Spinning disk confocal microscopy Point scanning confocal microscopy

Spinning disk confocal microscopy

Choosing the right camera for spinning disk confocal microscopy

Every experiment with a spinning disk confocal imaging system asks a different scientific question.  Some experiments rely on imaging speed to capture images quickly before the cells die, the fluorescence fades or the organism wiggles out of the field of view.  Some need the absolute best in sensitivity because the goal is simply to detect a faint signal from the dimmest fluorescent label.  And other experiments must have the best optical resolution, even at low magnifications.  Hamamatsu’s line of ORCA scientific and quantitative CMOS cameras including our ORCA-Fusion, ORCA-FusionBT, ORCA-Fire and ORCA-Quest 2 will ALL work extremely well in spinning disk confocal microscopy.  With that said, in our practical experience, the ORCA-FusionBT is the ideal camera solution, having the best suite of features to make your spinning disk confocal system both robust and versatile and ready for any experimental question.  What makes the ORCA-FusionBT ideal is a 6.5 micron pixel providing ideal Nyquist resolution at 60X, high speed readout of 120fps for fast capture with live samples, and excellent sensitivity achieved through a combination of high quantum efficiency and low noise.  These specs translate into beautiful, visually pleasing images as well as ideal, high SNR data that will delight any computational or deconvolution algorithm.  

Figure 4: Schematic diagram of spinning disk confocal microscope

Example images

Confocal images using ORCA®-Flash4.0 V3 Digital CMOS camera

Spinning disk confocal, pollen Z-scan images

High-speed intracellular Ca2+ gradient driven by UTP stimulation

Recommended products

The ultimate camera, evolved

With 5x faster photon number resolving capabilities, the ORCA-Quest 2 remains the apex camera for ultra low-light, quantitative imaging.


Highlights:

  • Ideal for ultra low light and replacing EM-CCDS
  • Exclusive quantitative CMOS for pioneering imaging
  • Ultra-low noise enables single photon resolution
  • High sensitivity does not require speed compromise

 

This ORCA is ideal for:

  • TIRF
  • Computational/super-resolution microscopy
  • Genetically encoded voltage imaging
  • Luminescence
  • Quantum computing
  • UV applications

ORCA Fire

Small pixels, big benefit

The ORCA-Fire is a unique back-thinned sCMOS that is optimized for fast, low-mag, large field of view, low-light quantitative imaging.


Highlights:

  • Ideal for low light with high pixel volume and speed
  • Nyquist sampling at 40x and below
  • High sensitivity even at fast speeds
  • Advanced bidirectional lightsheet readout modes

 

 

 

This ORCA is ideal for:

  • Lightsheet
  • Simultaneous multi-wavelength imaging
  • High-throughput widefield fluorescence
  • Genetically encoded voltage imaging
  • Tissue mapping

 

 

 

Uncompromising performance


The ORCA-FusionBT sCMOS camera is the perfect synthesis of sensitivity, speed, resoution and overall quantiative, low-light performance.

 

Highlights:

  • Ideal for very low light applications at 60x and 100x
  • Superior SNR from maximized QE, minimized noise
  • Three speed/noise modes for use-specific imaging
  • Exclusive, high QE, back-thinned sCMOS sensor

 

This ORCA is ideal for:

  • Spinning disk confocal
  • Lightsheet
  • Optogenetics
  • Structured illumination microscopy
  • Single-molecule localization microscopy

 

 

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