biostudies-literatureMirecki BEuropean Social FundNarodowe Centrum Nauki5667-5682https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9872902biostudies-literatureUnknown13(11)Exposure to laser light alters cell culture examination via optical microscopic imaging techniques based on label-free coherent digital holography. To mitigate this detrimental feature, researchers tend to use a broader spectrum and lower intensity of illumination, which can decrease the quality of holographic imaging due to lower resolution and higher noise. We study the lensless digital holographic microscopy (LDHM) ability to operate in the low photon budget (LPB) regime to enable imaging of unimpaired live cells with minimized sample interaction. Low-cost off-the-shelf components are used, promoting the usability of such a straightforward approach. We show that recording data in the LPB regime (down to 7 µW of illumination power) does not limit the contrast or resolution of the holograBiomedical optics expressLow-intensity illumination for lensless digital holographic microscopy with minimized sample interaction.PMC9872902POWR.03.02.00-00-I028/17-00SONATA 2020/39/D/ST7/03236Mirecki BStanaszek LTrusiak MRogalski MJozwik MArcab PRogujski PfalseLow-intensity illumination for lensless digital holographic microscopy with minimized sample interaction.Exposure to laser light alters cell culture examination via optical microscopic imaging techniques based on label-free coherent digital holography. To mitigate this detrimental feature, researchers tend to use a broader spectrum and lower intensity of illumination, which can decrease the quality of holographic imaging due to lower resolution and higher noise. We study the lensless digital holographic microscopy (LDHM) ability to operate in the low photon budget (LPB) regime to enable imaging of unimpaired live cells with minimized sample interaction. Low-cost off-the-shelf components are used, promoting the usability of such a straightforward approach. We show that recording data in the LPB regime (down to 7 µW of illumination power) does not limit the contrast or resolution of the hologra2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2026-07-09T12:21:44.042Z2026-07-09T11:17:34.74ZS-EPMC98729023673374910.1364/BOE.46436710.1364/boe.464367