infocus #54 June 2019 Choosing the best camera for fluorescence microscopy

Choosing the most suitable camera for fluorescence microscopy can appear to be a daunting task when faced with the variety of camera technologies and models on offer. The technical specifications provided may also be difficult to understand and relate to how they will affect imaging for any given application.

DOI: 10.22443/rms.inf.1.172

Since our earlier article in the December 2014 edition of infocus, a new generation of cameras featuring back-illuminated sensors has become available, promising greater sensitivity than previous generations of sCMOS cameras based on front-illuminated sensors.

The increase in sensitivity coupled with large sensor sizes and speed that sCMOS cameras are already known for make an attractive case to many fluorescence microscopy applications. But are they always more suitable? And how do they compare to EMCCD which has continued to remain the detector of choice for the most demanding low light applications?

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Authors

Allan Mullan

Product Specialist for Microscopy Cameras, Andor Technology

Dr. Mullan's role at Andor technology brings him in touch with the latest developments in camera technology as well as a broad range of microscopy applications. Prior to this he has worked in both the Medical Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical industries. His background in microscopy is built from his work and studies at Queen’s University Belfast. He was a post-doctorate Research Fellow focused on the study of phosphate transport and polyphosphate metabolism in microorganisms. Microscopy techniques such as widefield fluorescence, confocal, luminescence and Electron Microscopy were key parts of this work. He received his PhD in Microbiology, also while at Queen’s University Belfast.

Aleksandra Marsh

Technical Author and Copywriter, Andor Technology

Dr Marsh recently joined Andor Technology as a Technical Author and Copywriter. Dr Marsh maintains specifications and documentation for the Andor product range, keeping her up to date on camera technologies and microscopy applications. She completed her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Bristol in 2018. During her PhD research in the field of aerosol science she used single particle techniques coupled with Raman spectroscopy, elastic light scattering and brightfield microscopy, to improve understanding of the impact of aerosols on human health and climate.