Significance: Parallel phase-shifting digital holographic microscope (PPSDHM) is powerful for three-dimensional (3D) measurements of dynamic specimens. However, the PPSDHM reported previously was directly fixed on the optical bench and imposed difficulties case, thus it is required to modify the specification of the microscope or transport the microscope to another location.

Aim: We present a modularized PPSDHM. We construct the proposed PPSDHM and demonstrate the 3D measurement capability of the PPSDHM.

Approach: The PPSDHM was designed as an inverted microscope to record transparent objects and modularized by integrating the optical elements of the PPSDHM on an optical breadboard. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the PPSDHM, we recorded a 3D motion-picture of moving Volvoxes at 1000  frames  /  s and carried out 3D tracking of the Volvoxes.

Results: The PPSDHM was practically realized and 3D images of objects were successfully reconstructed from holograms recorded with a single-shot exposure. The 3D trajectories of Volvoxes were obtained from the reconstructed images.

Conclusions: We established a modularized PPSDHM that is capable of 3D image acquisition by integrating the optical elements of the PPSDHM on an optical breadboard. The recording capability of 3D motion-pictures of dynamic specimens was experimentally demonstrated by the PPSDHM.