Camera Field of View Comparison

Microscope Camera Comparison

10X magnification Field of View ( sCMOS 5.5 – Zyla / Edge )

Microscope Camera Comparison

40X magnification Field of View ( sCMOS 5.5 – Zyla / Edge )

Microscope Camera Comparison

60X magnification Field of View ( sCMOS 5.5 – Zyla / Edge )

Microscope Camera Comparison

100X magnification Field of View ( sCMOS 5.5 – Zyla / Edge )

 

Although we don’t, yet, build our own Cairn microscope cameras we are delighted to offer a range of selected and tested scientific cameras from industry leading manufacturers to run with our products and systems. Recent advances have made it increasingly difficult to characterise scientific microscope cameras based on user application or camera technology, but (to avoid the bewildering list seen on some websites) we have done our best. As with other third-party (and in some cases competing) products we are fiercely independent and will always recommend what we believe to be the best scientific camera for your application.

Firstly, there are what we would call entry-level microscope cameras. In most fields these would be considered to be high end products, but from a live-cell fluorescence imaging standpoint the detector is arguably the second most important component, after the objective lens, so it makes sense to invest in a device with comprehensive support, high dynamic range, high sensitivity and appropriate resolution and field of view.

Fortunately, prices have recently dropped and all of the digital microscope cameras we supply for fluorescence will perform at least as well as devices costing two or three times more a few years ago. For transmitted light techniques, fixed samples and non-quantitative requirements we also list cheaper options along with CCD derivatives incorporating Bayer arrays for conventional colour imaging. Our second category covers High-speed, High-resolution cameras based on so called scientific CMOS sensors. These relatively recent devices offer very high sensitivity, frame rates, fields of view and resolution at an attractive price point, and are now the mainstay of most micro imaging labs. For researchers requiring the minimum phototoxicity and for single molecule and some spinning disk applications the High Sensitivity and low-noise gain of Electron Multiplication (EM) cameras is still the preferred route. Finally, we offer several dedicated Specialist camera systems for very high speed neuro and cardio imaging, contractility, macroscopy and other niche applications. These microscope cameras are generally supported in fewer software environments and would be sold as part of a turnkey system.

Camera Comparison Chart

 

Classification

Manufacturer

Model

Pixels/µm

Array

Sensor/mm

Peak QE

Full frame rate/fps

Read noise/e- RMS

Well depth/e-

Digitisation

Interface
Entry level TIS DMK 51BU02 4.4 x 4.4 1620 x 1220 7.1 x 5.4 60% 12 8-bit USB 2.0
Q Imaging R1 6.45 x 6.45 1360 x 1024 8.8 x 6.6 75% @600mm 30 (45 @2×2 bin) <8 >16,000(>22,000 @2×2 bin) 14-bit USB 3.0
Q Imaging R3 4.54 x 4.54 1920 x 1460 8.7 x 6.6 75% @600mm 13.7 5.2 >16,000(>22,000 @2×2 bin) 14-bit USB 3.0
Q Imaging R6 4.54 x 4.54 2688 x 2200 12.2 x 10.0 75% @600mm 6.9 (10.9 @2×2 bin) 100 5.7 >16,000(>22,000 @2×2 bin) 14-bit USB 3.0
Scientific CMOS  Andor Zyla 5.5 6.5 x 6.5 2560 x 2160 16.6 x 14.0 60% 100 (40 with USB3.0) 1.2 30,000 16-bit Camera Link, USB3.0
Zyla 4.2 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 82% 100 (53 with USB3.0) 0.9 30,000 16-bit Camera Link, USB3.0
Hamamatsu Flash 4.0 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 82% 100 1.5 30,000 16-bit USB3.0
Flash LT 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 82% 30 1.6 30,000 16-bit USB3.0, Camera Link
Photometrics Prime 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 >70% 100 1.5 30,000 16-bit USB3.0, Fast PCI-Express
 Photometrics  Prime 95B  11 x 11  1200 x 1200  13.2 x 13.2  >95%  41 (82 with 12 bit)  1.5  80,000  16-bit
PCO Edge 5.5 6.5 x 6.5 2560 x 2160 16.6 x 14.0 >60% 100 30,000 16-bit Camera Link, USB3.0
PCO Edge 4.2 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 >70% 100 1.5 30,000 16-bit Camera Link
Photometrics Prime BSI 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 >95% 43.5 1.6e (Median) – 1.8e (RMS) 45,000- (Combined Gain), 10,000- (High Gain) 16-bit (Combined Gain), 11-bit (High Gain) PCIe, USB 3.0
Photometrics Prime 95B 25mm 11 x 11 1608 x 1608 17.69 x 17.69 >95% 30 1.6e (Medium) – 1.8e (RMS) 80,000 16-bit PCIe
Photometrics Prime 95B 22mm 11 x 11 1412 x 1412 15.5 x 15.5 >95% 35 1.6e (Medium) – 1.8e (RMS) 80,000 16-bit PCI-E, USB 3.0
Andor Sona 2.0B-11 11 x 11 1400 x 1400 15.5 x 15.5 >95% 70 1.6 85,000 16-bit USB 3.0•7
Andor Sona 4.2 B-11 11 x 11 2048 x 2048 22.5 x 22.5 >95% 70 1.6 85,000 16-bit USB 3.0•7
PCO Panda 4.2 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 >80% 40 2.1 (Medium) – 2.3 (RMS) 45,000 16-bit USB 3.1 Gen 1
PCO Panda 4.2 bi 6.5 x 6.5 2048 x 2048 13.3 x 13.3 >95% 40 1.8 (Medium) – 1.9 (RMS) 48,000 16-bit USB 3.1 Gen 1
EM CCD Andor Ultra 897 16 x 16 512 x 512 8.2 x 8.2 >90% 56 (595 @ 128×128) <1 180,000 (800,000 in register) 16-bit USB2.0
Ultra 888 13 x 13 1024 x 1024 13.3 x 13.3 >90% 26 (670 @ 128×128) <1 80,000 (730,000 in register) USB3.0
Photometrics Evolve Delta 16 x 16 512 x 512 8.2 x 8.2 >90% 67 (794 @ 128×128) <1 185,000 (800,000 in register) 16-bit IEEE 1394a
Specialist  Redshirt DW128 128 x 128 128 x 128 16.4 x 16.4 2,500 N/A 1M, 12M and 1ooM 14/21-bit Proprietary
DW128f 128 x 128 128 x 128 16.4 x 16.4 10,000 2M, 12M and 100M 14/21-bit Proprietary
FastCMOS 128x 15 x 15 128 x 128 1.9 x 1.9 >65% 10,000 14-bit Camera Link
FastCMOS 2Kx 15 x 15 2048 x 2048 30.7 x 30.7 >65% 2,500 14-bit Camera Link
RedShirt NeuroCCD 80 x 80 24 x 24 1.9 x 1.9 >80% 2,000 2000 Hz 12e, 1000 Hz 8e 215,000 14-bit Proprietary
IonOptix MyoCam 774 x 490 12-bit