD projector with a fast frame rate. Many video microscopes provide high quality HD (high definition) output images and are commonly used in teaching environments. The video microscope is connected to the TV or projector via an HDMI cable or VGA cable.

Many digital microscopes use a microscope digital camera to connect to a USB port on a computer and provide video capture; however, the frame rate of these USB videos is not as high as that provided by the camera because the number of frames captured per second is much lower. When the main focus is on capturing images and making measurements, a microscope digital camera is a better choice, requiring only occasional video capture.

Since many microscope digital cameras have lower frames per second, real-time image input is usually not as smooth as that provided by video microscopes. For example, if you solder a printed circuit board under a microscope and need to see fast real-time movement, a digital USB camera is not a better choice for fast frame rates.