STEDYCON user experience/feedback?

[Stanislav Vitha-2]

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Howdy,

we are considering the Abberior Instruments STEDYCON shoebox STED system as an entry into superresolution for our core facility. We have not had the opportunity to see it in action yet and would appreciate your feedback/comments if you have used it or are using it currently.

 Thank you in advance!

Best Regards,

Stan Vitha
Microscopy and Imaging Center
Texas A&M University

[Josef Gotzmann]

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Dear Stan,

We, here in Vienna, have purchased a STEDYCON some weeks ago. We are very happy with the performance and the ease of use of the system. Without any special sample prep considerations we could reach 45nm (xy). Still, be aware of restriction on usage flexibility.
- superres for xy only
- you need really photostable dyes (STAR580 and STAR-RED work nicely in our hands)
- only orange/reddish/far-reddish dyes work with the 775nm STED laser (we currently test GFP and RFP-binding peptides, labeled with STAR dye)
- the confocal option leaves you with less crispy images than on a standard confocal (mostly due to the APDs), but the option is generally helpful
- the software needs some refinements, but I understood this is on the way. everything runs Chrome-based and the handling of data and data format needs getting used to.
- unfortunately multipositioning is only valid for the current FOV (software currently also does not support control of scanning stages)

Hope this helps.
Josef

Josef Gotzmann, Ph.D.
Central Facility BioOptics
Scientific Manager Section Light Microscopy
Max F. Perutz Laboratories Support Ges.m.b.H.
Dr. Bohrgasse 9/3; A-1030 Vienna
[hidden email]
Tel.: [phone]; mobile: [phone]
web: http://www.mfpl.ac.at/research/scientific-facilities/biooptics-light-microscopy.html?a=1
MFPL Biooptics facility e-mail: [hidden email]




On Tue, 22 May 2018 16:34:40 -0500, Stanislav Vitha <[hidden email]> wrote:

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>*****
>
>Howdy,
>
>we are considering the Abberior Instruments STEDYCON shoebox STED system as an entry into superresolution for our core facility. We have not had the opportunity to see it in action yet and would appreciate your feedback/comments if you have used it or are using it currently.
>
> Thank you in advance!
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Stan Vitha
>Microscopy and Imaging Center
>Texas A&M University

[Christian Feldhaus]

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Hi,

we had a Stedycon demo end of last year for 3 weeks. We could only test
it for 1 week as abberior couldn't get it into working condition for 2
weeks. We have been very disappointed with the quality of their service.

As Josef already mentioned the device is quite restricted in what it can
do. Furthermore, we observed photoconversion of the STAR RED dye which
can make interpreting your results quite an adventure.

If you want more details about our test please feel free to contact me
off list.

Best,

Christian


On 22.05.2018 23:34, Stanislav Vitha wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Howdy,
>
> we are considering the Abberior Instruments STEDYCON shoebox STED system as an entry into superresolution for our core facility. We have not had the opportunity to see it in action yet and would appreciate your feedback/comments if you have used it or are using it currently.
>
>   Thank you in advance!
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Stan Vitha
> Microscopy and Imaging Center
> Texas A&M University

--
Christian Feldhaus, PhD
Light Microscopy Facility
MPI for Developmental Biology

Max-Planck-Ring 5 (Spemannstrasse 35)
72076 Tübingen
Germany

deliveries to:
Max-Planck-Ring 1
72076 Tübingen

Tel.: ++49 7071 601443

[Alison J. North]

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Hi Stan,

Fortunately we had a very different experience to Christian last year
when they brought the STEDYCON to the OMIBS course at Woods Hole.  
Karsten had it up and running and working perfectly within 1 hour of
unpacking the boxes, and we were collecting fabulous images that same
evening.  I agree with the comments about having to use appropriate far
red and red dyes for the 775 nm laser - we used STAR Red and Alexa 594 -
and I also agree that the confocal images aren't as good as on a regular
confocal system, but that didn't worry me too much as I would never
intend to use it for that purpose.  I can't comment on the
photoconversion question as I must admit I didn't look for that and we
were only using a few samples as we had limited time.

We also had the full blown STED system on demo in my lab for around 3
weeks in early 2017, and I found their service to be very good - they
were very helpful in trying to fix any problems.

I guess this is typical of demos - it always seems to be the case that
one goes well and another not so well...

All the best,

Alison



On 5/23/2018 8:40 AM, Christian Feldhaus wrote:

> *****
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>
> Post images on
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=DwIDaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=RBx0-WJrAO5vwSOLNmFbqYvikvIZS5ns3-USwvMOuLo&m=FMLs94PJJntUQiT6at158OvdNgwH69KUQte2PgcWlaA&s=1SLqVtaDFRA2LLh2nu-mQ1Iq5sleW9rD5CgYRFDgC2o&e= 
> and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Hi,
>
> we had a Stedycon demo end of last year for 3 weeks. We could only
> test it for 1 week as abberior couldn't get it into working condition
> for 2 weeks. We have been very disappointed with the quality of their
> service.
>
> As Josef already mentioned the device is quite restricted in what it
> can do. Furthermore, we observed photoconversion of the STAR RED dye
> which can make interpreting your results quite an adventure.
>
> If you want more details about our test please feel free to contact me
> off list.
>
> Best,
>
> Christian
>
>
> On 22.05.2018 23:34, Stanislav Vitha wrote:
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.umn.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=DwIDaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=RBx0-WJrAO5vwSOLNmFbqYvikvIZS5ns3-USwvMOuLo&m=FMLs94PJJntUQiT6at158OvdNgwH69KUQte2PgcWlaA&s=FS7K1KlwPKnu_AXGGZbhRU6wl70E2Y5HIZGBE1C9rb4&e= 
>>
>> Post images on
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=DwIDaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=RBx0-WJrAO5vwSOLNmFbqYvikvIZS5ns3-USwvMOuLo&m=FMLs94PJJntUQiT6at158OvdNgwH69KUQte2PgcWlaA&s=1SLqVtaDFRA2LLh2nu-mQ1Iq5sleW9rD5CgYRFDgC2o&e= 
>> and include the link in your posting.
>> *****
>>
>> Howdy,
>>
>> we are considering the Abberior Instruments STEDYCON shoebox STED
>> system as an entry into superresolution for our core facility. We
>> have not had the opportunity to see it in action yet and would
>> appreciate your feedback/comments if you have used it or are using it
>> currently.
>>
>>   Thank you in advance!
>>
>> Best Regards,
>>
>> Stan Vitha
>> Microscopy and Imaging Center
>> Texas A&M University
>

--
Alison J. North, Ph.D.,
Research Associate Professor and
Senior Director of the Bio-Imaging Resource Center,
The Rockefeller University,
1230 York Avenue,
New York,
NY 10065.
Tel: office ++ 212 327 7488
Tel: lab     ++ 212 327 7486
Fax:         ++ 212 327 7489

[Cvic Innocent]

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Hello all

We at the Cellular Imaging Core also recently tried the STEDYCON and our
experience was that it proves to be a notable addition to upgrade a WF
microscope.

I do agree with it being restricted-- I think STEDYCON has a way to go with
bringing the confocal imaging bit up to competitive standards (& I've been
vocal on that) but the STED images produced were a lovely entryway for
smaller labs and cores to dip their toe into super-resolution. I am
currently considering it being placed at an empty port on our spinning disk
confocal or even on an old Olympus body (it has a DSU which I may
cannibalize). However, since we are a fairly large core facility, I'm also
looking deeply at their Expert Line (& I will keep an eye out for
photoconversion of the dyes!)

Lastly, service is always a huge 'Yay or Nay' point on whether or not to
buy an instrument but I personally am hopeful that they will be up to the
task. They've been exceptionally responsive to us thus far and I have
reason to believe they will continue to be in responsive the future.

It is my opinion that industry giants have an advantage in service packages
but that start-up and mid-age companies have a huge advantage when it comes
to niche capabilities... so I am eager to see what they will do.

Cordially,
cvic

***NO COMMERCIAL INTEREST***



On Wed, May 23, 2018 at 10:40 AM, Alison North <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Hi Stan,
>
> Fortunately we had a very different experience to Christian last year when
> they brought the STEDYCON to the OMIBS course at Woods Hole.   Karsten had
> it up and running and working perfectly within 1 hour of unpacking the
> boxes, and we were collecting fabulous images that same evening.  I agree
> with the comments about having to use appropriate far red and red dyes for
> the 775 nm laser - we used STAR Red and Alexa 594 - and I also agree that
> the confocal images aren't as good as on a regular confocal system, but
> that didn't worry me too much as I would never intend to use it for that
> purpose.  I can't comment on the photoconversion question as I must admit I
> didn't look for that and we were only using a few samples as we had limited
> time.
>
> We also had the full blown STED system on demo in my lab for around 3
> weeks in early 2017, and I found their service to be very good - they were
> very helpful in trying to fix any problems.
>
> I guess this is typical of demos - it always seems to be the case that one
> goes well and another not so well...
>
> All the best,
>
> Alison
>
>
>
> On 5/23/2018 8:40 AM, Christian Feldhaus wrote:
>
>> *****
>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.um
>> n.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=DwIDaQ&c=JeTk
>> UgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=RBx0-WJrAO5vwSOLNm
>> FbqYvikvIZS5ns3-USwvMOuLo&m=FMLs94PJJntUQiT6at158OvdNgwH69KU
>> Qte2PgcWlaA&s=FS7K1KlwPKnu_AXGGZbhRU6wl70E2Y5HIZGBE1C9rb4&e=
>> Post images on https://urldefense.proofpoint.
>> com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=DwIDaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmh
>> KYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=RBx0-WJrAO5vwSOLNmFbqYvikvI
>> ZS5ns3-USwvMOuLo&m=FMLs94PJJntUQiT6at158OvdNgwH69KUQte2PgcWl
>> aA&s=1SLqVtaDFRA2LLh2nu-mQ1Iq5sleW9rD5CgYRFDgC2o&e= and include the link
>> in your posting.
>> *****
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> we had a Stedycon demo end of last year for 3 weeks. We could only test
>> it for 1 week as abberior couldn't get it into working condition for 2
>> weeks. We have been very disappointed with the quality of their service.
>>
>> As Josef already mentioned the device is quite restricted in what it can
>> do. Furthermore, we observed photoconversion of the STAR RED dye which can
>> make interpreting your results quite an adventure.
>>
>> If you want more details about our test please feel free to contact me
>> off list.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Christian
>>
>>
>> On 22.05.2018 23:34, Stanislav Vitha wrote:
>>
>>> *****
>>> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__lists.um
>>> n.edu_cgi-2Dbin_wa-3FA0-3Dconfocalmicroscopy&d=DwIDaQ&c=JeTk
>>> UgVztGMmhKYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=RBx0-WJrAO5vwSOLNm
>>> FbqYvikvIZS5ns3-USwvMOuLo&m=FMLs94PJJntUQiT6at158OvdNgwH69KU
>>> Qte2PgcWlaA&s=FS7K1KlwPKnu_AXGGZbhRU6wl70E2Y5HIZGBE1C9rb4&e=
>>> Post images on https://urldefense.proofpoint.
>>> com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.imgur.com&d=DwIDaQ&c=JeTkUgVztGMmh
>>> KYjxsy2rfoWYibK1YmxXez1G3oNStg&r=RBx0-WJrAO5vwSOLNmFbqYvikvI
>>> ZS5ns3-USwvMOuLo&m=FMLs94PJJntUQiT6at158OvdNgwH69KUQte2PgcWl
>>> aA&s=1SLqVtaDFRA2LLh2nu-mQ1Iq5sleW9rD5CgYRFDgC2o&e= and include the
>>> link in your posting.
>>> *****
>>>
>>> Howdy,
>>>
>>> we are considering the Abberior Instruments STEDYCON shoebox STED system
>>> as an entry into superresolution for our core facility. We have not had the
>>> opportunity to see it in action yet and would appreciate your
>>> feedback/comments if you have used it or are using it currently.
>>>
>>>   Thank you in advance!
>>>
>>> Best Regards,
>>>
>>> Stan Vitha
>>> Microscopy and Imaging Center
>>> Texas A&M University
>>>
>>
>>
> --
> Alison J. North, Ph.D.,
> Research Associate Professor and
> Senior Director of the Bio-Imaging Resource Center,
> The Rockefeller University,
> 1230 York Avenue,
> New York,
> NY 10065.
> Tel: office     ++ 212 327 7488
> Tel: lab        ++ 212 327 7486
> Fax:            ++ 212 327 7489
>

[antonio Virgilio Failla]

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Dear microscopists

Reading these messages I am a bit confused.
Personally having 20 year imaging experience I am convinced that when a demo does not work, not only a side should take the full blame.
Somewhere somehow some details from both sides have not being thought carefully.
I said that also because as facility manager in the big imaging facility I always felt my responsibilities and I avoid to give emotional comments about my experiences with microscopy companies that might influence the opinion of other users.
In details the following sentences impressed me in this post: "We have been very disappointed with the quality of their service",  "we observed photoconversion of the STAR RED dyes".

About the first sentence I felt to live in a parallel universe since "a disappointing service" is normally related with comparison to a very good one.
Since two years I am client of Abberior but I am also or I was client of for example Leica, Nikon, Zeiss, Olympus, Visitron etc. etc... and to be honest by a comparison I felt that the service of Abberior is excellent. After that was my concern before we purchased their STED microscope and now I can happily witness you about the high quality of their service that in a couple of day is able to solve all possible problem I had at the setup. While big companies to repair small pieces like a safety interlock might need up to one month (but I will not write an emotional email about it in this context). Please feel free to contact me to have a review of Abberior service based two year experiences.

Moreover we are using many times probes labelled with STAR RED dyes and never experience any photoconversion problem or being reported off. Can you explain scientifically where this problem came from during your specific demo? and how you detected it? This dye, named originally KK114, goes back to 2009 and has been extensively used in independent STED-publications. To my knowledge, this has not been reported in the literature as well.


Finally if I have a problem with a microscopy company I try to solve it 4 eyes and if I wish to make a public statement I make in a context that allowed this company to reply my remark.  Especially I will make detailed and precise remarks uncovering directly in the post the reasons of my not being happy. In other words I try to be fair and transparent.

I repeat feel free to contact me if you want to know my more detailed experience of the Abberior service and products (We also test positively the  STEDYCON).

I would suggest  please make your own opinion mainly using your direct experience.

Best wishes

Antonio Virgilio Failla (light microscopy facility manager at University medical centre Hamburg Eppendorf)  

[Steffen Dietzel]

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Dear Antonio,

while I agree with a lot of what you have said, I also find it
refreshing and important to hear about negative experiences. If every
statement is filtered and only positive comments are made about
companies, then those positive comments are without value. So
personally, I would like to encourage contributors to the list to report
about negative experiences (but also about positive ones, of course).
Only if both, positive and negative experiences can be expected to be
reported, such reports are useful to the audience.

I see danger in singling out negative comments as being emotional,
unfair and nontransparent. Personally, I don't see that "We have been
very disappointed with the quality of their service" would be more
emotional than "We are very happy with the performance and the ease of
use of the system" or "we were collecting fabulous images that same
evening", statements that you did not criticize. You yourself wrote "I
can happily witness you about the high quality of their service". If
happiness is not an emotion, then nothing is. Still, personally I see
all of the cited comments as factual statements, in particular since all
of them were substantiated with details of the experience. If a machine
that is supposed to work 3 weeks does so only in one, that is pretty
transparent to me where the disappointment was coming from. Don't shoot
the messenger. One of the comments is negative, three (of the cited
ones) are positive, thanks everybody for reporting. No need to throw
around accusations.

Finally, having 25 years of imaging experience, I also remember a demo
where nothing worked at all and it was clearly the companies/products
fault only. (Fortunately a very rare experience, and it was none of the
companies mentioned so far in this discussion). I would be very careful
to not assign the blame for a bad demo where I have not been myself to
anybody, including an assignment to both sides.

Steffen


Am 25.05.2018 um 14:00 schrieb antonio Virgilio Failla:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> Post images on http://www.imgur.com and include the link in your posting.
> *****
>
> Dear microscopists
>
> Reading these messages I am a bit confused.
> Personally having 20 year imaging experience I am convinced that when a demo does not work, not only a side should take the full blame.
> Somewhere somehow some details from both sides have not being thought carefully.
> I said that also because as facility manager in the big imaging facility I always felt my responsibilities and I avoid to give emotional comments about my experiences with microscopy companies that might influence the opinion of other users.
> In details the following sentences impressed me in this post: "We have been very disappointed with the quality of their service",  "we observed photoconversion of the STAR RED dyes".
>
> About the first sentence I felt to live in a parallel universe since "a disappointing service" is normally related with comparison to a very good one.
> Since two years I am client of Abberior but I am also or I was client of for example Leica, Nikon, Zeiss, Olympus, Visitron etc. etc... and to be honest by a comparison I felt that the service of Abberior is excellent. After that was my concern before we purchased their STED microscope and now I can happily witness you about the high quality of their service that in a couple of day is able to solve all possible problem I had at the setup. While big companies to repair small pieces like a safety interlock might need up to one month (but I will not write an emotional email about it in this context). Please feel free to contact me to have a review of Abberior service based two year experiences.
>
> Moreover we are using many times probes labelled with STAR RED dyes and never experience any photoconversion problem or being reported off. Can you explain scientifically where this problem came from during your specific demo? and how you detected it? This dye, named originally KK114, goes back to 2009 and has been extensively used in independent STED-publications. To my knowledge, this has not been reported in the literature as well.
>
>
> Finally if I have a problem with a microscopy company I try to solve it 4 eyes and if I wish to make a public statement I make in a context that allowed this company to reply my remark.  Especially I will make detailed and precise remarks uncovering directly in the post the reasons of my not being happy. In other words I try to be fair and transparent.
>
> I repeat feel free to contact me if you want to know my more detailed experience of the Abberior service and products (We also test positively the  STEDYCON).
>
> I would suggest  please make your own opinion mainly using your direct experience.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Antonio Virgilio Failla (light microscopy facility manager at University medical centre Hamburg Eppendorf)
>

--
------------------------------------------------------------
Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Biomedical Center (BMC)
Head of the Core Facility Bioimaging

Großhaderner Straße 9
D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried
Germany

http://www.bioimaging.bmc.med.uni-muenchen.de