New Digital Microscope Camera

A new black and white digital microscope camera is designed for high-sensitivity fluorescence work.

The DP30BW can acquire and display images at very high speeds, so that even fast molecular events are recordable. The Peltier-cooled charged couple device (CCD) and advanced amplification system allow even the faintest signals in the infrared region to be visible. These features can reduce the time that specimens need to be exposed to light. As a result, fluorescence fading is minimized.

The microscope has improved detection at infrared frequencies, compared to other cameras in its range. Quantum efficiency at the maximum sensitivity has been increased from 63% to 70%, giving maximum protection to specimens when working with near-infra-red fluorochromes. The Peltier cooling mechanism has been improved and maintains a constant temperature of 5oC, without the need for a fan. This reduces noise and enhances image stability, which are useful for electrophysiologic and other highly sensitive applications.

The DP30BW is able to capture 1360x1024 pixels as stills or moving images at 15 fps. Pixel binning of up to 16x is possible so that rapid cell events can be imaged at 53 fps. Due to the huge dynamic range of the camera, strong and weak signals can be detected and displayed simultaneously. Moreover, for the faintest signals, an automatic background subtraction function reduces interference further to give better results during long exposures.

The microscope camera was developed by Olympus Life and Material Science Europa GmbH (Hamburg, Germany). The intuitive user interface and rapid external trigger for synchronization to Olympus microscope shutters make the DP30BW ideal for use in unattended time-lapse imaging.






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